Flower Gifting In Australia

“Flowers are the most beautiful thing, God has given the world.” Christian Dior

The universal fact is that flowers are the gorgeous expressions of love and emotions. The world over for millennia flowers has been used to say the things people feel. Australia, the land down under, is no exception to the charm of flowers. From pre-colonial aboriginal times, flowers have played an important role in the social life of the world’s largest island and the smallest continent. Keeping the cultural diversity of the 21st century Australia in mind, we have prepared a comprehensive flower gifting guide, so that you may never put a foot wrong when it comes to sending flowers to Australia, irrespective of the occasion.

• The Australian National flower is the Golden Wattle, a local flower that blooms in the spring beginning in September.
• The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Popular Flowers And Their Meanings

• Roses, especially, Red, Pink, and White are considered symbols of love, friendship, and affection.
• In the Aussie context, the Alstroemeria stands for prosperity, wealth and good fortune.
• The spectacular Amaryllis stands for beauty, poetry, and inspiration.
• Carnations are excellent symbols of friendship, loyalty, and admiration.
• Gerberas in their many hues are symbols of hope, love, peace, and serenity.
• Lilies, especially the white varieties are highly prized and stand for purity, peace, and love.
• Lavender flowers stand for refinement, grace, and elegance
• Asters, Irises, and Daisies are all wonderful symbols of appreciation, thoughtfulness, and praise.

Popular Flower Gifting Days In Australia

Australians are a warm friendly people, who place a lot of stock in celebrating life. Now given its reputation as a melting pot of cultures, the Australians celebrate a wide variety of holidays, both religious and secular. When it comes to these celebrations flowers play an integral part as both items of gifting and decor. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the most popular Aussie occasions and the appropriate flowers for gifting and decor at these.

Valentine’s Day

It might as well be called the ‘International Day of Love’. February 14th, the feast of St. Valentine, is celebrated by lovers the world over, as an occasion to celebrate their feelings for each other. In Australia, this is one of the most popular holidays and people really go out of their way to make their partners feel special. Flowers as always are good to gift on this day. From the traditional to the contemporary, the sheer number and variety of flowers on offer, are astonishing. A dozen Red Roses may seem clichéd, but they are still a popular choice. Want a break from tradition? A lovely bouquet of Roses, Alstroemeria, and Carnations may just do the trick. For even more variety add Lilies and Gerberas to the mix.

1. A plush toy, like a Teddy Bear along with a bouquet, is a popular way to show your lady, what she truly means to you.
2. A Copacabana Bouquet of Lilies is an elegant and offbeat way of expressing your love.

Women’s Day

Like anywhere else in the world, women play an extraordinary role in the social, economic and family dynamic in Australia too. International Women’s Day, celebrated on the 8th of March, is, therefore, a day of symbolism and is celebrated proudly across the continent. Looking to felicitate your wife, mother, girlfriend or co-worker in Australia? Depending on your relationship with the recipient, flowers as always make an excellent gift. So for your lover or significant other, think of Roses (White, Red, and Pink) or team a rose with Lilies, Carnations and Gerberas. In the home, mothers are best-gifted Lilies, Orchids, and Roses. While in the workplace, an arrangement of Gerberas or Iris would be appropriate.

1. It goes without saying that Roses are an important part of the Women’s Day celebrations; in order to avoid disappointment, ensure you book your flower themed arrangement well in advance.
2. Gifting flowers is an excellent, intimate way of telling people around you, what they mean to you, but a little research about which flowers are apt for the occasion and individual basis your relationship to them is recommended.

Mother’s Day

Mothers are universally loved and adored the world over, and why should Australia be any different? A Mother in Australian society is seen as both the giver of life and the first teacher. She helps socialize and teaches the child, both of these are valuable life lessons and will hone the child’s life skills.

Mother’s Day, therefore, is not just a 2nd Sunday in May, it is an institution. In Australia flowers and gifts help celebrate this day and show the mother what she means to them. Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift in Australia? A flower bouquet tribute shows that you care. Traditionally Roses, Alstroemeria, Carnations, Orchids, Lilies, and Seasonal Flowers are hugely popular in Australia. These days however a beautiful arrangement of Native Australian Flowers, harking back to the days when as children, you’d pick flowers from the garden, and wrap it yourself, are extremely popular!

1. While flowers make excellent gifts, why not look at a Gift Hamper to further accentuate your gift and show your mum how much you truly care?
2. A Mor High Tea Pantonette, consisting of Fine Skincare Products, or Mor Snow Gardenia Candle, are both classy gifts to really express love to your mother.

Father’s Day

In traditional Aboriginal society, the father would impart survival skills to his children and be looked upon as a provider. Times may have changed, but to this day, the role of the father in the family stands. Father’s Day in Australia is on the 1st Sunday of September. Want to show your father how much he means to you? Well, look no further than flowers to express your love and affection to him. Appreciate his contributions to your life with a colorful bouquet; think of Roses (Pink and White), Lilies, and Gerberas (in their many shades). Freesia, Aster, Iris, and Lavender also make excellent additions to your bouquet.

1. Looking to show your old pops how much he means to you? Team your floral bouquet with a fruit basket.
2. A nice vintage wine or scotch, or a case of champagne, will really make him feel special.

Christmas

Christmas in Australia is celebrated with great reverence and gusto. While in most parts of the world the White Christmas is a huge thing, however, Australia is generally in the grip of the summer from December to February which also is the peak flower season there. Unlike most places in the world where Christmas means limited varieties of flowers, in Australia flowers, are in abundance during Christmas. Not to say Christmas Sprays, Wreaths, Centerpieces and floral arrangements are beautiful, ornate and varied. Some popular flowers during this season are Roes, Gerberas, Carnations, Lilies, Asters, Phlox and many more seasonal flowers.

1. Christmas comes but once a year, so you don’t want to skimp on the celebrations. Think of a multi-colored, multi-floral arrangement of Christmas Sprays, Wreaths, Centerpieces and floral arrangements.
2. We highly suggest placing your order well in advance in order to get your choice of flowers and avoid disappointment.

Easter

Easter is the most important festival of the Christian Church. It celebrates the resurrection of Christ and is held between 21st March and 25th April, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. Traditionally White flowers are the foremost choice for Easter, but you can send a colorful arrangement of Pink Lilies or Mixed Color Roses in a woven basket. Great choices for Easter include spring flowers like Daffodil, Tulip, Rhododendron & Azaleas.

1. Send Purple Tulips Bouquet on Easter to say thanks.
2. Add Easter Eggs, A Easter Hamper or Easter gifts along with your bouquet of flowers.

Choosing The Right Flowers For Different Occasions?

In Australia, as with the rest of the world, personal milestones and occasions, like birthdays, weddings and funerals are all extremely important for sending flowers. As with most social and religious celebrations, there exists an unwritten decorum for presenting flowers. Different meanings are ascribed to different flowers and knowing which flowers are appropriate to gift on what occasion can be the difference between appreciation and embarrassment. With this in mind, we have compiled a guide of the personal occasions and the gifting norms for sending flowers in Australia.

Birthdays

Birthdays in Australia are an important milestone. They are celebrated with great fanfare and flowers are an integral part of the festivities. Depending on your relationship with the persona celebrating the special day, here’s a comprehensive guide for gifting flowers for a birthday in Australia.

The flowers to go with: Think Roses, Orchids, and Lilies if your spouse is celebrating her/his birthday.  Parents and cousins warrant flowers like Gerberas, Lilies, Alstroemerias, and Daisies. Friends and co-workers can be gifted Carnations, Asters, and Iris etc.

Combinations: Combining flowers with gifts like perfumes, chocolates, books, and stationery is the perfect way to make the individual feel special.

Birthday Greeting Card Ideas:  Greeting Cards are a wonderful way to tie in your gift and flower arrangement. Avoid the staid and boring ‘Happy Birthday’ card and send a message from the heart like: “On the sweetest day, the sweetest person I know deserves a million sweet hugs. Hoping the rest of the year brings you more reasons to celebrate. Happy Birthday!”.

1. A hand-tied floral arrangement is an artisanal take on the traditional bouquet.
2. Always research the meaning of various flowers before including them in your arrangement, so as to avoid misunderstandings or embarrassment.

Weddings

Weddings in Australia (depending on the season) can be indoor or outdoor affairs. Flowers play a huge role in the festivities and are a popular item of gifting and decor. Expressing your congratulatory sentiments in the form of floral arrangements is both traditional and thoughtful, so here’s what you need to remember.

Choosing congratulatory flowers: Think of Roses, Orchids, Lilies, and Gerberas and you won’t go wrong. Roses and Orchids symbolize love and passion with Lilies and Gerberas make the gorgeous accompaniment to these hero flowers.

Combinations:  It is customary for the brides and grooms to register at a wedding registry for the gifts they desire. It is best to inquire about the registry where the couple has set up their wish list and add an appropriate gift to your floral arrangement.

Greeting Ideas: A handwritten card is normally the best choice. Let it read like this “We wish nothing but the best for you. May your journey together be filled with bliss, memories, and joy for a lifetime. Our heartiest congratulations”.

1. Flowers symbolizing love like Roses and Lilies are indispensable to a wedding bouquet.
2. S-shaped arrangements or a high vertical arrangement is the way to go.

Funerals

Funerals in Australia are about celebrating the life journey of the deceased and condoling the bereaved family. It is considered appropriate therefore to offer a wreath, spray or floral arrangement, to express your sympathy and solidarity at the passing of a loved one.

Choosing the right flowers to offer condolences: White flowers are seen as beacons of peace and solidarity and as such are recommended flowers for a funerary arrangement in Australia. So White Lilies, Roses, Daisies and even Chrysanthemums are considered the appropriate flowers to feature in a Funeral Wreath or a Standing Spray.

Condolence Message: Keep the condolence message genuine and simple. Something to the effect of: “We pray that his/her soul be granted eternal peace and want to let you know that you can count on our prayers, support and good wishes during this trying time. Our most heartfelt condolences are with you all the way”.

1. Wreaths and sprays are the preferred styles of the bouquet as they can be placed directly on the coffin or grave.
2. While white flowers are the standard at a funeral. A loving tribute to the deceased would definitely be a bouquet or wreath of their favorite flowers.

Where Do Flowers In Australia Come From?

Australia is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most prosperous countries and as such is an important importer of flowers. While it does play host to a number of flowers shows such as those in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and has a rich selection of domestically grown flowers; the demand is such that said supply can sometimes just not keep up. So its market over the years has opened up to imports especially of Tulips from the Netherlands, Roses from China, India, Africa and other markets. Exotics like Chrysanthemums and Asters from Japan are wildly popular. While the European staples including Gerberas, Carnations, and others are also imported from Germany, Greece and other EU states.

Top Tips To Consider When Buying Flowers For Gifting

1. Local flowers are best: Local flowers are used to the climate, have a certain significance to the populace and hold their shape and freshness longer.
2. Researching the meaning of flowers: In one culture the Lily may be considered a mourning flower, whereas, in another, the romantic aspect of the same flower may hold more importance. Depending on the culture, it is important to research the meanings of the flowers before considering gifting them, in order to avoid inadvertent disrespect or embarrassment.
3. Checking the overall state of the flowers: If and when possible always check the overall state of the flowers before incorporating them into your bouquet. Even the slightest of blemishes can aesthetically damage the appearance of the arrangement. Flowers with blemishes often spoil early and can be perceived as sloppy, or disrespectful.
4. Check the credentials of the florist/flower delivery service: Every online florist/flower delivery service is generally rated by previous users. Take the time to view the testimonials section, or visit online review sites like Yelp that will feature user reviews. Make an informed decision, in order to get the best possible quality.

How To Care For Flowers Received As Gifts?

1. Choose a clear vase in order to properly display flowers.
2. Add a good amount of water to the vase.
3. Cut the stems regularly to keep them fresher, longer.
4. Keep flowers in a cool, dry area, away from heat emitting appliances.
5. Change the water in the vase daily or whenever possible.
6. Follow the care instruction that comes with the bouquet.
7. Add a little sugar or lemon juice to the water in the vase, to reduce the acidity of the water and provide the cut flowers with some nutrition.

Conclusion

Australia is often called a melting pot of cultures. This also means that each culture that is assimilated in this vast country, lends its own flavor and symbolism to the already diverse landscape. This makes simple things like buying flowers for gifting a very tricky process. But with our simple guide, we have made sending flowers to Australia, exceptionally easy, isn’t that so?.