How to Give Flowers to a Man
Flowers are not a gendered gift. But the conventions around giving them to men are often unclear. Here is how to do it naturally, confidently, and well.
The idea that flowers are primarily for women is a relatively recent and specifically Western cultural convention. In ancient Greece and Rome, men wore garlands of flowers and laurel. In Japan and Korea, flowers are given to men as a matter of course. In many parts of the world, the connection between masculinity and flowers simply does not exist as a constraint. The awkwardness is ours to overcome.
Why the hesitation exists
In the UK and US, flowers became coded as a feminine gift during the twentieth century, primarily through advertising. The gifting conventions that emerged placed women as recipients and men as givers of flowers. That convention has weakened considerably: more men receive and enjoy flowers than the hesitation around giving them might suggest. The obstacle is primarily in the giver's head, not the recipient's.
Flowers that tend to work well for men
Giving flowers to a man: practical guidance
- Lead with the occasion rather than the convention: flowers for a birthday are a birthday gift, not a feminine one
- Mention specifically why you chose what you chose: 'I know you like bold things, so I went for sunflowers'
- Keep the packaging simple and unfussy: plain wrapping reads as more considered
- A plant rather than cut flowers can feel less unfamiliar as a starting point
- If in doubt, ask: 'Would you like flowers?' is a perfectly reasonable question
“The most natural thing in the world is to bring something beautiful to someone you care about. The flower does not know it is supposed to be complicated.”
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