The National Russian Flower: Chamomile, and the Blooms Russians Really Give

Russia has no officially adopted national flower: no law or state decree names one. The flower most Russians would point to, though, is the chamomile (romashka), a white field daisy with a yellow centre that has become the unofficial national symbol and is the emblem of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity on 8 July.

That simple answer hides a richer picture. Several other flowers carry national meaning in Russia, from the blue cornflower of summer wheat fields to the red carnation of Victory Day and the tulips and mimosa of 8 March. Below, as florists who deliver bouquets across the country every day, we explain what each one stands for, how Russians actually use them, and how to turn that knowledge into a bouquet that will feel right to someone in Russia.

Why chamomile became Russia's unofficial national flower

Chamomile grows almost everywhere in Russia, from meadows outside Moscow to roadside verges in Siberia. That ubiquity is the point: it is the flower of the dacha summer, of childhood walks and of the countryside that many city families still feel connected to. For generations, girls plucked its petals to the rhyme 'loves me, loves me not' (lyubit, ne lyubit), so the flower is tied to first love and innocence in the popular imagination.

Its status grew stronger in 2008, when Russia introduced the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity on 8 July, linked to Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, a married couple revered in the Orthodox tradition. Chamomile was chosen as the holiday's emblem, and since then it appears on posters, medals and souvenirs every summer. In practice, when a Russian is asked about the national flower, chamomile is the most common answer.

For a florist, the useful takeaway is that chamomile reads as warm, sincere and homely rather than grand. It is a lovely choice for family occasions, for a mother or grandmother, or for anyone who misses the Russian summer. Garden chrysanthemums of the daisy type and white field-style spray daisies carry the same feeling in a bouquet when real meadow chamomile is out of season.

Other flowers with national meaning in Russia

The cornflower (vasilyok) is the other wild flower closely tied to Russian identity. Its intense blue against golden rye is a classic image in Russian painting and poetry, and it stands for simplicity, loyalty and the land itself. Cornflowers are rarely sold as a main cut flower, but blue accents in a bouquet carry a similar mood.

The red carnation has a very different history. In Soviet times it was the flower of official celebrations, and today it remains the flower people lay at war memorials on 9 May, Victory Day. Because of that association, many Russians see red carnations as solemn and commemorative rather than romantic. They are perfect for honouring a veteran or marking Victory Day, but we generally steer people away from them for a birthday or a date.

Spring has its own symbols. Tulips and yellow mimosa are the flowers of 8 March, International Women's Day, which is still one of the biggest flower-giving days of the year in Russia. Lilac, which blooms in May, and the birch tree are not official symbols either, but they feature so often in songs and paintings that they feel unmistakably Russian to most people.

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 Russians give flowers: rules worth knowing

If you want your bouquet to land well, a few customs matter more than the choice of flower. The best known is the number of stems: for a living person, Russians give an odd number of flowers, such as 5, 7 or 11. Even numbers are reserved for funerals and memorials. This rule applies mostly to small bouquets; once you go above roughly fifteen stems, few people count, but many still prefer an odd total.

Colour carries meaning too. Yellow flowers once had an old-fashioned reputation as a sign of separation, and some older recipients still remember that, although younger people mostly ignore it. White suggests purity and new beginnings, which is why it suits weddings and the birth of a child, while deep red signals passion and is best kept for a partner.

Finally, flowers in Russia are a normal everyday gesture, not something saved for rare events. People bring a bouquet when visiting someone's home for the first time, on a child's first day of school (1 September), to a teacher, to a colleague on a birthday and, of course, to a partner for no particular reason. A modest, well-chosen bouquet is always better received than no flowers at all.

Building a bouquet around chamomile and Russian symbols

If you want to send something that speaks directly to the idea of a national Russian flower, think of a meadow-style bouquet: white daisy-type chrysanthemums or spray daisies as the base, a few blue accents for the cornflower feel, and soft greenery. It looks relaxed and natural, the way flowers look when picked on a summer walk, and it is one of the bouquets Russian recipients most often describe as 'cosy'.

For a more formal gift, roses remain the default in Russia and are always understood. A mixed bouquet of roses with white field-style daisies combines elegance with that homely national note. For 8 July specifically, a bouquet built around chamomile shapes and white tones fits the holiday perfectly, and it suits parents or a married couple celebrating their family.

You can browse ready-made arrangements in our bouquets catalogue. If you have a particular idea, such as a summer field look for a grandmother, message us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose a bouquet, agree the delivery time and address, and write the card text with you.

Caring for daisy-type and field-style flowers

Chamomile and its look-alikes are hardy flowers, but they drink a lot. When the bouquet arrives, the recipient should trim the stems at a sharp angle by about two centimetres, remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline and place the flowers in a clean vase with cool water. Daisy-type chrysanthemums can last up to two weeks with this simple care.

Change the water every two days and give the stems a fresh cut each time. Keep the vase away from radiators, direct sunlight and fruit bowls, because ripening fruit releases ethylene, which ages flowers faster. In a Russian flat in winter, heating is the biggest enemy, so a cooler windowsill or hallway at night helps a lot.

Wild cornflowers and real meadow chamomile are more delicate than cultivated varieties and wilt within a few days once cut. That is one reason florists use their cultivated relatives in bouquets: you keep the look and the meaning, but the flowers stay fresh far longer.

Sending flowers to Russia from abroad

We deliver flowers across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming your order. In large cities we can deliver express within 1 to 2 hours of confirmation, at an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), in a time window (09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21), or on a date you choose from 1 to 30 days ahead, which is handy for 8 July or a family birthday.

Delivery is anonymous by default, so the courier does not name the sender unless you want them to, and a card with your own text is free. The courier phones the recipient about 15 minutes before arriving. If nobody is home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge.

You can pay online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. Full details are on our delivery and payment page, and if you are paying from abroad, our guide on paying in USD or EUR for flower delivery in Russia explains the options.