Birthday flowers: picking the right bunch
A card on the mantelpiece is lovely; a bunch of flowers on the kitchen table is something the birthday girl or boy sees every time they walk past for a week. The trick is matching the flowers to the person and the age.
Bright bouquets for birthdays.
See birthday flowersStart with the person
- Your mam or granny: soft pinks and lilacs, roses or a scented mixed bunch. Ask yourself what she grows in her own garden.
- A sister or close friend: something fashionable and generous, such as peonies in early summer or a big seasonal hand-tied bunch.
- A husband, wife or sweetheart: red or deep pink roses say romance; their favourite flower says you were paying attention.
- A colleague: bright and neutral, like gerberas or sunflowers. Small enough for a desk.
- A teenager: bold colours, or a plant for the bedroom windowsill.
- A man: sunflowers, orange roses, or a sturdy pot plant. Flowers for men are not unusual any more.
Milestone birthdays
The 21st is still a big night in Ireland, often with a party and a symbolic key. Flowers to the house that morning are a nice touch from grandparents or godparents. The 40th, 50th and 60th deserve something generous, perhaps in the person’s favourite colour or with the number on the card. And a 100th birthday is a true occasion here: the President sends a letter of congratulations and a gift to Irish centenarians, and the family usually gathers. Flowers for the day, and for the care home or house where the celebration is held, are always welcome.
Go with the season
- Winter: amaryllis, roses and evergreens; a hyacinth bowl lasts for weeks.
- Spring: tulips, narcissi and blossom, fresh and inexpensive.
- Summer: peonies early, then sunflowers, sweet pea and garden roses.
- Autumn: dahlias, chrysanthemums and warm oranges and burgundies.
Send birthday flowers to someone in Ireland.
Choose a bouquetOn the card
Keep it personal and short. A line from an old joke between you, or simply “Happy birthday, have a great day, love from all of us,” is plenty. If the flowers are a surprise from several people, list them so the birthday person knows who to thank.
A word on numbers
Irish florists do not follow strict rules about odd or even numbers, and nobody here will count the stems. Some people from Eastern European and other cultures do link even numbers with funerals, so if the person grew up with that custom, an odd number is the safer choice. Otherwise, choose a size that feels generous rather than a magic number.
For colour meanings see flower language, for romantic choices our rose guide, and for addresses and timing the guide to sending flowers. Ready? Send flowers now.
