Flowers from the tropics - sending tropical flowers - Brief Article

Black Enterprise, April, 2000 by Monique R. Brown

Make the right impression by choosing blossoms from afar

"If you want to make an impression, send tropical flowers," advises Debra Williams-Rich, a floral designer in Maryland's Vince's Agnes Flower Shop. Williams-Rich is among the few floral designers with the distinguished AIFD (American Institute of Floral Design) certification. There are only 1300 in the world and fewer than 10 are African American. Williams-Rich is an expert in tropical flowers and says the sender of these colorful beauties communicates that he is looking for the extraordinary and wants the recipient to have the very best. "Tropical flowers often have unique shapes and come in extremely vivid colors. They have an unusual beauty," she explains. "A sender of tropical flowers is someone who emphasizes value over price."

Your decision to select tropical flowers over more commonly available flowers will affect the price you pay. "When you're shipping flowers (tropicals typically weigh more and are larger than non-tropical flowers) from Hawaii, South America and some parts of Europe, you have to pay a lot of money for freight," Williams-Rich cautions. But these rare, foreign-born beauties last days longer than their less-expensive counterparts. Furthermore, they are very durable.

For the best presentation, choose your selection under the advice of a florist and opt to pay for a professional arrangement of tropical flowers rather than handling them yourself. "It's definitely worth the money," because it will distinguish your blossoms from less astute colleagues. Generally, tropicals are available all year round, have a long shelf life and will be remembered a lot longer than inexpensive substitutes.

Flower Dendrobium Orchid

Origin Hawaii, Thailand, some from U.S.

Price/stem $3-$5

Life 5-7 days a Cymbidium can last up to 21 days

FYI About 127 varieties. They are fragrant, which is usual for tropical flowers

Flower Anthurium

Origin Primary Hawaii, parts of South and Central America

Price/stem $4.50-$7.50

Life 5-7 days

FYI At least 20 varieties

Flower Heliconia

Origin Hawaii, Columbia, Costa Rica

Price/stem Starts around $7.50; can cost more depending on size and weight

Life 7-14 days

FYI Over 100 varieties.

Flowers Psitticorum

Origin Hawaii, Columbia, Costa Rica

Price/stem $3-$5

Life 5-14 days

FYI 20 varieties. Also known as small Birds of Paradise

Flower Bird of Paradise

Origin Hawaii, South America, Holland, South Africa

Price/stem $3.50-$6.50

Life 5-14 days

FYI Two types: the orange one is the most common; the rarest is black and runs as much as $25 per stem

Flower Queen Protea

Origin Hawaii, Costa Rica; originally from South Africa

Price/stem $7.50

Life 7-21 days

FYI All least 10 varieties

(*) Can last as long as 21 days depending on the variety. Most expensive exotic plant because of size, weight, and rarity. The Southern Cross Heliconia can be as long as 48 inches and weighs 5 to 10 pounds. It is available from July to August.