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There is no official flower for an 18th or a 50th birthday, but florists do have habits that work. Below are ideas for every milestone birthday, from the 18th to the 100th: which flowers, which colours, how many stems and what to add. Written by our florists at the studio in Southwark (SE1), with same-day delivery across London.
Wedding anniversaries come with a traditional flower for each year (we listed them in our guide to anniversary flowers by year). Birthdays do not. What they have instead is the person's age, their birth month and their taste, and a good milestone bouquet uses all three. The ideas below are what our customers actually order for big birthdays, and what we suggest when someone asks us on WhatsApp.
What flowers should I give for an 18th birthday?
An 18th is the first grown-up birthday, so the bouquet should feel grown-up too: less "teenager", more "first flowers of her own flat". Three choices work almost every time:
- Soft pinks and peach. Roses, spray roses and eustoma in blush tones look fresh and current. See our pink bouquets and peach flowers.
- Bright mixed colour. For someone who would find pastels too quiet, a mixed colour bouquet or rainbow flowers is the party option.
- Flowers in a box. A flower box needs no vase, which matters if the 18-year-old does not own one yet.
Many people add a number: silver helium number balloons spelling "18" go next to the bouquet and photograph well. If the birthday is for your daughter, granddaughter or niece, our guide to flowers for her helps you choose by colour and personality.
Should I send 18 roses for an 18th birthday?
You can, and it is a nice touch: one rose for each year. Eighteen roses make a neat, generous bouquet, and pink or peach reads better for a birthday than deep red, which most people connect with romance. If you would like an exact number of stems, write it in the order comment or message us before ordering. Our guide to how many roses to give explains what different numbers are usually taken to mean.
What flowers are good for a 21st birthday?
The 21st is often the bigger party, so the bouquet usually gets bigger too. Choose something that will stand out among the other gifts: a large rose bouquet in her favourite colour, a bold sunflower bouquet for someone cheerful, or crisp white flowers for a minimalist. Add balloons or a small sweet treat from our chocolates and treats and it becomes a full gift rather than "just flowers".
What flowers suit a 30th or 40th birthday?
By the 30th and 40th, people usually know exactly what they like, so follow their style rather than the age. Good starting points:
- A bouquet already arranged in a vase. It arrives ready to put on the table, which is kind when someone is hosting their own party. See our flowers in a vase (London delivery only).
- Elegant and long-lasting. Hydrangeas, lilies or a potted orchid keep going long after the party.
- A gift set. Our hampers let you build a gift around any bouquet with chocolate, wine or a vase, wrapped together and sent as one delivery.
What are good flowers for a 50th birthday?
The 50th is the "golden" birthday, and many people choose gold and yellow for it: yellow roses, sunflowers and warm cream tones look celebratory without being loud. See our yellow flowers. A second classic is fifty roses, one for each year; our bouquet of 50 red roses and 50 pink roses are made in the studio and delivered the same day in London. For a party, the champagne celebration balloon set or the "aged to perfection" balloons set the tone.
What flowers should I send for a 60th, 70th or 80th birthday?
For the older milestone birthdays, comfort matters as much as looks. Three things to think about:
- No arranging. A bouquet in a vase or a flower box means nothing to cut, trim or find a vase for.
- Long vase life. Chrysanthemums, carnations, orchids and roses last well; our guide to how long flowers last lists the vase life of the most common blooms.
- Their favourite flower. At 70 or 80, the best bouquet is often the one with the flowers they grew in their own garden or carried at their wedding. If you know what that was, tell us in the order comment.
What flowers are good for a 90th or 100th birthday?
A 90th or 100th birthday often brings the whole family together, and the flowers are part of the room. A large bouquet in a vase for the table works well, and many families also order a second, smaller arrangement for the person's own room. Soft colours such as white, cream and blush are a safe choice; if the birthday person loves colour, go for it. When several relatives are sending flowers, it helps if one person orders a single generous bouquet from everyone, so the flowers do not crowd the room.
Can I use the birth flower of their month?
Yes, and it is the most personal way to choose when you are not sure. Each month has its own birth flower: carnations for January, daffodils for March, roses for June, chrysanthemums for November and so on. Our guide to birth flowers by month lists all twelve with their meaning and what to order when the flower is out of season.
Can I get birthday flowers delivered the same day in London?
Yes. We deliver across London seven days a week, and same-day orders are accepted until 10 pm, including weekends. For a party or a surprise at a set time, order ahead and choose a delivery window at checkout: 9 am to 1 pm, 1 pm to 6 pm or 6 pm to 11 pm. All the details are on our birthday flower delivery in London page, and the full range is in our birthday flowers collection.
Can I send milestone birthday flowers outside London?
Yes, hand-tied bouquets and flower boxes are delivered across the UK in 2 to 3 working days. Bouquets in a vase, flower baskets and helium balloons are delivered within London only, because a parcel courier would break a vase or deflate a balloon. If you cannot decide what they would like, a Floritta gift card lets the birthday person choose their own bouquet and delivery date.
