The Ideal Flowers For Celebrating A Long Life

The flowers you buy will often differ because of the occasion. An anniversary or Valentine’s Day calls for red roses, for instance, while white lilies and orchids are popular at funerals.

Birthday flowers can vary, not least depending on what the recipient likes, but some birthdays are more special than others, especially when the date has a 0 in it. This is even more so when the age is very great, like 90, 100, or perhaps even longer.

Celebrating extreme old age is something Ethel Caterham, who lives in the Surrey town of Lightwater, has got used to. At 115 years 252 days, she has just become the world’s oldest living person following the passing of the previous title holder, a Brazilian nun who was 116 and had held the record since January.

As an image published by the BBC of her 115th birthday shows, Ethel enjoyed her latest landmark, and she hasn’t been the only one in her family to reach three figures, as one of her sisters made it to 104.

You might not be providing birthday flowers and bunting for someone quite this old, but there are still some great things you can include in a bouquet of birthday flowers.

According to Foliage Friend, the most suitable flowers for celebrating a great age can include chrysanthemums, which have been associated with long life in many cultures, while peonies and orchids have a particular association with longevity in Chinese tradition.

Of course, if the individual celebrating a birthday has their own favourite flowers that you know they would love to receive, you may want to mix these with some longevity-themed blooms.

Nonetheless, if you want to make someone you care for feel even more special on a birthday that marks a truly stupendous milestone, picking flowers that mark the occasion in a grand style can add an extra touch of colour and happiness to the big day.