Red roses still Valentine's favourite

Flowershops are ready for Valentine's day. Dave McCoy owner/operator of Flower Crazy Brookfield. Photo/George Novak

Red roses remain the most popular traditional Valentine's Day gift, say Tauranga florists.

Dave McCoy, owned-operator of Flower Crazy florist shop in Sharyn Place, Brookfield for the past 15 years, has recently returned from the Auckland flower auction with a van load of flowers.

Mr McCoy said he was most particular about quality and only buys the best blooms, including popular red roses.

This year, as in past years, the wholesale price of roses had basically tripled, he said.

Mr McCoy said buying in roses for Valentine's Day was always a gamble, because it depended on the level of demand, especially this year as the big day falls on Saturday.

"My shop is absolutely chocka with flowers, especially red roses," he said.

Price-wise, florists were at the mercy of what rose suppliers charged, but lots of people still liked to buy the traditional red roses, even if only one featured in a bouquet of other flowers, he said.

Mr McCoy said customers of all ages bought red roses, including older women buying them for guys, and more younger people were buying a single rose for their Valentine.

He confessed to being a bit nervous about whether he had bought an oversupply of blooms this year.

"If I don't sell them all my wife is going to be the most spoiled girl in town," he quipped.

A spokesperson at Bayfair Florist said it was "pretty busy" with a huge demand for the traditional red roses and lots of deliveries to local businesses.,

Blooms on Cameron owner Margaret Beck said it was a little quieter this year in the lead up to Valentine's Day than last year, which was "absolutely crazy" busy, and red roses continued to be the most popular requested blooms.

"This year is a little different because Valentine's Day falls on Saturday and for us sales will be running over two days.

"In some ways it makes it easier because lots of people have wanted their flower deliveries to business places today," she said.