Do people send flowers for St. Patrick’s Day?
We the people say, yes! We sure do.
If you want to paint the town green this year while ensuring your gift is as authentic as possible, we’re going to break it down a bit to make the process easy as can be (and ensure you send the best Celtic blooms out there).
Whether you want to send actual Irish flowers this St. Paddy’s Day, or you just want to send some Gaelic-inspired blooms, we’ve got you covered.
Let's start with some popular blooms that fit the season:
9. Bells of Ireland
These are hugely popular during the St. Patrick’s season. But Bells of Ireland are not actually from Ireland (big bummer, we know).
Despite their namesake, these regal greens actually hail from Turkey.
So why are they called Bells of Ireland, you might ask? It’s all thanks to their bell-like shape and lively green color that give them their famous Celtic signature.
However, these not-so-Irish beauties’ shape and blooms do formally represent an Irish good luck charm. Hope is not lost after all!
These make the perfect addition to any St. Paddy’s Day arrangement—plus, their unique spicy scent just makes them that much better.
Irish name: Moluccella laevis
8. Daffodils
- Multiply like rabbits? Check.
- Return year after year? Check.
- Not fussy about soil? Check.
- Not fussy about sunlight? Check.
- Not bothered by deer, rabbits, or other critters? Check!
Daffodils are a great all-around flower—but look absolutely stunning in any St. Patrick’s Day arrangement!
A fan favorite in Ireland, daffodils begin blooming at the very beginning of spring, making them the perfect addition to all of your Irish festivities.
Irish name: Lus an chromchinn
7. Cymbidium orchid
Orchids are one of the oldest flowering plants and have over 200,000 different species.
The Cymbidium orchid’s pale green color makes it the perfect bloom for St. Paddy’s Day.
Side note: Ancient Greeks referred to the orchid as an aphrodisiac (keep that one in your back pocket for next Valentine’s Day, you’re welcome). No need to thank us.
Irish name: Magairlín
6. Roses
A fan favorite we all know and love, and good news, roses are actually native to Ireland—surprise!
Plus, they come in so many colors—green, yellow, and white in particular, since we are talking about St. Paddy’s Day, after all. The perfect way to get someone’s shamrocks rockin’ this year!
Irish name: Róisín
Top 5 Flowers from Ireland to Send This St. Paddy's Day
5. Sheep's bit
Sheep’s bit, if you can’t already tell by its name, is commonly found in dry, grassy places, such as heathland, grassland, and clifftops near the sea…just like sheep!
A native Irish wildflower, sheep’s bit, with their bright blue, puffy petals, look stunning up against any green bloom and will really make your arrangement stand out from all the rest.
Irish name: Duán na gcaorach
4. Bog rosemary
Another Irish native, bog rosemary is a very small undershrub that grows mostly in central Ireland.
Their little pink flowers begin to bloom in early May. A strong pink at first, fading into a paler pink in June.
Irish name: Lus na móinte
3. Buttercups
Remember running through the grass in search of these beautiful sunny buds as a child and holding them underneath your chin to see whether or not you liked butter?
Researchers have found that the buttercup reflects a significant amount of UV light, which is the real reason behind why we see a reflection under our chin and has absolutely nothing to do with butter, #childhoodruined.
Reflection of light by the smooth surface of the flower’s cells and by the air layer effectively doubles the gloss of the petal, explaining why buttercups are so much better at reflecting light under your chin than any other flower.
Buttercups are members of the Ranunculaceae family native to Ireland.
If you’re looking for a dupe for these wildflowers to send this St. Patrick’s day, check out Ranunculus. They’re often sold in local flower shops and are kind of like an enlarged version of these tiny yellow blooms.
Irish name: Fearbán féir
2. Sea aster
A part of the daisy family, aster is an ancient bloom that has been around for thousands of years.
The ancient Greeks were said to have burned the leaves of aster to ward off snakes and evil spirits, plus they are usually available at your local florist—all the more reason to include these blooms in your floral gift.
Irish name: Luibh bhléine
1. Shamrock
Ah, the shamrock—a true Irish treasure.
As we all know, when it comes to St. Paddy’s Day, the shamrock is the star of the show.
A national emblem, the three-leaf clover three-leaf clover, a type of trefoil plant, has been considered the unofficial national flower of Ireland for centuries.
Irish legend says that Saint Patrick used the shamrock as an educational symbol to explain the Holy Trinity to nonbelievers as he converted the Irish to Christianity in the fourth century.
Around the 17th century, the shamrock’s importance began to converge with the religious celebration of the saint’s feast day: Those living in poverty still wanted to look nice at church, and luckily for them, an appropriate adornment was growing on the ground outside their homes.
Irish name: Seamróg
