Most people choose a vase by how it looks on the shelf. That matters, but a vase is only finished when something is in it. Thinking about the stems first, and the material and shape second, makes the choice much easier.

Start with what goes in it

• A single bloom or cutting: a bud vase or a slim tube.
• A small handful of stems: a vase with a narrow neck, so the stems lean against each other and stand upright.
• A full bouquet: a wider opening and a heavier base.
• Dried stems or pampas grass: any vase, including ones that are not watertight, since no water is needed.

Glass: light, clear and colorful

Glass shows the stems and the water, which suits simple arrangements of one or two varieties. Clear glass looks best with clean water, so change it every couple of days.

Hand blown glass adds color and small variations. The Hand-Blown Gradient Glass Flower Vase shifts from clear to a deep smoky tone and suits a single bud, eucalyptus or dried pampas. The Minimalist Inverse Hand Blown Glass Vase holds its color behind a thick clear wall, so it glows when the light moves.

Frosted glass: soft and forgiving

Frosted glass hides stems below the waterline, which makes even a few branches look considered. It is the most forgiving choice if you are not confident arranging flowers.

The Frosted Glass Vase in Matte Finish comes in a low wide shape for garden roses on a dining table and taller shapes for branches.

Ceramic and porcelain: quiet and sculptural

Ceramic is opaque, so the vase itself becomes the focus. It suits dried arrangements, single sculptural stems and spaces where you want a calm, matte surface.

The Petite Ceramic Teardrop Bud Vase is only a few inches high, ideal for a single bloom or a sprig of rosemary on a windowsill. The Modern Void Ceramic Vase has a polished silver finish and an open center that works as a sculpture with or without flowers.

Concrete, wood and metal: weight and structure

These materials pair a natural or industrial base with a glass insert for water. They are steady on a shelf and make good use of small spaces.

• The Cylindrical Glass & Concrete Vase sets a glass tube into a hand poured concrete base. It can hold fresh stems or be layered with pebbles and moss as a small terrarium.
• The Metal Wire Glass Tube Vase frames a removable test tube in fine iron wire, so a single stem looks like a line drawing.
• The Handcrafted Wooden Wall Vase mounts flat on the wall in walnut or beech, which is useful when there is no shelf space. It also works for propagating plant cuttings.

A few rules of thumb

• Height: stems look balanced at about one and a half to two times the height of the vase.
• Dining tables: keep arrangements low enough to see over.
• Groups: two or three bud vases in a row, each with a single stem, often look better than one large arrangement.
• Care: trim stems at an angle and change the water every two to three days to make fresh flowers last longer.

Browse the full vase collection, or see vases and planters together.

Common questions

What is a bud vase used for?

A bud vase holds a single flower, a small sprig or a cutting. It is ideal for small spaces like a windowsill, bathroom shelf or nightstand.

Is glass or ceramic better for a vase?

Glass suits simple arrangements where you want to see the stems and water. Ceramic is opaque, so it suits dried flowers and places where you want the vase itself to stand out.

Can I use a vase for dried flowers?

Yes. Any vase works for dried stems or pampas grass because no water is needed.