Flowers for Men: 12 Blooms and Plants, What Each Is Known For, and a 2016 Survey Where 1 in 4 Men Had Never Received Flowers

Flowers for men are chosen the way any flowers are: by what the bloom is known to say, by the occasion, and by how long he will keep it. The Society of American Florists (SAF) advises vivid colors and contemporary, linear or natural styles for a man, and its 2016 survey found that 26% of men had never received flowers. This guide covers 12 blooms and plants, what Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers and other sources say about each, a Valentine’s Day section, and a funeral section built on Emily Post’s etiquette advice.

Meanings come from printed dictionaries, so each one below names its book. Where no dictionary has an entry, the guide says so and lists what the plant is known for instead. Our flower symbolism guide explains why these books disagree with each other and with today’s florists.

What makes flowers right for a man?

No source we read names any flower as masculine; the guidance that exists covers color, shape and format. SAF’s page on sending flowers to a man says men prefer vivid colors such as yellow, orange and red, that contemporary, linear or natural styles work best, and that green or flowering plants are other favorites. It adds that men love to get flowers for the same reason they send them, to be recognized. The page does not name the research behind the color claim.

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Purchase records give a partly different picture. A peer-reviewed HortScience study by Chengyan Yue and Bridget Behe used consumer panel data from 1992 to 2005 and found that men and women differed in cut-flower color preference. Red and bronze flowers made up 34% of purchases, the highest share, and yellow made up 10.01%, the smallest share of the five named color groups. Both sexes were more likely to buy red and bronze for an anniversary, and men became less likely to buy red and bronze over the period. The abstract does not split yellow by sex, so it neither confirms nor contradicts SAF’s claim for men.

The 2016 Generations of Flowers study, run for SAF and the American Floral Endowment, surveyed a nationally representative sample aged 22 to 70, including 780 men and 777 women. Among the men, 34% remembered the last time they received flowers, against 77% of the women, and 26% said they had never received flowers, against 2% of the women. In 2009, 29% of men remembered the last time they received flowers and 32% had never received any. The report also found that men were most likely to buy flowers for a significant other, someone they were romantically attracted to, and parents.

SAF’s advice on timing is to look at his own habits: if he sends flowers for birthdays or as a thank-you, those are good moments, and “no reason is often the best reason.” Our guide to flowers to give as gifts covers the other occasions.

12 blooms and plants for men at a glance

Six of the twelve have an entry in Greenaway’s dictionary, gladiolus has one in an 1884 New York dictionary, protea carries only a name story, and four (anthurium, bonsai, snake plant and air plant) have no documented meaning, so the table lists what each is known for instead. Read the last column as our suggestion drawn from the middle column, not as a rule any source states.

Eight cut stems and what each is known for

Each card below gives what the sources document, the occasions we think it fits, and one thing to check before buying.

Gladiolus: for a promotion or congratulations

• Known for: The name is Latin for “small sword,” coined by Pliny the Elder for the plant’s sword-like leaves, according to the Saturday Evening Post. The 1884 New York flower dictionary, a separate book from Greenaway’s, prints gladioli as “Ready armed.” Greenaway has no gladiolus entry.
• Fits: Promotion.
• Watch out: The same Post column links gladiolus to infatuation as well as honor, so a card helps. Our gladiolus meaning page covers the Roman history, and flowers that symbolize strength shows where it sits among 13 others.

Sunflower: for a birthday or a warm Valentine

• Known for: Greenaway’s dictionary prints dwarf sunflower as “Adoration” and tall sunflower as “Haughtiness.”
• Fits: Birthday, Valentine’s Day.
• Watch out: The tall sunflower entry reads as a criticism. Our sunflower meaning guide has the rest of the history.

Chrysanthemum: for get-well wishes, with the color chosen carefully

• Known for: Greenaway prints Chinese chrysanthemum as “Cheerfulness under adversity,” red as “I love,” white as “Truth” and yellow as “Slighted love.”
• Fits: Get well (Chinese), Valentine’s Day (red).
• Watch out: In France it is a grave flower, covered in the funeral section below. See also our chrysanthemum meaning page.

Carnation: for sympathy, in the right color

• Known for: Greenaway prints deep red carnation as “Alas! for my poor heart,” striped as “Refusal” and yellow as “Disdain.” Emily Post names carnations among the traditional sympathy flowers.
• Fits: Sympathy.
• Watch out: Yellow and striped carry the least friendly Greenaway entries. See our carnation meaning page for more.

Iris: for a message

• Known for: Greenaway prints iris as “Message” and German iris as “Flame.”
• Fits: Promotion.
• Watch out: The meaning depends on the type, because German iris has its own entry. Our iris meaning guide covers the rest.

Laurel: for a win, as foliage

• Known for: Greenaway prints laurel as “Glory,” oak leaves as “Bravery” and cedar as “Strength.”
• Fits: Promotion.
• Watch out: Greenaway also prints “Laurel, Common, in flower” as “Perfidy,” so the leaves and the flowering sprays carry opposite entries.

Protea: for a change of job or direction

• Known for: SANBI, South Africa’s national botanical institute, says the genus was named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape at will, because of the variety in plant size, habit, flower size and color. The king protea is South Africa’s national flower and “prized worldwide as a magnificent cut flower.”
• Fits: Promotion, especially a new job.
• Watch out: The “change” reading is a name story, not a dictionary meaning: neither Greenaway nor the 1884 dictionary has a protea entry. Our protea meaning page has more.

Anthurium: for Valentine’s Day or a desk

• Known for: No dictionary entry. UF/IFAS says anthurium flowers last several weeks as cut flowers in arrangements.
• Fits: Valentine’s Day, birthday.
• Watch out: UF/IFAS rates the toxicity as low but lists it as a gastroenteric irritant with calcium oxalate crystals, and says all parts can cause contact dermatitis. Our anthurium growing guide covers the plant at home.

Four living plants instead of cut flowers

A living plant can outlast a cut stem, but it turns the gift into a routine. The grid below rates care difficulty from the watering and light rules in extension advice. The ratings are our reading of those rules, not a measured score.

Bonsai: demanding

• Known for: No dictionary entry. Missouri Botanical Garden says bonsai are very popular to buy as gifts and that “unfortunately many die due to improper care.”
• Care: The garden says to find out first whether it is a tropical or subtropical indoor species (weeping fig, dwarf pomegranate, natal plum, rosemary, Serissa) or a hardy outdoor one (maples, pines, junipers, boxwoods). Keeping a hardy outdoor bonsai indoors “will most likely result in failure unless you are able to replicate outdoor conditions.” From spring to fall it often needs watering at least daily, and twice on hot days. Most indoor species want a south or east facing window.
• Watch out: Ask the seller for the species before you buy.

Snake plant: easy

• Known for: No dictionary entry. NC State Extension lists its common names as Golden Birds Nest, Good Luck Plant, Mother-in-law’s Tongue and Snake Plant, and rates maintenance as low.
• Care: NC State gives light as partial shade (direct sun for 2 to 6 hours), lists resistance to drought, dry soil and heavy shade, and warns that overwatering may cause root rot. Our snake plant growing guide has the full routine.
• Watch out: NC State rates the poison severity as low but lists the plant as a problem for cats, dogs and children: if eaten it can cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, and the sap can irritate skin.

Cactus: easy, with bright sun

• Known for: Greenaway prints cactus as “Warmth.”
• Care: Clemson says cacti are relatively easy to grow and most tolerate neglect. Arid-climate cacti need very well-drained soil, a south or west window with direct sun for several hours, and in winter only a light watering every few weeks. Our cactus care guide covers the details.
• Watch out: Clemson says to wear heavy leather gloves or wrap the plant in newspaper when repotting.

Air plant: moderate, with a weekly soak

• Known for: No dictionary entry. Clemson says air plants require little care.
• Care: Clemson advises misting well or soaking for 20 to 30 minutes once a week, then turning the plant upside down to drain, in bright filtered light but not direct sun. Penn State describes rinsing twice a week, notes that other sources report weekly soaks of 20 minutes to an hour, and says to dry the plant at least four hours before returning it to a terrarium. Clemson calls the care little, but the weekly soak is a fixed routine, so we rate it moderate.
• Watch out: Clemson says the mature plant dies after it flowers, and new plants called pups grow from its base.

Two products that fit these plants: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix and the Censinda Soil Moisture Meter. Both are affiliate links: if you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Valentine’s Day flowers for men

Valentine’s Day flowers for a man can rest on the same evidence as any other gift: SAF’s color and style advice, the printed meanings, and how long the stems last. In SAF’s 2016 survey 26% of men had never received flowers, and men were most likely to buy flowers for a significant other, so a bouquet may be new to him.

• Color: SAF names red among the vivid colors men prefer. The HortScience study found that both men and women were more likely to buy red and bronze flowers for an anniversary, but its abstract does not cover Valentine’s Day.
• Meaning: Greenaway prints red chrysanthemum as “I love” and heliotrope as “Devotion. Faithfulness.” Two carnation entries misfire for the day: deep red is “Alas! for my poor heart” and yellow is “Disdain.” Greenaway’s deep red rose is “Bashful shame”; our red rose meaning guide covers the shades.
• Staying power: UF/IFAS says anthurium flowers last several weeks cut, so a Valentine’s anthurium can outlast the date.
• Personal touch: SAF suggests tying the gift to a hobby, such as a box of golf balls for a golfer or auto magazines for a car fan.

Funeral flowers for men

Funeral flowers for a man depend on who is sending them and what the family has asked for. Emily Post’s sympathy flowers page says virtually any flower or plant suits a basket or living plant, and that the choice can reflect the personality of the deceased. It sets no separate rules for men. It sorts the arrangements by sender:

• Casket arrangements: siblings, children or grandchildren of the deceased may supply lid sprays, and smaller family arrangements can be placed inside the casket by the funeral director.
• Wreaths, crosses and sprays: often sent by a group, and a good choice for companies and associations.
• Floral tributes: sent by good friends or family, sometimes in personalized designs based on the deceased’s occupation, clubs, hobbies, or “even his personality.”
• Baskets and living plants: sent by friends, coworkers and relatives to the home, the workplace or the funeral home.

Emily Post lists roses, lilies and carnations among the traditional choices. Check the obituary first: Emily Post’s advice on donations in lieu of flowers is to take your cue from the request, and while you may still send flowers in addition, anyone sending only one expression of sympathy should follow the family’s wishes.

Greenaway prints white chrysanthemum as “Truth” and rosemary as “Remembrance.” Yellow chrysanthemum (“Slighted love”) and yellow carnation (“Disdain”) are entries a sympathy card would not want to echo. Chrysanthemums are a separate case in France, where Connexion France reports that families lay them on graves around Toussaint (All Saints’ Day, 1 November), that the custom dates from 1919 and replaced an older custom of candles, and that it is not advised to bring them as a gift to someone’s house. If the family or the funeral is French, ask before sending them.

A plant sent to the home needs a pet check: NC State lists snake plant as a problem for cats and dogs, and UF/IFAS lists anthurium as a gastroenteric irritant. SAF’s 2016 report puts most houseplant purchases at around $20 on average, with funerals and sympathy the exception at $34. Our sympathy flowers guide covers the meanings in more depth.

Which one should you choose?

• Birthday: a dwarf sunflower (“Adoration” in Greenaway) or an air plant.
• Get well: a Chinese chrysanthemum (“Cheerfulness under adversity”) or a snake plant, which NC State rates as low maintenance.
• Sympathy: a carnation arrangement or a living plant, after checking the obituary for donation requests.
• Valentine’s Day: a red chrysanthemum (“I love”) or an anthurium, which lasts several weeks cut.
• Promotion: gladiolus (“Ready armed” in the 1884 dictionary), iris (“Message”) or laurel leaves (“Glory”).

If he would keep a gift for years and will water it every day, the bonsai is the long-term option. The species decides the care: a tropical indoor tree in a south or east window, a hardy outdoor one outside. Our bonsai tree care guide covers the soil, watering, pruning and wiring.

Frequently asked questions

What flowers should you give a man?

SAF advises vivid colors such as yellow, orange and red, contemporary, linear or natural styles, and green or flowering plants. No source we read names any single flower as masculine.

Do men like getting flowers?

SAF’s page says men love to get flowers for the same reason they send them: to be recognized. In SAF’s 2016 survey, 34% of men remembered the last time they received flowers and 26% had never received any.

What flowers should you avoid giving a man?

No source we read sets a list for men. Greenaway’s dictionary prints several unflattering entries: yellow carnation “Disdain,” striped carnation “Refusal,” tall sunflower “Haughtiness” and yellow chrysanthemum “Slighted love.” In France, chrysanthemums are tied to graves.

What is a good plant to give a man?

By our reading of extension advice, snake plant and cactus are easiest (the cactus needs bright sun), air plant is moderate because of the weekly soak, and bonsai is demanding because it often needs daily watering.

What flowers are right for a man’s funeral?

Emily Post says virtually any flower or plant suits a basket or living plant, and that the choice can reflect the personality of the deceased. Siblings, children or grandchildren may supply the casket lid spray, and the obituary may ask for donations in lieu of flowers.

What flowers suit Valentine’s Day for a man?

SAF names red among the vivid colors men prefer. Greenaway prints red chrysanthemum as “I love,” and UF/IFAS says anthurium flowers last several weeks cut.

Sources

1. Society of American Florists. Sending Flowers to a Man. About Flowers (linked in text)
2. Russell Research for the Society of American Florists and the American Floral Endowment. 2016 Generations of Flowers Study, final report, February 2016 (linked in text)
3. Yue, C. and Behe, B. K. Consumer color preferences for single-stem cut flowers on calendar holidays and noncalendar occasions. HortScience 45(1): 78-82, January 2010, doi 10.21273/hortsci.45.1.78 (linked in text)
4. Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers (cited in the text as Greenaway). Project Gutenberg eBook #31591
5. The Language of Flowers, including Floral Poetry (cited in the text as the 1884 New York flower dictionary; not Greenaway’s book). R. Worthington, New York, 1884. Internet Archive full text (linked in text)
6. The Saturday Evening Post. In a Word: Gladiators with Gladioluses (linked in text)
7. South African National Biodiversity Institute, PlantZAfrica. Protea cynaroides
8. University of Florida IFAS Extension. Anthurium spp.: Tailflower, Flamingo Flower, Anthurium (FPS-42)
9. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Dracaena trifasciata
10. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center. Indoor Cacti (HGIC 1502)
11. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center. Air Plants (HGIC 1515)
12. Penn State Extension. Tillandsias as Houseplants
13. Missouri Botanical Garden. How do I care for a bonsai plant?
14. Emily Post Institute. Sympathy Flowers (linked in text)
15. Emily Post Institute. Funeral Etiquette: Donations In Lieu of Flowers (linked in text)
16. Connexion France. Why chrysanthemums are the French ‘flower of the dead’, 26 October 2022 (linked in text)