How Many Flowers to Give: Odd and Even Numbers Around the World

When choosing a bouquet, many people in Ukraine count the stems to make sure the number is not even. Where does this rule come from, does it apply elsewhere, and do numbers of flowers have a “language” of their own? Here is a look free of superstition but respectful of tradition.

Bouquets with any number of flowers: 101 roses and large rose bouquets.

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The odd-number rule

In Ukraine and neighbouring countries, an odd number of flowers is given for happy occasions, while even numbers are brought to funerals and memorials. The custom applies mainly to small bouquets. Once there are more than a dozen flowers, nobody usually counts, so the rule is rarely observed for large arrangements. For baskets and boxes with dozens of blooms, the number does not matter either.

Other countries

• Western Europe and the US. Odd or even does not matter, and the classic romantic gift is a dozen roses.
• China. The number 4 sounds like the word for “death”, so it is avoided, while 8 and 9 are considered lucky.
• Japan. Also avoids 4, and often 9, because they sound like the words for “death” and “suffering”.

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What numbers of roses “mean”

Florists have popular informal interpretations: one rose is a token of attention or “love at first sight”, three means “I love you”, five expresses admiration, and 101 roses is a grand gesture of love. This is more a modern custom than a strict language, but many recipients know it. For more flower symbolism, see the language of flowers in a wedding bouquet, and for the biggest day for roses, Valentine’s Day.

Practical tips

• For a small celebratory bouquet in Ukraine, choose 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 flowers.
• If in doubt, order an arrangement in a box or basket, where nobody counts.
• For people from other cultures, check local customs — especially the number 4 in China and Japan.

FAQ

Is it OK to give 10 roses?

By Ukrainian tradition, 9 or 11 is better for a small celebratory bouquet, though many people today do not mind.

At what size does the count stop mattering?

For bouquets of more than 15 flowers, nobody usually checks whether the number is odd or even.

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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.