Russian Winter Flowers: What Grows, What Sells and What to Send
Outdoors, almost nothing flowers in a Russian winter: from November to March most of the country is under snow, and the only winter colour in nature comes from evergreens, red rowan and guelder-rose berries, and, in the far south and Crimea, early snowdrops and hellebores at the very end of winter. Indoors it is a different story. Russians buy flowers all winter long, and the classic winter choices are roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria, tulips from late January, amaryllis and hyacinths, often combined with spruce, pine, cotton and berries.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, open since 2011, winter customers ask the same few things: which flowers look seasonal rather than summery, which ones survive a walk from the car in minus fifteen, and what is appropriate for New Year, Orthodox Christmas, Tatiana Day on 25 January or a February birthday. This guide answers those questions the way we answer them at the counter.
What flowers in nature during a Russian winter
Russia's climate zones are so different that 'winter flowers' means one thing in Sochi and another in Siberia. Across central Russia, the Urals and Siberia, the ground is frozen for four to six months and no wild plant blooms; the winter landscape is spruce, pine, birch and the bright clusters of rowan berries that birds strip by February. In the Black Sea region and Crimea, snowdrops (Galanthus), hellebores and early crocuses can appear in February, which is why snowdrops became a symbol of the end of winter in Russian poems and fairy tales.
The best-known example is the tale 'Twelve Months', in which a girl is sent into the winter forest to find snowdrops for the New Year. Many Russians grew up with it, so a small bunch of snowdrop-like white flowers in late winter carries a gentle, nostalgic meaning. Wild snowdrops are protected in Russia and must not be picked or sold, so in bouquets the same mood is created with white tulips, white hyacinths, muscari or small white spray roses.
Indoors, the plants Russians traditionally keep in winter are the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera, known in Russian as 'Decembrist' because it flowers in December), cyclamen, poinsettia, amaryllis and forced hyacinth bulbs in pots. These make good gifts for older relatives who prefer a living plant to a bouquet.
The cut flowers Russians buy from December to February
Roses remain the number one winter flower in Russia, especially red, burgundy and white varieties for New Year and anniversaries. Chrysanthemums, both single-headed and spray types, are popular because they hold up well in dry, heated flats and last two to three weeks. Carnations, alstroemeria and eustoma fill out mixed bouquets, and hypericum berries add a red accent that reads as festive.
From late January, tulips start to appear and sell quickly, because they announce spring well before 8 March. Hyacinths, ranunculus and anemones follow in February. Fragrant matthiola is another winter favourite for customers who want a bouquet that scents a whole room; we describe it in Matthiola in Russia: Fragrant Stems That Fill a Room.
For a truly seasonal look, florists in Russia add winter material: spruce and fir branches, pine with cones, eucalyptus, cotton stems, dried seed heads and sometimes cinnamon sticks or small decorations for the New Year period. A bouquet of white roses, cotton and fir is probably the most recognisable Russian winter composition. For the holiday season specifically, see New Year and Christmas Flowers in Russia: What Blooms in Winter.
Bouquets we can deliver
Which flowers survive frost and dry heated flats
The biggest winter risk is not the vase but the minute between the car and the door. At minus ten and below, delicate petals can freeze in under a minute, and frozen flowers look fine at first and then turn glassy and dark within hours. Roses, chrysanthemums, carnations and alstroemeria tolerate a short cold walk best; hydrangeas, eustoma, orchids and tropical flowers are the most sensitive and need careful wrapping.
Inside, the problem flips. Russian flats are heated centrally and are warm and dry all winter, often 23-25 °C with very low humidity. Flowers drink faster and open faster, so a bouquet should stand away from radiators, have its water changed every day or two and its stems recut by a centimetre each time. Tulips and hyacinths keep longest in cool water in the coolest room; irises, like in spring, are short-lived in warmth, as we explain in Irises in Russia: Spring Colour That Doesn't Last Long.
When a frozen bouquet arrives, do not put it straight into hot water or next to a radiator. Let it warm up at room temperature in its wrapping for 20-30 minutes, then unwrap, recut the stems and place it in cool water. A sudden temperature jump does more harm than the cold itself.
Winter occasions in Russia and what to give
New Year on 31 December is the main winter holiday, bigger than Christmas, and flowers are given to hosts, colleagues and family alongside presents. Bright red and white compositions with fir and berries suit it best. Orthodox Christmas on 7 January is quieter and more family-focused; white flowers and simple, elegant arrangements fit its tone.
25 January is Tatiana Day, the name day of all Tatianas and also Students' Day, a common reason to send flowers to a friend or relative of that name. 23 February, Defender of the Fatherland Day, is mostly a day for gifts to men, but many families also give flowers to women serving in the army or to older relatives on that day. Birthdays, anniversaries and hospital visits continue as usual, and the usual Russian rules apply in winter too: odd numbers of stems for living people, even numbers only for funerals and memorials.
For a more detailed choice by flower type, our guide Best Flowers to Send in a Russian Winter compares vase life and frost tolerance for the most popular varieties.
Sending winter flowers to Russia from abroad
Customers abroad most often ask us how to make sure the flowers do not stand in the cold waiting for someone to open the door. The simplest answer is precise timing: you can choose delivery at an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), in a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead, which is useful for New Year and 7 January when everyone books early. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, and if nobody is home we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge.
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, and in Saint Petersburg, where our three shops are, delivery runs around the clock, which helps for a surprise exactly at midnight on New Year's Eve. Delivery is anonymous by default, and a card with your message is free.
Payment is online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa. You can choose a bouquet in the bouquets catalogue and check the conditions on the delivery and payment page. If you are unsure which flowers will suit a particular day or person, call us at 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
What flowers grow in Russia in winter?
In most of Russia nothing flowers outdoors in winter; the colour comes from evergreens and berries such as rowan. Snowdrops and hellebores can appear in the far south from February, and indoors people grow the Christmas cactus, cyclamen, poinsettia and amaryllis.
What is the most popular winter flower in Russia?
Roses, followed by chrysanthemums and, from late January, tulips. Winter bouquets are often combined with fir branches, cotton and red berries.
Can flowers be delivered safely in Russian frost?
Yes, if they are not left waiting outside. Choosing an exact delivery time and a correct recipient phone number keeps the time in the cold to a minimum, and hardy flowers such as roses and chrysanthemums handle a short walk well.
What should I do if flowers arrive cold?
Leave them in their wrapping at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, then recut the stems and put them in cool water. Do not place them next to a radiator straight away.
Is it acceptable to give yellow flowers in winter in Russia?
Yellow flowers are fine for most occasions today, though some older people still associate them with separation. For New Year and Christmas, red, white and burgundy are the safer festive choice.
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