Why Flowers Are Given in Odd Numbers: A Saint Petersburg Florist Explains
In Russia and neighbouring countries, flowers for the living are given in odd numbers: one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven and up. Even numbers are brought to funerals and laid on graves, so an even bouquet for a birthday or a date can look like a grim mistake. The rule applies to the main flowers in small and medium bouquets; above about fifteen stems, and for greenery, nobody counts.
Behind the counter of our Saint Petersburg shops, open since 2011, this is one of the questions we hear most from visitors and from people ordering for relatives in Russia. Customers ask whether twelve roses are really a problem, whether a spray rose counts as one flower or five, and whether young people still care. The answers below come from those conversations, followed by the practical side of ordering a correctly counted bouquet from abroad.
Questions customers ask most at the counter
The first question is almost always about a dozen roses. Twelve is an even number, so in Russia it belongs to mourning, and we suggest eleven or thirteen instead. The difference in size is invisible, but the difference in meaning is real for anyone over forty. Customers from Western Europe and America are often surprised, because a dozen is their romantic standard.
The second question is whether a single flower is acceptable. It is, and it carries a particular charm: one rose with a card is a classic gesture for a first date, an apology or a quiet thank-you to a colleague. Nobody in Russia will see a single stem as stingy if it is fresh and well wrapped.
The third question is about two people giving together. If a husband and wife each bring three roses to the same host, the hostess ends up with six in one vase. We recommend one bouquet from both, with both names on the card, which also looks more generous than two small ones.
What counts as a flower when you count
Only the main flowers count. Eucalyptus, pittosporum, ruscus and other foliage are ignored, as are fillers like gypsophila, statice and wax flower. A bouquet of nine roses surrounded by greenery is a bouquet of nine.
Spray roses, spray chrysanthemums and alstroemeria grow several flowers on one stem. These are counted by stem, so five stems of spray roses make a bouquet of five even if there are thirty small buds. In mixed bouquets we add the main flowers of every variety together and adjust the total to an odd number, usually by adding one more stem of the dominant flower.
Flower boxes, baskets and very large bouquets are judged by overall look rather than arithmetic. Still, when customers order a large bouquet of roses, they nearly always choose 25, 51 or 101, and those round odd numbers have become a tradition of their own. For details on matching numbers to occasions, see stem counts for Russian occasions.
Bouquets we can deliver
Which odd number for which occasion
For a first date or a casual thank-you, one or three stems is ideal. For a friend's birthday, a teacher or a visit to someone's home, five or seven flowers look attentive without overwhelming the recipient. For a mother, a grandmother or a close partner, nine, eleven or fifteen stems feel generous. Anniversaries and proposals are where customers choose the large bouquets of 25, 51 or 101 roses.
Some families match the number to an age or a year, for example nineteen roses for a nineteenth birthday or 31 for a thirtieth, rounding up to the next odd number. That works well when the number is meaningful, but it is not expected. Choosing a bouquet that suits the vase and the flat is often more thoughtful than a symbolic count. Our article on Russian birthday flowers covers numbers and colours for birthdays specifically.
Business etiquette follows the same rule. Flowers for a colleague, a doctor or a client company's office should be odd and fairly neutral in colour: white, cream, soft pink or mixed pastels. Avoid deep red for professional relationships, since it reads as romantic.
When even numbers are correct
Even numbers are not unlucky in themselves; they have a specific purpose. At a funeral, mourners bring two, four, six or eight flowers, most often red or white carnations, roses or chrysanthemums. The same even counts are laid at graves on memorial days and at war memorials on Victory Day, 9 May. Bringing an odd number there would look as wrong as bringing an even number to a birthday.
Hospital visits deserve care. A patient should receive an odd number of flowers, preferably light, cheerful colours with little scent. An even bouquet for someone who is ill can be read as a very unkind hint, even if nobody says so aloud.
If you are not sure of the setting, count the stems before the bouquet is wrapped. In our shops florists check the count automatically for every celebratory order, but when you assemble a bouquet yourself, it is worth a ten-second check.
Colour can make an even count look even more mournful. Dark red roses and red carnations in pairs are exactly what people carry to memorials, so for celebrations combine an odd number with lighter shades, bright wrapping and a cheerful card. White chrysanthemums and carnations in small numbers are also strongly associated with remembrance, so mix them with other flowers for a birthday.
How strictly the rule is followed today
Younger people in Saint Petersburg and Moscow often say the rule is an old superstition, and some genuinely do not mind. Yet when they order flowers for their own parents, they still choose odd numbers, because they know the older generation will notice. Outside the big cities and among people over fifty, the rule is followed almost without exception.
The safest approach is simply to follow it. An odd bouquet never offends anyone, while an even one risks an awkward moment or a stem quietly removed from the vase. If a stem wilts early, recipients usually remove two to keep the count odd and regroup the rest in a smaller vase, so the bouquet stays correct for its whole life.
Ordering a correctly counted bouquet from abroad
Pyat Tsvetov runs three of its own flower shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, and delivers flowers across Russia. Each bouquet in the Bouquets catalogue lists its composition, so you can see the number of main flowers before you order. If you need a specific count, call 8 (812) 507-67-05 and we will agree it with you.
City delivery costs 500 RUB; for suburbs and remote districts the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after confirmation, or you can choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a time window, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arriving, the card with your text is free and delivery is anonymous by default. You can pay by bank card, including foreign cards through Robokassa, by SBP or Yandex Pay; see Delivery and payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to give an even number of flowers in Russia?
For a celebration, yes, it is usually seen as a mistake because even numbers are linked to funerals. Many younger people do not mind, but older relatives almost always notice.
What should I send instead of a dozen roses?
Eleven or thirteen roses. The bouquet looks practically the same size, and the odd number makes it appropriate for any happy occasion.
Do I count eucalyptus and filler flowers?
No. Only the main flowers count; foliage and small fillers such as gypsophila are ignored. Spray roses are counted by stem.
How many flowers should I bring to a funeral in Russia?
An even number, usually two, four or six. Red or white carnations, roses and chrysanthemums are the traditional choices.
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