Even Number of Flowers: What It Means in Russia and How to Get It Right
In Russia an even number of flowers is given only at funerals, at graves and on memorial days; for birthdays, dates and any celebration the bouquet should have an odd number of main stems - 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and so on. Once a bouquet passes about 15 stems, the count is no longer noticed, so the rule matters most for small bouquets.
We have run flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, and the number of stems is one of the most frequent questions we hear, both at the counter and on the phone from people ordering from abroad. This article collects the answers we give every day: how to count, which cases are disputed, when an even number is exactly right and how to make sure the bouquet you order for someone in Russia arrives with the correct count.
The questions customers ask us most often
The most common request is simple: a customer picks a bunch of ten tulips and asks us to take one out or add one. Nobody in a Russian flower shop finds this strange, and it takes a few seconds. The second most frequent question comes from people abroad who saw a bouquet of 12 roses online and want to know whether it will upset a mother or grandmother in Russia. For older recipients we usually suggest 11 or 13 instead, because the difference in size is invisible and the doubt disappears.
Foreign visitors often ask whether the rule is real or just a polite legend. It is real, and it comes from the funeral custom: in Russia people bring two, four or six flowers to a cemetery, so a small even bouquet at a party looks like a mourning gesture. Younger Petersburgers may laugh it off, but the person receiving the flowers is often the one who was taught the rule as a child.
Another frequent question is whether the rule applies to a bouquet sent by delivery rather than handed over in person. It does. The recipient will see and count the stems in the vase the same way, and many people do count.
How the stems are counted
Only the main flowers count. Eucalyptus, pistacia, ruscus, ferns, gypsophila and other greenery or fillers are not included, so a bouquet of five roses with six sprigs of greenery is still a bouquet of five. Spray roses, spray chrysanthemums and orchids are counted by stem, not by the number of heads, which means one branch with seven small roses is one flower.
In a mixed bouquet the usual practice is to count all the main flowers together: three hydrangeas and four roses make seven. Some customers prefer every variety to be odd as well; it is easy to arrange and does no harm. Box arrangements, baskets and flowers in a pot are treated as a single gift, so there is no need to count what is inside.
A practical point people forget: if one stem wilts early and is taken out, a bouquet of seven becomes six. Many households in Russia then remove a second fading flower or move one into a separate small vase, so the main arrangement stays odd.
Bouquets we can deliver
Large bouquets and the dozen-roses question
Above roughly 15 stems the rule is relaxed in practice, because nobody stands by the vase counting 20 or 30 roses. Even so, most of our customers choose sizes such as 15, 25, 35 or 51, partly out of habit and partly because there is no reason to take a risk. For 101 roses the number itself has become a symbol of a grand gesture.
The dozen is the one case where Western and Russian traditions clash. Twelve red roses mean romance in the UK or the US, and many Russians in their twenties and thirties accept them in that spirit. For parents, grandparents, teachers or colleagues of the older generation we recommend 11 or 13. Our article why Russian bouquets have odd numbers of stems explains the background in more detail. Customers ordering for 9 May often add a short line on the card in memory of a relative, and that text is part of the order like any other card.
When an even number is the correct choice
Even numbers are expected at funerals, at a cemetery and at memorials. Two or four carnations, roses or chrysanthemums, most often dark red or white, are typical. Flowers are laid at the coffin, the grave or the monument rather than handed to relatives.
In Saint Petersburg this matters on several dates every year. On 27 January, the day the Siege of Leningrad was lifted, and on 9 May, people bring even numbers of carnations and tulips to the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery and to monuments across the city. Customers buying for these days ask us specifically for two or four stems, and the bouquet is kept simple, without bright wrapping.
If you are ordering flowers to be laid at a grave on behalf of a family, say clearly that the bouquet is for a memorial. That changes the count, the colours and the style of wrapping, and it avoids an awkward odd-numbered festive bouquet arriving at a solemn occasion.
Caring for the bouquet so the count stays right
An odd bouquet lasts better when every stem lasts, so a few care steps are worth knowing. Trim each stem by 1-2 cm at an angle with a sharp knife, remove leaves that would sit below the water line, and use cool, clean water. Change the water every day or two and trim the stems again each time.
Keep the vase away from radiators, direct sun and fruit bowls, since ripening fruit releases ethylene and shortens the life of many flowers. Roses usually last a week or more, chrysanthemums and alstroemeria often two weeks, tulips around five to seven days. If one flower fades much earlier than the rest, remove it together with one other stem, or move it into a separate glass, so the bouquet in the main vase stays odd.
Ordering a bouquet to Russia with the right number of stems
Every bouquet in our catalogue has its composition listed, so you can see the number of main flowers before you order. If you want to change the count, swap colours, or need a bouquet for a memorial with two or four stems, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 and we will confirm the details. A card with your text is free, and delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender unless you sign the card.
We deliver flowers across Russia. 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 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, or you can choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, which helps when you are ordering from another time zone.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If nobody is at home, we arrange a second delivery the same day or leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge with your consent. You can pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. All the details are on the delivery and payment page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is an even number of flowers bad in Russia?
Even numbers of flowers are brought to funerals and graves, so a small even bouquet for a living person looks like a mourning gesture. Many Russians, especially older people, still keep this rule. In Western countries the number has no such meaning.
Is 12 roses an even number problem?
Formally yes, though many younger Russians accept a dozen as a Western romantic gesture. For older relatives or people you do not know well, 11 or 13 roses are the safer choice.
Do I count greenery and filler flowers?
No. Only the main flowers are counted, by stem. Greenery, gypsophila and branches are not part of the count, and a spray rose with several heads is one stem.
How many flowers should I bring to a grave?
An even number: two, four or six flowers, usually carnations, roses or chrysanthemums in dark red or white. The bouquet is kept simple and laid at the grave or monument.
Can I order an even number of flowers for a memorial in Saint Petersburg?
Yes. Tell us when ordering that the flowers are for a memorial or a cemetery visit, or call 8 (812) 507-67-05, and we will make the bouquet with an even number of stems in suitable colours.
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