They are Valentine's Day favourites, but at up to $150 a dozen, red roses can turn the bank account the same colour. Photo / Paul Estcourt
They are Valentine's Day favourites, but at up to $150 a dozen, red roses can turn the bank account the same colour. Photo / Paul Estcourt
KEY POINTS:
Nothing says "I love you" better than red roses for the thousands of New Zealanders who choose them as a message of affection on Valentine's Day.
Interflora spokeswoman Chris Grindley said other floral arrangements and hampers were popular, but people were going "absolutely madly" for red roses.
"It'ssupposed to be the flower of love, and you get all these people who want them."
She said the flower frenzy for Valentine's Day far outstripped those for Mother's Day and Christmas Day, two other big events for florists.
About 2500 people had placed orders through the Interflora call centre over the past week - almost double the number for a normal week - and 1100 made last-minute calls yesterday.
Ms Grindley said quality roses usually sold for about $90 a dozen but the huge demand for Valentine's Day pushed the price as high as $150.
Men were "no longer shy about ordering flowers" and spent on average about $80 on Valentine's Day.
"One guy I know of bought a dozen red roses, some chocolates and this huge teddy bear which cost about $450 for his Valentine."
