It's the question we get most on WhatsApp, and it almost always comes with the same worry behind it: will it be enough? The short answer is that the number matters less than it seems; what stands out is a well-proportioned bouquet that arrives in good shape. Still, some sizes work better for each occasion, and some numbers also say something. Here's everything we've learned putting together orders every day in Medellín.
What each number means
The tradition of giving the quantity a meaning comes from 19th-century European floristry and is still alive, especially on romantic occasions. You don't need to take it literally —the recipient almost never counts them—, but it's worth knowing, because sometimes the number says something you didn't mean to say.
- One rose: “only you.” Simple, direct and surprisingly effective with a handwritten card.
- Three: “I love you.” The classic first gift.
- Six: “I'm thinking of you.” A middle ground for when twelve feels like too much.
- Twelve: the full declaration. It's the most requested number in the world, and for good reason.
- Twenty-four: “I think of you every hour,” one for each hour of the day.
- Fifty: unconditional love. From here on, the number stops being counted and starts being seen.
- One hundred or more: the once-in-a-lifetime gesture: a marriage proposal, a big anniversary, a serious reconciliation.
12 roses: the gift that's always welcome
A dozen is the starting point and still the most requested. It works for an “I thought of you,” a birthday for someone you're not that close to, an apology, or the first gift in a new relationship. It looks complete without being over the top, and it fits on any table in an office or a small home.
It's also the safest size when you don't know where the bouquet will end up. A fifty-rose arrangement on a shared desk is a problem for the recipient: they have to carry it home, on the bus or in the car, and sometimes it doesn't fit.
If you want it to look bigger without raising the number, add chocolates or a ribbon with their name: the bouquet gains presence and the recipient feels you thought about it, not that you bought it in a rush. See the 12-rose bouquets.
24 roses: for anniversaries and dates that matter
Twenty-four is the natural step up when the occasion matters: an anniversary, a milestone birthday, a graduation. Twice the roses doesn't look twice as big —it looks fuller and taller—, and the recipient definitely notices that difference.
It's also the size that holds up best on a long trip, because the bouquet supports itself and doesn't fall apart when moved. If you're sending it to a town with a longer travel time, like Caldas or Rionegro, it's a good choice.
50 roses or more: when the gesture has to be seen
From fifty on, the bouquet stops being a gift and becomes a scene: a marriage proposal, a reconciliation, a quinceañera, an anniversary worth telling. Here the format changes —many prefer a buchón bouquet or a box instead of a hand-tied bouquet— because carrying it is no longer comfortable.
- 50 roses: makes an impact and can still be carried without help.
- 100 roses: it's a showpiece now; think about where it will sit and who will move it.
- 200 or more: arranged as a buchón bouquet or a heart, scheduled in advance and usually delivered to the home, not the office.
How many for each occasion
If you'd rather go by occasion than by number, here's what's most requested:
- Birthday: 12 to 24, almost always with a balloon or chocolates.
- Anniversary: 24 as a base; from the fifth year on, people go up to 50 or switch to a heart or a box.
- Apology: 12, and delivered fast. Here timing matters more than size.
- Graduation: 12 to 24, with a personalized balloon. Mind the size: they'll have to carry it through the whole ceremony.
- Marriage proposal: 100 and up, or a format that makes more of an impact than the number.
- Mother's Day: 12 to 24, ordered days in advance.
- Thank you or “just because”: 3 to 12. What matters is that it's unexpected.
By budget, straight up
The ranges we work with in Medellín, so you get an idea before browsing the catalog:
- Up to $150.000: a dozen-rose bouquet or a rose box with chocolates.
- $150.000 to $300.000: bouquets of 20 to 24 roses, cylinders and boxed hearts.
- $300.000 to $600.000: premium arrangements, large hearts, large-format boxes.
- $600.000 and up: buchón bouquets, jumbo hearts and custom arrangements.
On top of that, add delivery, which depends on the town, and add-ons if you want chocolates, a balloon or liquor.
Format matters more than number
Here's the advice we give most often and the one people least expect: if you've already given bouquets several times, going from 24 to 50 roses impresses less than changing the shape. The same roses arranged in a book-style box that opens, in a heart or in a cylinder read as something new, and usually cost about the same.
- Box: arrives ready, no vase needed, and looks great in photos.
- Heart: the most emotionally charged format; it works for anniversaries and proposals.
- Cylinder: takes up little space and stands tall.
- Buchón: for when the goal is to be seen from afar.
What stands out more than quantity
Over the years you learn that two bouquets with the same number of roses can look very different. What makes the difference:
- The type of rose. Export-quality roses have a bigger bud and a sturdier stem; a bouquet of twelve looks like eighteen regular roses.
- The arrangement. A nicely opened bouquet takes up more space and looks better than a tight one with the same number of flowers.
- The card. It sounds minor, but it isn't: it's the first thing the recipient reads, and the only thing they keep once the flowers are gone.
- The delivery time. A bouquet that arrives at the office in the morning, in front of everyone, isn't the same gift as one that arrives at night.
Mistakes we see often
- Ordering big without thinking about transport. Ask yourself whether the recipient will have to travel with the arrangement.
- Leaving the card blank. A bouquet without a message is half a gift.
- Ordering same-day on a busy date. On Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, the time slots fill up.
- Not leaving the recipient's phone number. It's the number one cause of delayed deliveries.
Frequently asked questions
Is a big bouquet better than a small one with chocolates?
If you're torn between two sizes, go with the smaller one and spend the difference on chocolates or personalization. A dozen roses with Ferrero chocolates and a ribbon with their name goes over better than twenty-four with nothing.
Does it matter if the number is even or odd?
Not in Colombia. The odd-number superstition comes from Eastern Europe, where even-numbered bouquets are reserved for funerals. Here nobody counts them.
How many roses fit in a regular vase?
A typical household vase comfortably holds twelve to twenty-four roses. Beyond that, it's best to choose an arrangement with its own base, like a box or a cylinder, so the recipient doesn't have to figure it out.
Can I mix quantities and colors?
Yes. In all our bouquets you choose the rose color and the wrapping paper color. If you're mixing, keep in mind that a multicolor bouquet reads as a celebration and a single-color one as a declaration.
If you'd like help deciding, message us on WhatsApp with the occasion and budget and we'll tell you honestly what works best. You can also browse the full catalog.
