Species reference
How Long Cut Flowers Last in a Vase
Vase life is not one number. It is a range that depends on the species, whether it is sensitive to ethylene gas, and whether it was conditioned properly in the first hour. If a bouquet has to survive a gift delivery, the species you pick matters as much as the care it gets afterward.
Vase life, ethylene sensitivity and gift suitability
| Species | Vase life | Ethylene-sensitive | Gift delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roses | 5–7 days | No | Moderate |
| Tulips | 5–7 days | Yes | Moderate |
| Carnations | 7–10 days | Yes | Good |
| Gerbera | 7–10 days | No | Good |
| Lilies | 7–10 days | Yes | Good |
| Chrysanthemums | 10–14 days | No | Excellent |
| Hydrangeas | 4–7 days | No | Poor |
| Sunflowers | 5–7 days | No | Moderate |
| Phalaenopsis spikes | 14–28 days | No | Excellent |
Hydrangeas have the shortest range on this list, 4–7 days, and wilt fastest if the delivery van sat in the sun, so they are the weakest pick for anything that will not be arranged immediately. Chrysanthemums and phalaenopsis spikes have the widest margin for a delivery that runs a day late.
Why ethylene sensitivity matters for a gift
Tulips, carnations, lilies and snapdragons drop petals within 24–48 hours of sitting near ripening fruit, which releases ethylene gas. A gift bouquet often gets placed on a kitchen counter next to a fruit bowl by someone who has never heard of this, which is the single most common way a good vase-life species underperforms its own table.
If the bouquet is being sent somewhere you cannot control the environment, chrysanthemums, gerbera or phalaenopsis spikes are safer picks because none of the three are ethylene-sensitive.
Questions we actually get
Frequently asked
Which single species should I send if I can only pick one for a delivery?
Chrysanthemums: a 10–14 day vase life, not ethylene-sensitive, and tolerant of a rough trip. Phalaenopsis spikes last even longer, 14–28 days, but are less common in a standard retail bunch.
Are all roses the same, or do some varieties last longer?
Variety shifts the number within the 5–7 day range but rarely outside it under normal room conditions. The bigger swing comes from conditioning and temperature, not the specific rose variety.
Why do hydrangeas wilt faster than everything else on this list?
Their large, thin-petaled heads lose water faster than they can take it up through the stem, which is why their range, 4–7 days, is the shortest here and why they are the first to droop if left in a warm delivery van.