You’ll find a huge range of flowers on offer at florists across the UK. From romantic roses to trusty carnations and beautiful lilies, there’s plenty to choose from so we’ve put together a brief guide to the UK’s most popular cut flowers so you know exactly what’s in your bouquet.

Roses
The universal flower of love, roses are the perfect way to show your other half just how much you care. If you are lucky enough to receive a bouquet of roses, whatever the colour and type, you should expect them to last about a week. Unfortunately, roses are prone to drooping. To keep them looking great for longer, wrap them in wet newspaper and stand them in cool water overnight. Another tip to give lifeless roses a boost is to stand them up to their necks in lukewarm water in a cool room.

Tulips
Available in a range of colours from pink and purple to yellow and orange, tulips are a sign of luck and make great floral displays on their own or as part of a mixed bouquet. These flowers actually keep growing in the vase, which is why they curve. If you want to keep them straight for longer stand them in a tall straight vase and add a couple of pennies to the water. Tulips usually last just over a week.

Carnations
Carnations are the flower of fascination, but in particular red carnations symbolise passion and pink ones say ‘you’re always on my mind’. Whether you choose a standard carnation, which are available is a variety of crazy colours, or opt for the more traditional spray carnation, which look great in a mixed bunch, you’ll find these flowers are easy to care for and will last for at least two weeks. Although they don’t need too much attention, like other flowers, they are sensitive to the ethylene gas released by ripening fruit so make sure you keep them away from the fruit bowl.

Chrysanthemum
Perfect as a gift for a friend, as that is what they symbolise, chrysanthemums are a favourite amongst mixed bouquets or as a large singular floral decoration. They are another long lasting flower, which usually live for two to three weeks. These flowers are available in many colours from pure white to sunshine yellow and electric blue, and are definitely one of the most popular flowers of the moment. To help your chrysanthemums live as long as possible be sure to remove any damaged or drooping buds.

Gerbera
Also known in florist circles as Transvaal Daisies, gerberas are similar to tulips as they curve while they grow and should be left to do their own thing. Some florists choose to gently wire them to give the flowers greater stability in the vase but this does not affect their lifespan of one to two weeks.

Freesia
Make the most of your beautiful freesias while you can because they won’t last longer than a week. With a wonderful smell that gets better as the air gets warmer, this delicate flower, which symbolises trust, is available in many colours making it a real delight in any mixed bunch or indeed on its own in a small vase. Keep your freesias fresh for longer by removing old flowerheads, which should encourage new ones to open.

Lilies
As they symbolise beauty, it seems fitting that lilies are one of the most beautiful, and most popular, flowers around at the moment. They are available in a choice of colours and shapes, such as the common Asiatic Lily, and the Oriental and Calla varieties, which are probably the most stylish available in the florists today. You can also get Longiflorum Lilies, which are very tall and elegant, and make perfect single centrepiece on a table or windowsill. Lilies are generally quite expensive but are almost certainly worth the money. They can last for up to three weeks but to prolong the life of the flower pinch the pollen stamens and pull them out.
This will also remove the risk of pollen staining clothes and furnishings.

Lisianthus
One of the new kids on the block but quickly gaining a great reputation, which has already seen it make its way into the top 10 selling flowers, the Lisianthus is available in a range of colours, including white, pink and purple. Lisianthus usually last around seven to ten days, but you should remove dead flowerheads to give new buds the chance to open.

Daffodils
These beautiful, bright yellow flowers have long been a symbol of springtime, and they can add instant light and colour to the dullest of rooms. With a life span of a couple of weeks, these flowers are generally cheap to buy from a florist but you should avoid mixing them with other flowers as they release a latex slime that can damage other flowers.

Sunflowers
Big, bright yellow flowers made famous by Vincent Van Gogh, sunflowers make wonderful singular centrepieces and can add a touch of sunshine to any room. Ensure you cut the stems at an angle to allow the flower to take in more water and place in cool water, which should be changed every couple of days.