When it comes to life’s more accessible luxuries, fresh flowers are at the top of my list. My favorite part of entertaining at home is going flower shopping the morning that I’m having people over. I always return with a spring in my step; arranging the blooms and setting them out around my apartment puts me in a hostessing mood, and motivates me to tackle the more mundane tasks on my to-do list (like vacuuming and dusting). Simply put, flowers make me (and others) happy, and instantly bring a space to life.

Unfortunately, in New York City, flowers, like most things, can be expensive, so I always try to value shop by buying those that are both beautiful and long-lasting. Below are my top picks (so to speak) for the best buds for your buck.

Oriental lilies reign supreme in terms of beauty, fragrance and staying power. While they’re an investment ($4-$5 per stem at most delis/flower stands in the city), they last at least a week–sometimes two–and smell truly heavenly. Shiny, dark green leaves indicate freshness; I always look for stems where most of the buds are poised to open to ensure they’ll last as long as possible.

When it comes to longevity, it’s almost impossible to beat alstroemerias, also known as Peruvian lilies. While they’re short on scent, few flowers stand the test of time like they do–often two weeks. And they’re widely available in a rainbow of colors.

Eucalyptus has an untamed, uncontrived appeal, a lovely blue-green hue, and an invigorating fragrance. It also looks almost as great dried as it does fresh.

As an alternative to the ubiquitous, standard-issue roses that are virtually a dime a dozen, try spray roses instead. With their small blooms and subtle shades, they’re charming and sweet in an English-garden kind of way, and look lovely for days.

Few things say spring has sprung like peach blossoms. The branches have a gorgeous sculptural quality, and will keep sprouting new buds for weeks.

My favorite flower of all? Peonies (pictured at top). Like most great beauties, they’re hard to find (peony season is short and fleeting), don’t come cheap, and are utterly captivating…and to me, well worth the splurge.