15 Most Long-Lasting Flowers to Grow and Display in Your Home

---

There’s nothing better than brightening up your home with attractive, long-lasting flowers, either of a single type or as a varied floral vase arrangement. You don’t want your beautiful flowers to wither and die in a day or two, so which kinds of flowers could you grow outside and also harvest for extended indoor vase life? 

1. Anthurium

Once picked, the anthurium or Laceleaf will last well over a month. Although its dark green, shiny heart-shaped leaves and long-lasting flowers in different colors don’t make it the most spectacular flower for indoor display, it will thrive in indirect indoor light. It grows well in climates similar to Florida.

2. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums grow excellently in a vase under the low lighting of most homes for close to a month. This China native grows readily across the U.S. and will likely produce flowers without any care. If you neglect them, they’ll have weak stems with yellowish leaves. Their name is an ancient Greek word for “gold flower,” but they can also bloom in white and pink. 

3. Leucadendron

Leucadendrons can only be grown outside in the most tropical areas of the U.S., such as Hawaii, Central Florida, Texas and the lower parts of Louisiana. Otherwise known as coneflowers, these perennial shrubs are popular in flower arrangements. Their cone-type flowers last over three weeks when they’re harvested closed and potted in water. 

4. Star of Bethlehem

These drooping white flowers are the most common members of the ornithogalum family. You’ll commonly see them growing wild in the U.S. northeast and northwest. As phototrophic flowers, they turn toward the light source when in a vase, lasting for over three weeks, so make sure you position them accordingly. A warning is that they contain toxicity for dogs and cats, so choose another flower if you have pets. 

5. Allium

Allium is related to the garlic family, with the hardy plant growing well in the USDA gardening zones three to eight, meaning it’s resistant to colder climates. Besides its most common purple and white flower clusters, Allium also grows in yellow, pink and blue. Once you’ve trimmed them and popped them in fresh water, they’ll grow for nearly 21 days indoors.  

6. Carnation

A firm indoor favorite, carnations’ strong nature means you can keep them in vases for nearly three weeks in unchlorinated water. While carnations make for stunning indoor decor, especially in cooler environments, other nearby varieties of plants could find them harmful. You’ll be better off displaying your carnations separately and keeping them separate from other plants in your home.

7. Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisies favor mild conditions and direct sunlight to show off their bright and deep red, burgundy, orange, yellow, purple, white and different shades of pink coloring. You’ll best display them in temperatures of 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the maximum three-week flowering period. That’s quite cold, so you shouldn’t expect your daisies to last as long in a vase.

8. Orchid

You can find native orchids across the U.S., with almost 200 species endangered or threatened by losing their habitats. With stunning flowers, many people keep these entire perennial plants in their homes indefinitely — the blossoms only last for around three weeks once cut. A precious orchid flower’s petals don’t react well to ethylene, a fruit hormone that ripens the fruit. As such, you should keep your orchid away from fruit, as ethylene is gaseous.

9. Freesia

Freesias are easy to keep in a vase for over two weeks by changing their water daily and placing them in an environment with a moderate temperature. It’s best to trim about a centimeter off the stem when cutting, which helps the nutrient flow to the flower. They bloom in spring and summer, and their red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, lavender, mauve, cream or white flowers make attractive additions to any home.

10. Hypericum

Commonly known as St. Johnswort, hypericum plants grow bright yellow berries often used in floral arrangements. You’ll recognize these immediately alongside their deep green foliage and yellow flowers. Hypericum originally came from Europe, Asia, and North Africa and ended up in many western states in the U.S. around the turn of the 20th century. The plant’s flowers are great for a vase, sustaining their color until the two-week mark.

11. Lisianthus

Wild lisianthus grows in the Plains and Gulf states, along with Northern Mexico. If you vase the plant in fresh water, it could last three weeks under auxiliary light. You can find the trumpet-shaped, five-petaled flower in colors that include lavender, peach, pink, purple and white, which are popular floral additions at weddings. Watch out, though, as lisianthus is quite a pricey flower.

12. Dahlia

Dahlia blooms sometimes grow to dinner plate size, and waiting until the flower opens before picking it is essential. It simply won’t open otherwise. When you pick a dahlia flower, add it to your vase in water and position it in sunlight as much as possible. Dahlias come in a spectacular range of colors, from creamy white to almost black, and you can admire their unique beauty for around two weeks indoors.

13. Alstroemeria

Similar to lilies, alstroemerias have a single stem containing several buds. They last longer than lilies in vases, though, and buying them while still closed will delight you as they bloom in your home. Position your vase at room temperature with access to sunlight, and you’ll ensure this happens. If you check your alstroemerias daily and remove dried petals and leaves, you could keep them around for 14 days. 

14. Bird of Paradise

With such an original look, this tropical flower lasts up to 14 days indoors if harvested when it first blooms. Originating in South Africa, the perennially flowering Bird of Paradise grows all over North and South America. While it isn’t as common as many other perennials, its bright orange flower with purple and blue accents is something to behold. Besides its incredible beauty, according to its country of origin, you should acknowledge Birds of Paradise as good luck symbols. 

15. Delphinium

Delphinium, or larkspur, plants grow from Pennsylvania to Alabama and are both drought and shade-tolerant. Before cutting for the vase, wash the stems well under fresh water to prevent them from clogging with any debris. Like the Star of Bethlehem, this colorful blue and sometimes white flower is toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs. The delphinium is named in Greek after the dolphin, indicating the flower’s shape.

Adorn Your Home in a Way You’re Happy

Although many other types of flowers provide picturesque floral displays for your home, roses and sunflowers, among many others, don’t last as long in vases as the listed biological species. It’s really up to you which blossoms you want in your living environment, but pick a type that needs minimal upkeep and a lot of splendrous beauty for something long-lasting.