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Last updated: August 2026
A bride once handed me a Pinterest photo of a tall glass cylinder packed with calla lilies and spiral bamboo and asked if we could recreate it for her head table. I remember thinking it looked far more complicated than it actually is. It’s one of the easiest high-impact centerpieces in the book.
In this video, master florist Alexandra Lyons walks through an easy way to arrange calla lilies in a glass cylinder vase. Whether you’ve done this a hundred times or never once, you’ll pick up something useful here. Watch it, and see if you agree.
If you’re planning something similar for an event, here are a few takeaways worth knowing that the video doesn’t spell out.
It looks complicated. It isn’t. Follow the steps below, and you’ll amaze your guests without breaking a sweat.
Sourcing the Flowers and Supplies You Need
Cylinder vases come in different heights and diameters. For stability, choose the larger diameter. The vase in the video is 6 inches across, which is wide enough to support the spiral bamboo without tipping.
You can buy or rent cylinder vases. If renting, check with local wedding florists or event rental companies first.
What I use in the shop: for larger sizes, I buy directly from VaseMarket.com, a supplier that specializes in event glass.
The calla lilies themselves are available through online wholesalers. When we’re doing multiple arrangements for an event, bulk pricing makes a real difference once you’re past two or three arrangements. For smaller one-off orders, a reputable local wholesaler or florist works fine too.
The spiral bamboo used in the video, along with 28-gauge crimped bullion wire for securing it, is easy to find online or through your local florist. Bullion wire has earned a permanent spot in my kit, and I get into why in my rundown of the tools I reach for every day.
When ordering calla lilies and bamboo online, make sure both are at least as tall as your vase. Read the fine print on stem length before you order, or you’ll end up trimming more than you’d like.
Preparing the Cylinder Vases
This is the easy part. You’ll need pebbles or river rocks, available at any landscape or garden center.
Add enough rocks to cover the bottom of the vase, then a couple of inches of water, and you’re ready to start arranging.
In the video, floral preservative gets added to the water at the end. In my experience, it’s better to mix the preservative into the water beforehand so it’s evenly distributed from the start.
Watch the weight. Vases get heavy fast if you overdo the rocks or the water, and heavy cylinder vases are the last thing you want to be handling at a reception venue. Ask me how I know.
Adding the Calla Lilies and Bamboo
Wire each calla lily to a bamboo stalk for support. If you’re using three flowers, insert the shortest bloom first and work up to the longest stem. Follow the same order shown in the video.
Once all three stems sit where you want them in the vase, you’re done. That’s genuinely all there is to it.
If you’re making multiples, keep the first finished stem as a template for cutting the rest. That way, if you need to finish arrangements on-site at the venue, every stem is pre-measured and ready to go. It cuts down on-site labor time considerably, and makes delivery and setup a lot less stressful.
FAQ: Calla Lily Cylinder Arrangements
How many calla lilies do I need per vase?
Three stems is the sweet spot for most 6-inch cylinders, tall enough to feel intentional without looking sparse. Wider vases can handle five or more.
Do I need to wire the calla lilies to the bamboo?
Yes, for anything taller than about 18 inches. Calla lily stems are naturally flexible and will lean or bend without support, especially once they’ve taken up water and gotten heavier.
Can I curve the stems instead of keeping them straight?
For this cylinder look, straight and wired is the way to go. But if you ever want calla lilies to curve into a globe vase or a softer, sculptural shape, gently rub the back of each stem between your fingers. It relaxes the fibers enough to bend without snapping.
How long will this arrangement last?
With fresh water changed every two to three days and a floral preservative, calla lilies typically hold up 7 to 10 days in a cylinder vase. For the full rundown on conditioning and extending vase life even longer, see my calla lily cut flower care guide.
Can I use a substitute for spiral bamboo?
Curly willow branches work well and give a similar structural effect with a softer, more organic look. Either way, the goal is the same: something rigid enough to give the calla lily stems support.
Will the rocks and water make the vase too heavy to move?
It can, on a tall cylinder. If the arrangement needs to travel to a venue, assemble it on-site rather than transporting a fully filled vase. It’s much safer than risking a spill in transit.
Closing Thoughts
This is one of those arrangements that looks like it took hours of design school training, when really it’s rocks, water, and three well-placed stems. That’s the whole trick with calla lilies: a little structure goes a long way.
If a bouquet is more your speed than a centerpiece, my guide to a cascading calla lily bridal bouquet walks through the same wiring principle in a different shape.
Give it a try, and let me know in the comments how many stems you ended up using and what vase size you went with.
Til next time, Greg Johnson, FlowerDesignGuide.com
