Velvet Brown - Home Accessories

Without doubt the cut flower for December has to be the Amaryllis - also known as Hippeastrum.  With it’s long, thick stem, large and bold flowers and superb lasting ability it really is the ‘king’ of the cut flower world.  It is also the perfect cut flower to have indoors in December as it has excellent long-lasting ability and will cope well in most centrally heated homes. 

The stems of Amaryllis are hollow and it is along this hollow channel that the flower takes up water.  As you take a cut Amaryllis stem out of a vase of water, you’ll hear the water trickling back down the stem.  For this reason, always place cut Amaryllis in deep clean water as they are thirsty flowers. 

Each Amaryllis flower has stamens similar to Lilies and it is worth removing the pollen on the stamens when the flowers open, to avoid staining furnishings - do this as soon as the flower opens and it will help to make the flower head last longer too.

To create a striking arrangement, place two or three stems of cut Amaryllis in a vase with long-stemmed foliage or twigs - no special flower arranging skills required, the Amaryllis with their stunning flowers and colours will do the work for you!