Graduation Flowers

Graduation flowers celebrate a high school, college or nursing school graduate and all the hard work behind the diploma. Choose a bright graduation bouquet with a balloon, a wrapped bunch to hand over after the ceremony or a centerpiece for the party, each made by hand by a florist near the graduate.

The guide below helps you match school colors, time the gift around the ceremony and pick flowers for the celebration at home.

How to choose flowers for graduation

Match the school colors

Many families like flowers in the graduate's school colors. For blue and white, Wonderful Wishes Bouquet sets both shades in a sleek cylinder vase. For blue and gold, Fields of Europe Summer pairs bright golden yellows with deep blues. Purple schools have two good options: Lovely Lavender Medley mixes lavender and white blooms with cascading greens, and Purples in Paris sets soft purple lilies against violet orchid stems in a compact 4.75-inch cube. For orange, pink or yellow, Floral Embrace gathers yellow and orange blooms with bright pink and purple pops.

A graduation bouquet to hand over at the ceremony

Flowers are usually given after the ceremony, when the graduate walks out with diploma in hand and the photos begin. Wrapped designs travel best: Daisy Daze gathers gerbera daisies with solidago and caspia in craft paper, and Boho Bolds wraps yellow sunflowers with hot pink carnations and roses the same way. Neither needs a vase, so you can carry the bouquet into the venue and drop it into a jar at home later. Have it delivered to your home the day before, since there are no Sunday deliveries and many ceremonies fall on weekends.

Flowers for the graduation party

For the party, choose something that stands out on a table full of cards and gifts. Vibrant Floral Medley for Graduation packs orange, hot pink and yellow flowers into a full bouquet finished with an 18 inch Mylar graduation balloon. Vibrant Tulip Charm comes in 10 or 25 Holland tulips, and the larger bunch can be split into small jars along a buffet; see more tulips. For a big milestone like a master's degree, Ultimate Red Roses scales from one dozen to one hundred stems. Find more ideas in our congratulations flowers and gifts, and add balloons to most flower orders in the cart.

Graduation flower questions

When should you give flowers at a graduation?

Most people hand them over right after the ceremony, when the graduate comes out to find family and take pictures. If you can't attend, have flowers delivered to their home the day before or in the days after, so they arrive for the party or the first quiet moment to celebrate.

What flower represents graduation?

There's no single official flower. Yellow roses are often linked with achievement and new beginnings, sunflowers with admiration and loyalty, and orchids with strength and beauty. Daisies and tulips are commonly tied to fresh starts, which fits a graduate heading to college or a first job.

Are you supposed to give flowers at graduation?

It isn't required, but it's a long-standing custom, especially from parents, grandparents and partners. A bouquet looks great in photos with a cap and gown, and it tells the graduate that people noticed years of effort. A card with a few proud words completes it.

Can I get graduation flower delivery on a weekend?

Saturday, yes: order a florist arrangement by 1:30 PM ET for same-day delivery when that date is open for the ZIP code, or schedule it ahead. Sunday, no. For a Sunday ceremony, a Saturday delivery to the graduate's home keeps the flowers fresh for the big day.

What graduation flowers work for any graduate?

Sunflowers, bright mixed bouquets and wrapped bunches suit almost anyone, since they feel celebratory rather than romantic. Boho Bolds and Daisy Daze are relaxed choices, and our sunflower arrangements add more options for a graduate of any age.