FAQS

Q: Do we grow all flowers in New Zealand or are many of them imported?

The vast majority of flowers sold in NZ are grown here. The exceptions are some of the tropical varieties, mainly greenery and orchids that are imported from Singapore and Malaysia. During winter a small quantity of roses grown in India also find their way to some stores.

Q: Why do we use complicated Latin names, why can’t we use their normal names?

A Dianthus barbatus by any other name would smell as sweet!
It would, as most of you would know this flower as Sweet William.
Sometimes a flower has a common name, but this may not be what everybody calls it, or it is called by different names in other areas. A common name is like a nickname, everyone might call you “Blondie” or “Bazza” but that is not exactly how you are listed in the phonebook. With Latin or botanic names, you can look up the flower or plant anywhere in the world via books or the Internet and get the same information. But don’t worry too much, most Flowers Work Wonders retailers will be able to figure out what you are after, even if you just describe what the flower looks like.

Q: Why should we use flower food, my granny told me that bleach works fine?

Bleach is not the worst, as it will keep the bacteria in the vase water to a low level and thus the water clean. However, it is not specifically made for flowers, which can be quite sensitive, just a wee bit too much bleach might just be enough to shorten the vase-life of you flowers considerably.
Flower food is designed with all the nutrients flowers need in its formula, so not only does it keep the water clean it also feeds the flowers which helps them open fully and live longer.
Tests with roses have found that the vase-life of roses will be extended by up to 5 days if flower food is applied in the correct dose.

Q: Why do we cut the stems?

You should always cut 2 to 5 cm of the stem before putting your flowers in water. This is because the cells around the original cut eventually die, preventing water making its way up the stem.
Cutting the stems on a slant with a knife is best, however general cutting with scissors or secateurs will do, providing they are sharp enough to cut cleanly. Blunt scissors can crush the stems and prevent the flower taking up water.

Q: Is there such a thing as a black flower?

Real black flowers rarely exist in nature, however there are some varieties with what we commonly refer to ask Black flowers: the famous black tulip, black roses and the black calla lily.
The black is actually a very heavy mix of red and purple pigment in the flower; this colour is so deep that the flower appears to be black. On close scrutiny however you will be able to detect the real colours that make up the ‘Black’.