Flowers of Colombia: A Florist's Guide

Colombia is one of the world's biggest cut-flower producers, second only to the Netherlands in exports, and its farms on the high plateau around Bogota and in Antioquia near Medellin grow roses, carnations, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and hydrangeas all year round. Colombian roses are known for strong stems, large heads and long vase life, and the country's national flower is a native orchid, Cattleya trianae. If you have ever bought long-stemmed roses in winter, there is a fair chance they began their life in the Andes.

In this guide we explain why the Colombian climate suits flowers so well, which varieties the country is famous for, how to judge a good stem, how to care for these flowers at home and what Colombia's own flower traditions look like. At the end you will find practical notes for sending a bouquet to someone in Russia, since that is what we do every day at Turboflora.

Why Colombia grows such good flowers

The secret is altitude near the equator. The Bogota savanna sits at roughly 2,600 metres above sea level, just a few degrees north of the equator. Days and nights are almost the same length all year, sunlight is strong and steady, and temperatures stay cool and mild without a real winter. For a rose this means slow, even growth: the bud builds more petals, the head becomes larger and the stem thicker than in a hot lowland greenhouse.

Cool nights also matter. Plants that grow slowly in cool air develop firmer tissue, which later translates into better vase life. That is why florists often describe Andean roses as "sturdy": they tolerate transport and handling well and open gradually rather than all at once.

The industry itself took off in the 1960s and 1970s, when growers began exporting to North America. Today flowers are one of Colombia's important non-traditional exports, and the bulk of US flower imports, especially for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, comes from Colombian farms.

The flowers Colombia is famous for

Roses are the headline product. Colombian farms grow hundreds of varieties, from classic red and pure white to garden-style and two-tone roses. The typical Colombian rose has a stem of 50-70 cm or longer and a medium to large head; Ecuador, its neighbour, is known for even bigger heads, while Colombia is valued for the balance between head size, stem strength and choice of colours.

Carnations are Colombia's other giant. The country is one of the leading carnation growers in the world, including the small spray carnations used in mixed bouquets. Carnations are underrated in many countries: a fresh carnation can stay beautiful for two weeks or more, and the modern colours - antique pink, burgundy, lime, cream with a purple edge - are far from the stiff wedding-buttonhole image.

Alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and hydrangeas complete the picture. Antioquia, the region around Medellin, is especially known for hydrangeas with big, dense heads. And then there are orchids: Colombia has thousands of wild orchid species, and Cattleya trianae, a pale pink-and-purple orchid, has been the national flower since 1936.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

How to recognise a good rose or carnation

Whatever the origin, a florist checks the same things. Squeeze the base of a rose head gently: it should feel firm, not soft. The outer guard petals may look slightly rough - they protect the bud in transit and are often removed - but the inner petals should be clean and tight. Leaves should be green and springy, with no black spots, and the stem should be straight and strong enough to hold the head upright.

For carnations, look at the calyx, the green cup under the flower. It should be tight and green, and the petals should feel crisp rather than papery. Spray carnations should have a mix of open flowers and buds; the buds will open over the following days and extend the life of the bouquet.

A drooping neck just under a rose head usually means an air bubble in the stem rather than an old flower. Recut the stem under water, place the rose in deep cool water for an hour or two, and it often straightens up.

Caring for long-stemmed roses and carnations at home

Long-stemmed roses need a tall, clean vase so the stems are supported for at least half their length. Cut 2-3 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or secateurs, strip all leaves that would sit under water, and fill the vase with cool water. Change the water every one or two days and recut the stems each time - this simple routine can add several days to the bouquet.

Keep flowers away from radiators, sunny windowsills, draughts and fruit. Warm air makes roses open and drop faster, and ethylene gas from ripening fruit ages carnations especially quickly. At night you can move the vase to the coolest room in the house.

Carnations prefer slightly less water than roses: a few centimetres in the vase is enough, as long as you top it up. Snap or cut the stem just above a node (the small swelling on the stem), because water passes poorly through the node itself.

Flowers in Colombian culture: the Feria de las Flores

Every August Medellin hosts the Feria de las Flores, the Flower Festival, whose highlight is the parade of silleteros. These are flower growers from Santa Elena, in the hills above the city, who carry enormous flower arrangements on wooden frames strapped to their backs. The tradition goes back to the days when farmers carried flowers down to the city markets this way, and the festival has been held since 1957.

Flowers are part of everyday life in Colombia too: they are given on birthdays, on Mother's Day, which is one of the busiest flower days of the year, and on Amor y Amistad, the Colombian day of love and friendship celebrated in September instead of 14 February. If you have Colombian friends, a bouquet on one of these days will be understood immediately.

Sending flowers to Russia with Turboflora

If the person you want to surprise lives in Russia, you can choose a bouquet of roses, carnations or mixed flowers in our bouquets catalogue and we will deliver it ourselves. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs our operator confirms the price when confirming the order. 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, a window such as 09-12 or 15-18, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead.

Delivery is anonymous unless you say otherwise, and a card with your text is free. You pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay; see delivery and payment for details. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, and if nobody is in, we arrange a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge. To agree the colours, card text or get a photo of the bouquet before delivery, message a manager on WhatsApp.