Flower bouquets for men: what to give and what to avoid

It is one of the searches we see most and one of the worst handled by the industry: almost everything florists offer is designed with women in mind. You can absolutely give flowers to a man — you just have to choose differently.

What works

• Sunflowers. Big, structured, with no romantic reading. Probably the safest option.
• Bouquets in earth tones, burgundy, orange and green. Avoid pastels and pink if you don't know the recipient's taste well.
• Arrangements with bold foliage —eucalyptus, monstera, palm leaves—. Greenery gives a different visual weight than an all-flower bouquet.
• Plants. A bonsai, a succulent or a cactus lasts for years and has no gender connotation at all.
• Gift combos. Flowers plus whisky, craft beer or chocolates. It is the most popular option for men's birthdays.

What to avoid

• Red roses, unless it is explicitly romantic.
• Wrapping with big bows and shiny paper.
• Stuffed animals, unless there is an inside joke involved.

For which occasions

Birthdays, a promotion, recovery from surgery, the birth of a child, or condolences. In all of those cases a well-chosen arrangement is very well received.