The Essential Guide To The Bouvardia
Botanical Name: Bouvardia spp.
Common Name: Bouvardia
General Knowledge: Bouvardia, with its star-shaped flowers and appealing fragrance, is originally from Central America, extending from Mexico to parts of South America. In Australia, bouvardia is popular in the floral industry for bridal bouquets and arrangement fillers due to its delicate clusters of blooms and long-lasting nature. A fun fact about bouvardia is that it is named after Charles Bouvard, the personal physician to Louis XIII and the superintendent of the Jardin du Roi in Paris, yet it's also admired by horticulturists for its ability to attract hummingbirds in its native habitat.
Colour Range: Bouvardia flowers come in various colours. B. humboldtii is typically white, while B. longiflora can be found in white, scarlet, and pink.
Australian Seasonal Availability: In Australia, Bouvardia is naturally available in the summer and autumn months. However, greenhouse cultivation has extended its availability beyond the natural growing season.
Australian Wedding and Event Season Availability: Given its summer and autumn availability, Bouvardia makes a beautiful addition to events and weddings held during these seasons in Australia.
Commercially Grown in Australia: Bouvardia is commercially grown in Australia.
Buying Tips: Look for Bouvardia stems where the first two or three florets have started to open, and the buds are showing colour. Avoid bunches with yellowed foliage, as this could be a sign of poor storage conditions or insufficient plant nutrition.
Design Tips and Advice: Bouvardia is a transitional and delicate flower, mainly used for natural stem bunches, wedding bouquets, and cottage-style posies. Its fragrant and colourful blooms add a touch of elegance and charm to any floral arrangement.
Flower Maturity: Purchase Bouvardia when the first few florets are open, and the buds show colour for optimal maturity.
Expected Vase Life: Bouvardia has a relatively moderate vase life, ranging from 6 to 12 days.
Typical Stem Length: The stems of Bouvardia typically range from 50 to 70 cm in length.
Typical Bunch Size: The number of stems per bunch is variable.
Floral Preservatives: Because of their ethylene sensitivity, Bouvardia flowers should be pre-treated with 1-MCP or STS. Research has shown STS to be the superior pre-treatment because it protects not only the open flowers but also the developing buds from the effects of ethylene.
Ethylene Sensitivity: Bouvardia is highly sensitive to ethylene, and pre-treatment for ethylene sensitivity is required. Fresh flower food can protect the blooms from early wilting and helps prevent bacterial contamination of the stems.
Temperature Requirements: Store Bouvardia at cool temperatures between 2–4 °C.
Avoiding Potential Problems: Handle Bouvardia with great care to prevent bruising of the delicate petals. The flower is prone to water loss, so frequent cutting of stems and addition of fresh flower food are necessary. Ensure good ventilation to prevent Botrytis infection and remove the top bud and side shoots outside of the main inflorescence to encourage the other flowers to open.
Cooling and Cool Rooms: Utilise cool storage between 2–4 °C, but limit holding time to no more than 2 days due to Bouvardia’s short vase life.
Hydration and Vase Solutions: Ensure proper hydration and use floral preservatives in the vase water to maximise vase life and maintain flower quality.
Care of Ethylene Sensitive Products: Since Bouvardia is highly sensitive to ethylene, proper care and pre-treatment are essential to prevent premature wilting and maintain the quality of the blooms.