Temperature and Storage Period
for Cut Flowers and Florist Greens

All About Flowers

Cut Flowers:
A  B   C  D   E  F   G  H   I  J  K   L  M   N  O  P   Q  R  S    T  U   V  W  X   Y  Z

Florist Greens:
A  B   C  D   E  F  G  H  I   J  K  L  M   N  O  P   Q   R   S  T   U  V   W  X   Y  Z


Product,
Plant Name
Temperature
°C
Temperature
°F
Approximate
Storage Life1


Cut flowers
2

Acacia 4 40 3 to 4 days
Alstroemeria 4 40 2 to 3 days
Allium 0 to 2 32 to 35 2 wk
Anemone 4 to 7 40 to 45 2 days
Anthurium4 13 56 2 to 4 wk
Aster, China 0 to 4 32 to 40 1 to 3 wk
Bird-of-paradise 7 to 8 45 to 46 1 to 3 wk
Bouvardia 0 to 2 32 to 35 1 wk
Buddleia 4 40 1 to 2 days
Calendula 4 40 3 to 6 days
Calla 4 40 1 wk
Camellia5 7 45 3 to 6 days
Candytuft 4 40 3 days
Carnation -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 2 to 4 wk
Carnation buds -0.5 to 0 31 to 32 4 to 12 wk
Carnation, miniature -0.5 to 0 31 to 32 2 wk
Chrysanthemum -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 2 to 4 wk
Clarkia 4 40 3 days
Columbine 4 40 2 days
Coreopsis 4 40 3 to 4 days
Cornflower 4 40 3 days
Cosmos 4 40 3 to 4 days
Crocus 0.5 to 2 33 to 36 1 to 2 wk
Dahlia 4 40 3 to 5 days
Daisy, English 4 40 3 days
Daisy, Marguerite 2 36 1 to 2 wk
Daisy, Shasta 4 40 1 wk
Delphinium 4 40 1 to 2 days
Eucharis5 7 to 10 45 to 50 7 to 10 days
Feverfew 4 40 3 days
Forget-me-not 4 40 1 to 2 days
Foxglove 4 40 1 to 2 days
Freesia 0 to 0.5 32 to 33 10 to 14 days
Gaillardia 4 40 3 days
Gardenia5 0 to 1 32 to 34 2 wk
Gerbera 1 to 4 34 to 40 1 to 2 wk
Ginger 13 55 4 to 7 days
Gladiolus, as buds 4 to 6 40 to 42 5 to 8 days
Gloriosa lily 4 to 7 40 to 45 1 wk
Godetia 10 50 1 wk
Gypsophila 4 40 1 to 3 wk
Heather 4 40 1 to 3 wk
Heliconia 12 54 10 days
Hyacinth 0 to 0.5 32 to 33 2 wk
Iris, bulbous -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 1 to 2 wk
Laceflower 4 40 3 days
Lilac, forced 4 40 4 to 6 days
Lily. Easter 0 to 2 32 to 35 2 to 3 wk
Lily-of-the-valley -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 2 to 3 wk
Lupine 4 40 3 days
Marigolds 4 40 1 to 2 wk
Mignonette 4 40 3 to 5 days
Narcissus (daffodils) 0 to 0.5 32 to 33 1 to 3 wk
Orchid, cattelya4,5 7 to 10 45 to 50 1 to 2 wk
Orchid, cymbidium -0.5 to 4 31 to 40 2 wk
Orchid, vanda 13 55 5 days
Orinthogalum 4 40 4 to 6 wk
Poppy 4 40 3 to 5 days
Peony, tight buds 0 to 2 32 to 35 4 to 6 wk
Phlox 4 40 1 to 3 days
Poinsettia 10 to 15 50 to 60 4 to 7 days
Primrose 4 40 1 to 2 days
Protea 4 40 7 to 10 days
Ranunculus 0 to 5 32 to 41 7 to 10 days
Rose (in preservative) 0.5 to 2 33 to 35 4 to 5 days
Rose (dry pack) 0 32 1 to 2 wk
Snapdragon 4 40 1 to 2 wk
Snowdrop 4 40 2 to 4 days
Squill 0 to 0.6 32 to 33 2 wk
Statice 2 35 2 to 3 wk
Stephanotis5 4 40 1 wk
Stevia 4 40 3 days
Stock 4 40 3 to 5 days
Strawflower, fresh 2 35 3 to 4 wk
Sweetpea -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 2 wk
Sweet-william 7 45 3 to 4 days
Tulip -0.5 to 0.6 31 to 33 2 to 3 wk
Violet 1 to 5 34 to 41 3 to 7 days
Zinnia 4 40 1 wk


Florist greens (decorative foliage)
2,3

Adiantum (maidenhair) 0 to 4 32 to 40 ---
Asparagus (plumosa)6 2 to 4 35 to 40 2 to 3 wk
Asparagus (sprenger)6 2 to 4 35 to 40 2 to 3 wk
Boxwood 2 to 4 35 to 40 1 to 2 mo
Camellia 4 40 ---
Cedar 0 32 1 mo
Chamaedorea 7 45 2 to 3 wk
Cordyline (ti) 7 to 10 45 to 50 2 to 3 wk
Croton 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Dieffenbachia 13 55 ---
Dracaena 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Dagger & wood ferns6 0 32 2 to 3 mo
Eucalyptus 2 to 4 35 to 40 1 to 3 wk
Galax6 0 32 ---
Ground Pine6 0 32 ---
Hedera 2 to 4 35 to 40 2 to 3 wk
Holly6 0 to 4 32 to 40 3 to 5 wk
Huckleberry 0 32 1 to 4 wk
Juniper 0 32 1 to 2 mo
Laurel, Mountain 0 32 2 to 4 wk
Leatherleaf (baker fern) 1 to 4 34 to 40 1 to 2 mo
Leucothoe, drooping 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Magnolia 2 to 4 35 to 40 2 to 4 wk
Mistletoe 0 32 3 to 4 wk
Myrtus (myrtle) 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Palm 7 45 ---
Philodendron 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Pittosporum 2 to 4 35 to 40 2 to 3 wk
Podocarpus 7 45 ---
Pothos 2 to 4 35 to 40 ---
Rhododendron 0 32 2 to 4 wk
Salal (lemon leaf)6 0 32 2 to 3 wk
Scotch-broom 4 40 2 to 3 wk
Smilax, southern6 4 40 ---
Staghorn fern 13 55 ---
Vaccinium (huckleberry)6 0 32 1 to 4 wk
Woodwardia fern 0 to 4 32 to 40 ---

1Storage periods given should allow satisfactory handling and keeping after removal from storage.
2High relative humidity of 90 to 95 percent recommended in refrigerated storage rooms for cut flowers and florist greens. Likely, some flowers for which temperature of 4 is recommended could be stored longer and safely at lower temperatures.
3At retail level, florist greens held at approximately 4 for only 1 or 2 wk. Most stored with stems in water, except where noted otherwise.
4Stems of orchids and some anthuriums should be placed in vials of water. However, some orchids and anthuriums may be stored by dry-pack methods.
5Not placed in water for handling or storage but may be misted.
6Usually held in moisture-retentive shipping cases.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture

Florists Directory