A Bouquet for Your Mother, Wife or Colleague: How to Match It to the Person and Occasion

The same bouquet can be perfect for a wife and quite inappropriate for a colleague. To save yourself the head-scratching, keep a simple cheat sheet in mind: who the person is to you, what the occasion is and what her personality is like.

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For your mother

Delicate, homely flowers suit a mother best: peonies, garden roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias and eustoma in pastel pink, peach and white. The bouquet should be generous but not showy. Flowers in a basket or box are a good idea, as she won’t need to look for a vase. A houseplant such as a cyclamen or a begoniawill delight her for months.

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Illustration 1. Delicate peonies and pastel colours are an unbeatable choice for a mother.

For your wife or partner

Classic red roses, burgundy shades and large single-variety bouquets of 25–51 flowers are appropriate here. But the best bouquet is one made of her favourite flowers. If you don’t know which she likes, think about what she photographs or saves on Instagram, or ask the florist for a mixed bouquet in her favourite colours. On the symbolism of colours, see a separate article.

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Illustration 2. A large bouquet of red roses is a classic for the woman you love.

For a colleague

A bouquet for a colleague should be pleasant but neutral, without romantic overtones. Bright mixed bouquets of gerberas, sunflowers, chrysanthemums and alstroemerias in yellow, orange and white work well. Medium size: 5–9 flowers or a small arrangement. Red roses are best avoided. More about daisy-like flowers in the article flowers that look like daisies.

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Illustration 3. Bright gerberas and sunflowers are cheerful and free of any hidden message.

For a female boss or business partner

Restrained and elegant: white or cream flowers, orchids, a minimalist arrangement in a box. A potted orchid is an excellent gift: it will stay in her office for months as a reminder of your attention.

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Illustration 4. An orchid in a planter is a prestigious and long-lasting gift.

For a friend, sister or acquaintance

Cheerful mixed bouquets, seasonal flowers, baskets of mixed blooms. You can pick her favourite colours or flowers to suit the mood. A basket of roses, eustoma and daisies is a good option.

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Illustration 5. A basket of mixed flowers is bright, friendly and practical.

Three questions to ask yourself

1. Who is she to me? This decides the colour and size.
2. Where will she receive the bouquet? In an office a box is more convenient; at home, a bouquet for a vase. Compare the formats in the article bouquet, box or basket.
3. What does she like? Her favourite flowers always matter more than any rules.

In short. For a mother, delicate and generous; for a partner, romantic; for a colleague, bright and neutral; for a boss, restrained; for a friend, cheerful. And for how many flowers to give, see our cheat sheet.

For card messages for a colleague, see birthday wishes for a colleague.

To go with the bouquet, pick one of our birthday wishes for your wife.