Farewell Flowers for a Colleague: A Practical Guide
For a colleague who is leaving, the best farewell flowers are a bright, medium-sized bouquet in cheerful colours, such as roses, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums or seasonal tulips, with a short personal card signed by the team. Avoid all-white or very dark arrangements and, in Russia, even numbers of stems, and aim to hand the bouquet over on the last working day or deliver it to the colleague's home if they have already left.
Office customers usually come to our Saint Petersburg shops with three questions: how much to spend, which flowers will not look like a funeral or a romantic gesture, and how to get the bouquet to the right person at the right moment. This guide answers them in the order they usually come up, based on what we see teams order for farewells, retirements and relocations.
Which flowers suit a farewell
A farewell bouquet should say thank you and good luck, so the mood matters more than the specific flower. Warm, clear colours work best: yellow, orange, coral, light pink, lilac and fresh green. Roses in peach or cream, spray roses, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, gerberas and, in spring, tulips are all safe, long-lasting choices that look generous without being overly formal.
Two directions are better avoided. All-white or very dark bouquets with lilies and white chrysanthemums can read as mourning in Russia, which is the last impression you want at a leaving party. Deep red roses in a large number look romantic, and in a mixed office that can cause awkward jokes; if you like red, mix it with orange or pink so the bouquet reads as celebratory.
Think about the person too. A colleague moving to another city will appreciate a compact bouquet that survives a car journey, while someone retiring after many years can be given something bigger and more traditional. For men, a bouquet in blue, green and white tones or a neat arrangement of burgundy chrysanthemums is completely appropriate, and Russian men do receive flowers at work.
Size, number of stems and budget
In Russia, the number of stems matters: for any happy occasion, including a farewell, give an odd number, such as 5, 7, 9 or 11. Even numbers are traditionally associated with funerals; the rule is relaxed for large bouquets above about fifteen stems, but many people still notice. If you order a mixed bouquet, the florist will already have counted correctly.
For a colleague from the same department, a medium bouquet is usually right: something the person can comfortably carry home along with their boxes and gifts. For a long-serving employee or a team leader, the whole company often chips in for a larger arrangement. When several people contribute, agree the total in advance so that one person does not end up covering the difference.
If your company sends flowers regularly, for birthdays, anniversaries and farewells, it helps to set a simple rule for each occasion. Our guide to office gifting do's and don'ts shows how teams in Russia handle this so that no one feels singled out.
Bouquets we can deliver
What to write on the card
The card is often kept longer than the flowers, so it is worth a few minutes. Keep it to two or three sentences: thank the person for something specific, wish them well in the next step and sign it from the team or with all the names. Something like "Thank you for five years of calm answers to impossible questions. Good luck in Kazan, we will miss you. The finance team" is warmer than any generic phrase.
For a retiring colleague, mention their experience and what they taught others, and wish them time for what they love. For someone leaving for a competitor or after a difficult period, keep the message neutral and friendly; the card is not the place for office politics. If the colleague is Russian-speaking, even one line in Russian is appreciated.
Delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not say who sent the flowers. That is useful for personal gifts but less so for a farewell, so always sign the card clearly. The card with your text is free when you order with us.
Timing and etiquette in a Russian office
The usual moment to give farewell flowers is the last working day, often at a small office gathering with tea and cake after lunch. Order the bouquet for the morning or early afternoon so it is in the office before people start leaving. If the farewell is on a Friday evening, choose a time window that ends at least an hour before the gathering.
If the colleague has already left, sending flowers to their home is a thoughtful gesture, especially for retirement. In that case choose a time when the person is likely to be in, and make sure you have the correct phone number. Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if nobody is home, we agree a second delivery the same day or leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge with your consent.
For a manager who is leaving, the etiquette is slightly more formal, and bouquets tend to be a little larger and more restrained. We cover that situation separately in our guide to farewell flowers for your boss, and our Russian office farewell guide explains customs around leaving gatherings in more depth.
One practical detail is often forgotten: the colleague has to get the bouquet home. Choose a compact, sturdy bouquet rather than a tall, fragile one, and keep it in a vase or a jug of water until the end of the day so it survives the evening and a trip on the metro. If the person drives, a compact arrangement fits on the passenger seat without bending stems. Leaving the wrapping on for the journey and putting the bouquet into water as soon as the person gets home will keep it fresh for days.
Sending farewell flowers from abroad or to another city
Many orders for office farewells come from people who work remotely or from a head office outside Russia. Pyat Tsvetov has been running its own flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, on Ilyushina Street, the Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, and we deliver flowers across Russia. In large cities, express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after the order is confirmed.
For a farewell, a fixed time is usually more useful than speed. You can choose an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes, a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead, which is convenient when the last working day is known in advance. In Saint Petersburg delivery is around the clock, so an early morning bouquet before the office opens is also possible.
City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. You pay online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa. The details are on our delivery and payment page, and for questions about an office order call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
What flowers are good for a colleague who is leaving?
Bright, cheerful bouquets of roses in warm shades, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, gerberas or tulips work well. Avoid all-white arrangements and large bunches of deep red roses.
How many flowers should be in a farewell bouquet?
In Russia, give an odd number of stems, such as 7, 9 or 11. Even numbers are associated with funerals, although the rule matters less in very large bouquets.
Is it appropriate to give flowers to a male colleague?
Yes, flowers for men are common in Russian offices. Choose a restrained bouquet in blue, green, white or burgundy tones.
Can you deliver the bouquet to the office at a specific time?
Yes. You can choose an exact time within 30 minutes, a three-hour window or pre-order up to 30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg delivery is around the clock.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Yes, foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa. Payment by bank card, SBP and Yandex Pay is also available on the site.
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