Flowers for Teachers: Bouquets for 1 September, Teachers' Day and Graduation

Flowers for teachers are given on 1 September, on Teachers' Day, at the last bell and at graduation. A good bouquet for a teacher is not the biggest one but the most fitting: easy for a child to carry, long-lasting and not overly romantic. Here is which flowers to choose for each occasion, how to get the size right and what to add to the gift. Ideas for other people and occasions are in our guide what to give: gift ideas. For what to add to the bouquet, see gift ideas for teachers.

Ready-made bouquets for teachers are available in our flowers for colleagues section, and long-lasting autumn ones among our chrysanthemums.

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Occasions and dates

In Ukraine, Education Workers' Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of October, and 5 October is UNESCO's World Teachers' Day. Two more traditional occasions are 1 September and the end of the school year (the last bell and graduation). Each calls for its own kind of bouquet:

Which flowers suit a teacher

• Chrysanthemums — hardy, last up to 2–3 weeks, many autumn shades.
• Gladioli — a 1 September classic; 3–5 medium stems are easiest to carry.
• Roses and spray roses — a versatile choice in light and warm tones (white, cream, peach, yellow).
• Asters, sunflowers, alstroemeria, hydrangeas — early-autumn seasonal flowers.
• Lisianthus and peonies — delicate options for graduation.

It is best to avoid overtly romantic combinations (such as dark red roses), strongly scented lilies in a small classroom and huge arrangements that are hard to take home.

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Size and wrapping

• For a first-grader — a compact bouquet a child can hold in one hand, without long stems or heavy wrapping.
• From one pupil — 5–15 stems or a small mixed bouquet.
• From the class — one larger arrangement; flowers in a box or basket can go straight on the desk without a vase.
• Wrapping — kraft, felt or simple paper; glitter and plastic decorations look dated.

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Bouquets for 1 September

Teachers receive lots of flowers on the first day of school, so a small, hardy bouquet is more practical: chrysanthemums, asters, gladioli, spray roses. Buy the flowers the evening before and keep them cool in water; wrapping the stem ends in a damp tissue and film makes the bouquet easier for a child to carry.

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Bouquets for Teachers' Day

Warm autumn tones suit October: orange and burgundy chrysanthemums, terracotta roses, hydrangeas, sunflowers and hypericum berries. Since the holiday falls on a Sunday, flowers are usually given on Friday or Monday, so vase life matters.

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Graduation and the last bell

At the end of the school year there is more choice: peonies (in season from late May through June), garden roses, lisianthus, hydrangeas. The class teacher often gets a joint gift from the parents — an arrangement in a basket or box and a card with thank-you notes from the pupils.

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What to add to the flowers

• A card signed by the child or the whole class.
• A good book, tea or coffee, sweets.
• A houseplant for the classroom — low-maintenance plants will last the whole school year.

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FAQ

When is Teachers' Day in Ukraine?

On the first Sunday of October. World Teachers' Day is 5 October.

Which flowers should not be given to a teacher?

Overtly romantic dark red roses, strongly scented lilies and huge arrangements that are awkward to take home.

How many flowers should be in the bouquet?

Bouquets use an odd number of stems; 5–11 stems or a small mixed bouquet is usually enough from one pupil.

For graduation card messages, see graduation wishes.

For thank-you messages, see Teachers' Day wishes.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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