Farewell Flowers for a Boss: Choosing, Wording and Delivering
Farewell flowers for a boss should look respectful and calm rather than romantic: a medium or large bouquet of roses, chrysanthemums, lilies, hydrangeas or seasonal flowers in white, cream, blue, burgundy or soft pastel tones, usually given on the last working day on behalf of the whole team. Add a short card that thanks the person for their leadership, and choose a design that is easy to carry home or that can be delivered to the office or home address.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, which have been open since 2011, farewell bouquets for managers are a regular order, especially in summer and before New Year, when people retire or change jobs. Customers ask the same things: how big the bouquet should be, which colours avoid any wrong message, whether a man can be given flowers, and how to arrange delivery if part of the team works remotely or abroad. Here is what we advise.
What kind of bouquet suits a farewell to a boss
The most important quality of a farewell bouquet for a manager is restraint. Red roses in large numbers read as romantic in Russia, so for a boss we steer customers towards white, cream, peach, lilac or deep burgundy roses, or towards mixed bouquets where roses share the space with chrysanthemums, eustoma, hydrangea or alstroemeria. Clean shapes and quality greenery look more dignified than glitter, bows and heavy packaging.
Size depends on who is giving it. A bouquet from one person can be modest; a bouquet from a department should be noticeably larger, because it represents everyone. For a long-serving director retiring after many years, teams often choose a large arrangement in a box or basket, which stands on its own without a vase and is easy to carry to the car.
For a male boss, compact bouquets with strong lines work well: roses in burgundy or white, chrysanthemums, eucalyptus, anthurium, or flowers in a dark wrapping. In Russia it is normal to give flowers to men on a retirement or a farewell, especially from a team, and most men appreciate the gesture.
Colours, numbers and other Russian office etiquette
The stem rule matters at farewells as much as at birthdays. For a living person you always give an odd number of flowers in a bouquet where stems are counted, such as 9, 15 or 21 roses; even numbers are associated with funerals. In large mixed bouquets nobody counts, but customers who order mono-bouquets should keep this in mind.
Yellow is usually avoided at farewells, because older people in Russia sometimes read yellow flowers as a sign of parting, and at a real parting this can seem too pointed. Black wrapping and dark red with white are also better avoided, since this combination can look mournful. Soft, light colours or rich jewel tones feel right for the occasion.
Flowers are normally handed over by one person on behalf of the team, together with the card and, if the team has collected for it, a gift. If you are writing to a female manager, the tone stays the same: respectful, not personal. Our article on getting the tone right with a Russian boss goes into more detail.
Bouquets we can deliver
What to write on the farewell card
The card is often what the boss keeps after the flowers fade, so it deserves a few minutes. Keep it short and specific: thank the person for their leadership, mention one thing the team valued, and wish them well in what comes next. Two or three sentences are enough, signed by the team or by the department name.
A few formulas customers use with us: 'Thank you for your trust, your support and everything you taught us. We wish you success and good health in your next chapter. The sales team.' Or, for a retirement: 'Thank you for many years of wise leadership. Enjoy every day of your well-earned rest. With respect and gratitude, your colleagues.' Avoid jokes about age and avoid anything that sounds like relief at the departure.
The card with your text is free, and you can write it in Russian or English. For more phrasing ideas, see our guide to wording a card for your Russian boss.
Timing: when to give farewell flowers
The usual moment is the last working day, at the farewell gathering or just before it, so the boss can take the flowers home that evening. If there is a formal ceremony or a dinner, flowers are presented at the start, when everyone is together, rather than at the very end when people are leaving.
If the team is spread across offices or works remotely, delivery to the office at an agreed time works well. Choose an exact time or a time window that falls before the farewell meeting, and the bouquet will be waiting when the team gathers. Some teams prefer delivery to the boss's home on the first free morning, which makes a quiet and personal impression.
Remember the practical side. A manager leaving the office with a laptop bag and boxes of belongings will appreciate a bouquet that is not too tall and is packed for transport, or an arrangement that does not need a vase straight away. If the farewell is in winter, ask us to wrap the bouquet well, as frost can damage flowers within minutes outdoors.
Keeping the bouquet fresh after the farewell
Farewell bouquets often spend hours on a desk or in a car before reaching a vase. Advise the recipient, or add a line to the card, to recut the stems at an angle by 2-3 cm, remove leaves below the waterline and place the bouquet in cool water with flower food. Changing the water every two days and keeping the vase away from radiators extends vase life considerably.
Roses usually last about a week, chrysanthemums and alstroemeria often two weeks or more, while hydrangeas need plenty of water and like a regular mist. If you want flowers that will remind the boss of the team for longer, a bouquet based on chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and eucalyptus is the most durable choice.
How to order farewell flowers for a boss in Russia
Choose a bouquet in our bouquets catalogue, enter the office or home address and add the card text. Payment on the site is by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, which helps when colleagues abroad are paying. All conditions are on the delivery and payment page.
We deliver 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; you can also 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 delivery is around the clock.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if the boss is not there, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, hand the flowers to a colleague at reception or a concierge. Delivery is anonymous by default, so make sure the card says who the flowers are from. Questions about size or style can be discussed by phone at 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
What flowers are appropriate for a boss who is leaving?
Roses in white, cream, peach or burgundy, chrysanthemums, lilies, eustoma and hydrangea all suit a farewell. Avoid large numbers of red roses, which look romantic, and avoid yellow, which some people associate with parting.
How many flowers should be in a farewell bouquet?
In a bouquet where stems are counted, always choose an odd number, such as 9, 15 or 21. Even numbers are reserved for funerals in Russia.
Is it appropriate to give flowers to a male boss?
Yes, especially from a team at a retirement or farewell. Choose a compact bouquet with strong lines and darker or neutral colours.
Can the flowers be delivered to the office at a set time?
Yes, you can choose an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes or a time window. In Saint Petersburg delivery is around the clock.
Can colleagues abroad pay for the bouquet?
Yes, foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Russian cards, SBP and Yandex Pay also work.
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