A display vase adapted to hold a variety of longitudinal stems or sticks, the vase including a retainer mountable within the transparent vase that can hold a multitude of display items. The retainer may sit on a shelf or retaining ring inside the vase. The retainer may include an array of hexagonally shaped cells that may interlock with a lower level of interlocking cells. Also included is a method of arranging and displaying stemmed items in a vase. A retainer is set in a vase and stems are secured therethrough, preferably into a frog apparatus at bottom of vase.