Colombian Flowers Explained by Saint Petersburg Florists
Colombia is a flower superpower: it is the second-largest exporter of cut flowers in the world after the Netherlands and the main supplier of roses and carnations to the United States. Most Colombian flowers are grown on the cool high plateau around Bogota and in the Antioquia region near Medellin, where equatorial light and mild temperatures allow harvests twelve months a year. Roses, standard and spray carnations, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and hydrangeas are the country's best-known crops.
Customers in our Saint Petersburg shops ask about flower origins more often than you might expect. People read a label or hear a florist mention Colombia, Ecuador or Kenya and want to know whether it matters. It does, to a degree: origin influences head size, stem length, colour range and how a flower behaves in the vase. Below we compare the main growing countries, explain what Colombia does best and give care advice that works for flowers of any origin.
Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, the Netherlands: what the origin tells you
Ecuadorian roses are grown even higher in the Andes, close to Quito, and are famous for the biggest heads and very long, thick stems, sometimes approaching a metre. They are the classic choice for luxurious long-stemmed bouquets. Colombian roses usually have slightly smaller heads but an excellent balance of head, stem and vase life, plus a huge range of colours and varieties, which is why they dominate the North American market.
Kenyan roses come mostly from farms around Lake Naivasha, also at altitude. They tend to have smaller heads and shorter stems, are often sold in bright, cheerful colours and are popular for compact mixed bouquets and spray roses. Dutch flowers are grown in high-tech greenhouses in a temperate climate; the Netherlands is strongest in tulips, spray roses, novelty varieties and flowers that are hard to grow in the tropics.
Origin is only part of the story. A rose of any country that was cut at the right stage, kept cold and handled carefully will outlast a famous variety that spent too long in a warm room. When customers ask us which rose will last, we look at the flower itself - firm head, healthy leaves, clean stem end - rather than the label alone.
Why the high Andes produce such strong flowers
The Bogota savanna lies at about 2,600 metres, just north of the equator. Day length barely changes during the year, the sun is intense, and nights are cool. Under these conditions roses grow slowly, which gives them more petals, a bigger bud and denser tissue. Denser tissue means the flower loses water more slowly and copes better with travel.
The same climate suits carnations, which prefer cool conditions and strong light. Colombia is one of the world's leading carnation growers, and much of the modern colour range - antique pink, coffee, lime green, bicolours with a painted edge - is bred and grown there. For hydrangeas, the cooler, humid hills of Antioquia produce large, dense heads in white, blue, green and pink.
Altitude also explains the year-round supply. A greenhouse in Europe needs heating and extra lighting in winter, while a farm in the Andes simply carries on. That is why roses are available in mid-January as easily as in June.
Bouquets we can deliver
Carnations, alstroemeria and orchids: Colombia beyond roses
Many customers dismiss carnations as old-fashioned until they see how long they last. A fresh standard carnation easily stays attractive for two weeks, and spray carnations, with several small flowers and buds on one stem, keep opening new blooms for days. In mixed bouquets they add volume and texture and pair well with roses, eucalyptus and alstroemeria.
Alstroemeria, sometimes called Peruvian lily, is another long-lasting flower associated with South American growers. Each stem carries a cluster of lily-like flowers with delicate streaks inside. Remove yellowing leaves from the stem, because alstroemeria leaves fade before the flowers do, and the bouquet will look fresh much longer.
Colombia is also one of the richest countries in the world for wild orchids, with thousands of species. Its national flower, chosen in 1936, is Cattleya trianae, a pale pink and lilac orchid named after the Colombian botanist Jose Jeronimo Triana. Cut orchids are a separate category from potted ones: they need warmth, no draughts and should never be sprayed on the open flowers.
Caring for Colombian roses in a northern winter
In Saint Petersburg the main danger for flowers from the tropics is not the journey but the last few metres: a bouquet carried through frost from a car to a front door can be damaged in a couple of minutes if it is not wrapped. That is why winter bouquets should travel in thick wrapping, and the recipient should unwrap them indoors and let them sit for twenty to thirty minutes before putting them into water at room temperature, not ice-cold water.
Once indoors, trim 2-3 cm from each stem at an angle with a sharp knife, remove leaves that would sit in the water and use a clean vase. Long-stemmed roses need a tall vase that supports at least half the stem length. Change the water every one or two days and recut the stems each time; flower food from the sachet, if one came with the bouquet, slows bacterial growth.
Central heating is the second enemy. Dry warm air near a radiator makes roses open fully in a day and drop petals soon after. Keep the vase in the coolest part of the room, away from radiators, sunny windows and the fruit bowl, and move it to a cool corridor or balcony door area at night if the room is very warm.
Flower etiquette when the recipient is Russian or Colombian
If you are a Colombian living in Russia, or a Russian with friends in Colombia, a few etiquette differences are worth knowing. In Russia, living people receive an odd number of flowers, while even numbers are reserved for funerals and memorials; the rule fades for very large bouquets, but for anything under a dozen stems keep it odd. Yellow flowers are sometimes associated with separation, so check the colour before sending them to a partner.
In Colombia, flowers are an everyday gift for birthdays, Mother's Day, which is one of the busiest flower days of the year, and Amor y Amistad, the day of love and friendship held in September. Large, abundant arrangements are appreciated there, and nobody counts stems. In Medellin every August the Feria de las Flores fills the streets with silleteros carrying huge flower displays on their backs, a tradition that shows how deeply flowers are woven into Colombian life.
Ordering a bouquet to Saint Petersburg or elsewhere in Russia
Pyat Tsvetov has worked since 2011 and has three of its own flower shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street. You can choose roses, carnations or mixed bouquets in our bouquets catalogue, and we deliver across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock.
In large cities you can choose express delivery 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, an exact time with a margin of about 30 minutes, one of the windows 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead. Payment is online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, which is convenient when you order from abroad. More details are on the delivery and payment page.
Delivery is anonymous by default and the card with your text is free. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if nobody is in, we arrange a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge. For any questions, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
Are Colombian or Ecuadorian roses better?
Neither is better in every respect. Ecuadorian roses usually have bigger heads and longer stems, while Colombian roses offer a wide colour range and a good balance of head size, stem strength and vase life.
Why can Colombia grow flowers all year?
The farms sit at high altitude near the equator, so day length and temperature hardly change across the year. Strong light and cool nights give steady, slow growth without the need for winter heating.
What is Colombia's national flower?
It is the orchid Cattleya trianae, a pale pink and lilac species native to Colombia. It was adopted as the national flower in 1936.
How long do carnations last compared with roses?
With clean water and recut stems, carnations often last two weeks or more, while roses usually last around a week. Both fade faster near radiators, in sun or next to fruit.
Can I pay with a foreign card when ordering to Russia?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa, and you can also pay by Russian bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. Questions can be asked by phone on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Ready to send a bouquet?
Pick a city, choose the flowers, and we will hand them over with a photo confirmation.
Choose a city →