How Long Do Wildflowers Bouquets Last

/ Bluebird Gardens/
This bouquet of mostly wildflowers has been on my table for two weeks. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This bouquet of mostly wildflowers has been on my table for two weeks. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

“…You’ve inspired me to pick more wildflowers and bring them inside to enjoy. How long do wildflowers last as cut flowers?” - Emily

How Long Do Wildflowers Bouquets Last

Hi Emily,

So glad you are going to enjoy more wildflowers inside, I truly can’t imagine not having fresh flowers around every day.

This is the mostly wildflowers bouquet sitting on my den table, I have had it for about two weeks and have refreshed the water every other day. I also cut off the bottom of the flower stems to ensure they are taking up water.

It is hard to say how long the wildflowers will last because it depends on several factors:

  1. How early in the blooming process did you pick them. When I cut flowers in bud form or just blooming, they tend to last longer.

  2. Some wildflowers work better as cut flowers than others. The white Beards Tongue is a hardy cut flower while the Ox-Eye Daisies fade much faster.

  3. Some flowers are not easy to mix with others. Daffodils, for example, have a toxin that kills other flowers mixed in with them so they have to be kept in separate water for a couple of days until the toxins drain before mixing.

  4. It’s better to pick the wildflowers early morning so you are getting them when they look the best and heat hasn’t deprived them of water.

    My suggestion is pick wildflowers from your garden and get to know which ones are better cut flowers. For example, although I love self heal, a pretty purple mint that is native to Missouri, it does not make a long lasting cut flower. I still will cut a few and include them in bouquets knowing full well I will need to pull them out after a couple of days.

Can you identify the flowers in this bouquet?

Orange Oriental Lily; Beards Tongue; Ox-eye Daisies; Speedwell and Dame’s Rocket. The Oriental lilies and Speedwell are perennials. The rest are considered Missouri wildflowers.

The Dame’s Rocket is a surprise, they have been blooming since end of March in my garden and these little flower sprigs are the last vestiges of their bloom.

Enjoy, Emily!

Charlotte