Even Amount of Flowers: What It Means in Russia and Around the World
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and several other Eastern European countries, an even amount of flowers is associated with funerals and remembrance: you bring two, four or six stems to a grave or a memorial, while bouquets for living people traditionally have an odd number. In most Western countries the number carries no such meaning, and a dozen roses is the classic romantic gift.
This is one of the most frequent questions we hear in our Saint Petersburg shops, usually from customers who live abroad or are buying flowers for a Russian partner, colleague or mother-in-law for the first time. Below is how the rule works in practice, where it stops applying, and how to count stems so that nobody at the door starts counting them for you.
Where the even-number rule comes from
The custom is old and has several explanations, none of them definitive. One common view is that odd numbers were seen as lucky and connected with life, while paired, completed numbers symbolised a finished life. Another links the tradition to Orthodox funeral practice, where candles and flowers were brought in pairs. Whatever the origin, the association is firmly fixed today: an even bouquet handed to a living person in Russia reads as a mistake at best and a bad omen at worst.
For older people the rule is close to a superstition, and many will quietly remove one stem or add another before putting the flowers in a vase. Younger people in big cities are more relaxed, but most still notice. Our advice in the shop is simple: if the recipient grew up in Russia or a neighbouring country, keep to an odd number, because there is nothing to gain from breaking the rule and a small risk of an awkward moment.
For a fuller look at the history and the regional differences, see our article Even Number of Flowers in Russia: Meaning, Rules and Exceptions.
When an even amount is the right choice
Even numbers are not a taboo in themselves; they have their own proper place. Two, four, six or eight carnations or roses are the standard tribute at a funeral, at a grave on a memorial day, and at war memorials on 9 May. Red carnations in pairs are the traditional flowers for Victory Day and for laying at an eternal flame, and dark red or white roses in an even number are common at funerals.
At a funeral the flowers are usually placed at the coffin or the grave rather than handed to the family. If you want to support the bereaved family personally, a modest bouquet with an odd number of white or soft-coloured flowers handed to them at home is appropriate, while the even tribute goes to the deceased. Many customers are not aware of this distinction, and it is worth getting right.
When ordering flowers for a funeral or memorial, say so clearly, so the florist can count stems to an even number on purpose and avoid bright, festive wrapping in favour of calm colours and minimal decoration. It is a small detail, but the family will notice it.
Bouquets we can deliver
The big-bouquet exception
The rule applies to small bouquets where the number is obvious at a glance. Once a bouquet has more than about fifteen flowers, nobody counts and the meaning disappears. A large armful of 20, 26 or 50 roses is perfectly acceptable for a birthday or anniversary, and you will see such bouquets carried through Saint Petersburg every day.
Mixed arrangements work the same way. In a composition of roses, eustoma, chrysanthemum sprays and greenery, the number of stems is not visible and nobody tries to establish it. Spray roses and spray chrysanthemums have several heads on one stem, which makes counting meaningless. Flower boxes and baskets are also judged as a whole rather than by number.
A dozen roses is the one case that still causes confusion. For a Western partner twelve roses are the natural romantic gesture; for a Russian recipient, eleven or thirteen sends the same message without the funeral association. When customers ask us, we usually suggest eleven or fifteen, which look just as generous in the hand.
How florists actually count stems
Count only the main flowers. Greenery, eucalyptus, gypsophila, filler flowers and decorative branches are never included in the number. A bouquet of seven roses with eucalyptus and a cloud of gypsophila is still a bouquet of seven, which is what the recipient will see and feel.
For a single flower, the answer is always one. A single rose for a date, a single gerbera for a colleague or a single long-stemmed lily is a well-understood gesture and fits the odd-number rule neatly. Three, five and seven are the most popular small bouquets, and they also happen to look balanced, because odd numbers create a natural centre point in an arrangement.
Potted plants are outside the rule completely. An orchid with two or four flower spikes or a pot of cyclamen is just a plant, and nobody reads it as a funeral sign. The same goes for a bouquet where one flower has a broken head and was removed after delivery: it is the giver's intention that counts, and that was clear at the start.
Other countries, other numbers
If you send flowers to several countries, it helps to know that the meaning of numbers is not universal. In the UK, the US, Canada and most of Western Europe even numbers are entirely normal, and a dozen or half a dozen is the standard way flowers are sold. In Germany and some neighbouring countries odd numbers are traditional for small bouquets too, though the funeral association is weaker than in Russia.
In China even numbers are generally considered lucky, with one strong exception: the number four sounds like the word for death and is avoided. In Japan four and nine are avoided for similar reasons, and a bouquet of thirteen can be seen as unlucky in some Western households. When in doubt, ask the person who knows the recipient's family best, or choose a mixed arrangement where nobody counts.
The colour of the flowers can carry meaning too, independently of the number. We explain one of the most debated colours in Yellow Flowers Meaning: Joy, Friendship.
Ordering a bouquet with the right number in Russia
When you order from abroad, choose a bouquet in our catalogue and check the number of main flowers before you pay. If the bouquet is for a funeral or memorial, or you are unsure whether the count suits the occasion, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 and we will help you get the number and the colours right.
City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after confirmation, and you can also choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a window such as 09-12 or 15-18, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, which helps when you are ordering from a different time zone.
You can pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Delivery is anonymous by default, a card with your text is free, and the courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. Details are on the Delivery and payment page.
Frequently asked questions
What does an even amount of flowers mean in Russia?
An even number of flowers is associated with funerals and remembrance. For birthdays, dates and other happy occasions Russians give an odd number of flowers.
Is it bad luck to give 12 roses to a Russian woman?
Many Russian recipients will notice an even number and may find it uncomfortable. Eleven or thirteen roses carry the same romantic message without the funeral association.
Does the rule apply to large bouquets?
No. In bouquets of more than about fifteen flowers, and in mixed arrangements, nobody counts the stems. A bouquet of 50 or 26 roses is perfectly acceptable.
Is greenery counted in the number of flowers?
No. Only the main flowers are counted. Greenery, gypsophila, eucalyptus and filler flowers are not part of the number.
How many flowers should I bring to a funeral in Russia?
Bring an even number, usually two, four or six carnations or roses, in calm colours such as red, white or burgundy. They are placed at the coffin or the grave.
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