Our flowers are shipped tight from the grower to maximise vase life. How quickly they open depends on two things: the variety and the season. Warm summer temperatures and long days speed opening; cool winter conditions slow it down. Use this guide to decide when to pick up your flowers before your event.
☀️ Summer (May–Sep)Warm rooms and natural light speed opening. Flowers may open 1–2 days faster than the winter estimates. Pick up later in the week for short-opening varieties.
❄️ Winter (Oct–Apr)Cool, dark conditions slow opening significantly. Flowers may need 1–2 extra days. Pick up earlier than you would in summer. A warm room helps — never refrigerate to speed things up.
Days to open from tight bud
For a Saturday event. “Pick up by” assumes standard conditioning in a cool room (55–65°F).
| Flower | ☀️ Summer days to open | ❄️ Winter days to open | Sat wedding: pick up by… | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard roses | 1–2 | 3–4 | Thu (summer) • Tue–Wed (winter) | Remove guard petals as they loosen. Warm water speeds opening. |
| Spray roses | 1–2 | 2–3 | Thu (summer) • Wed–Thu (winter) | Multiple blooms per stem open progressively over several days. |
| Garden / David Austin roses | 2–3 | 4–6 | Tue–Wed (summer) • Mon–Tue (winter) | The slowest-opening rose. Never rush with a warm room if buds are very tight — gradual is better. |
| Peonies | 2–3 | 4–5 | Tue–Wed (summer) • Mon–Tue (winter) | Order tighter buds for summer — they open fast in heat. Spring–summer only. |
| Ranunculus | 2–3 | 4–5 | Tue–Wed (summer) • Mon–Tue (winter) | Hollow stems — handle gently when cutting. Very worth the wait when fully open. |
| Lilies (Asiatic) | 2–3 | 4–5 | Tue–Wed (summer) • Mon–Tue (winter) | Remove anthers immediately when accessible — pollen stains permanently. |
| Lilies (Oriental / LA) | 3–4 | 5–7 | Mon–Tue (summer) • Sat–Sun prior week (winter) | White oriental lilies are the slowest. Check bloom time on product page. |
| Gladiolus | 2–3 | 4–5 | Tue–Wed (summer) • Mon–Tue (winter) | Florets open bottom to top. Cut when lowest 2–3 florets show color. |
| Iris | 1–2 | 3–4 | Thu (summer) • Wed (winter) | Open quickly in warmth. Keep cool to slow if needed. |
| Tulips | 1–2 | 2–3 | Thu (summer) • Wed–Thu (winter) | Continue growing after cutting. Wrap in paper 24 hrs for straight stems. |
| Lisianthus | 1–2 | 2–3 | Thu (summer) • Wed–Thu (winter) | Multiple buds per stem — later buds open as earlier ones fade. |
| Hydrangea | 1–2 | 1–2 | Wed–Thu (any season) | Less about opening, more about hydration. Use HydraQuik on arrival. |
| Alstroemeria | 1–2 | 2–3 | Thu (summer) • Wed–Thu (winter) | Multiple blooms per stem. Very reliable. Heat-tolerant. |
| Anemones | 1 | 2–3 | Fri (summer) • Wed–Thu (winter) | Open very fast in summer — pick up as close to the event as possible. |
| Carnations | 1–2 | 1–2 | Thu–Fri (any season) | Reliable, long-lasting, very consistent. Underrated for weddings. |
| Snapdragons | 1–2 | 1–2 | Thu–Fri (any season) | Open quickly. Add last to arrangements as they can be fragile. |
| Baby's breath | Ready | Ready | Thu–Fri (any season) | Typically arrives ready to use. Reliable year-round. |
| Eucalyptus & greens | Ready | Ready | Thu–Fri (any season) | Fully open on arrival. Hydrate immediately; lasts 1–2 weeks. |
Controlling the opening speed
To speed opening
- Move flowers to a warmer room (68–72°F)
- Use lukewarm water in the bucket
- Ensure good natural light (not direct sun)
- Recut stems at a 45° angle and change water
To slow opening
- Move to a cooler room (55–60°F)
- Use cool water
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat
- Never use a standard household refrigerator (too cold; ethylene from fruit damages flowers) — except gardenias and stephanotis
Pickup guide: Saturday wedding
Broadway Floral hours: Mon–Fri 10am–4pm • Sat 10am–3pm. Call (503) 445-2967 if you need to discuss timing.
| Your flowers include | ☀️ Summer pickup | ❄️ Winter pickup | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roses, lisianthus, hydrangea, fillers, greens only | Thursday | Wednesday–Thursday | Fast openers — 2 days is enough in summer; allow an extra day in winter |
| Peonies, ranunculus, spray roses, anemones, alstroemeria | Wednesday–Thursday | Tuesday–Wednesday | Moderate openers — check daily; move to warmer room if slow |
| Garden roses, standard lilies, gladiolus, iris, tulips | Tuesday–Wednesday | Monday–Tuesday | Slower openers needing 3–4+ days; winter needs maximum lead time |
| Oriental / LA lilies | Monday–Tuesday | Sat–Sun (prior week) | The slowest. Plan extra time. Check bloom time on product page. |
| Mixed order (slow + fast flowers) | Tuesday | Monday–Tuesday | Time your pickup to the slowest flower in your order |
Opening times are affected by variety, temperature, light, and the age of the stems. When in doubt, pick up earlier and use a cool room to slow things down. It is much easier to slow flowers than to rush them.