Celebrated on the first Sunday of August every year, International Friendship Day is a gentle reminder to pause and appreciate a love that often goes unnamed: the love between friends. In a world where romance takes centre stage, friendship shows up in late-night calls, comfortable silences, and in all those funny videos you send, even though you know they’ll never watch them.
It’s about the ones who show up with fries, with advice, or a badly timed joke. The ones you sit with in parked cars, talking about everything and nothing. The ones who answer your call, no matter the hour.
This International Friendship Day, say the things we often leave unsaid: thank you, I’m sorry, I love you, or simply, I’m glad you exist. Celebrate the people who feel like home, your platonic soulmates, your chosen family.
If you’re wondering how to say all that without making it awkward, here’s a tip: flowers. The universal language of love, spoken fluently in every culture, across generations.
10 Best Bouquets for Friendship Day
From traditional blooms and seasonal flowers to unique ideas, here are the 10 best flowers to gift a friend.
1. Yellow Roses
Synonymous with friendship, yellow roses are the timeless go-to when it comes to expressing love for a friend. Their meaning is simple: warmth, joy, and unwavering support. Picture this: vibrant yellow petals, fresh green stems, wrapped in understated brown paper. It doesn’t get more classic than that.
However, yellow roses aren’t your only option. Yellow flowers in general are widely recognized as symbols of friendship. You can also choose marigolds, daffodils, black-eyed Susans, yellow tulips, California poppies, canna lilies, or yellow irises, each carrying the same sunshine-filled sentiment.
2. Gerbera Daisies
Perfect for brightening a room, gerbera daisies in an array of colors, including red, orange, pink, yellow, and even dual-toned varieties. They are perfect symbols of joy, positivity, and long-lasting relationships. A florist favorite, they are one of the most popular flowers for friendship bouquets.
These are also an excellent gifting option for your friends with fragrance sensitivities, as they have little to no scent. This quality also means they’re appropriate for people with pollen allergies.
3. Freesias
Named after the German botanist and medical practitioner, Friedrich Freese, Freesias traditionally symbolize trust, purity, and friendship. These are the perfect florals for your friends who appreciate the vibrancy of flowers, along with the olfactory experience they bring.
These flowering plants from the Iris family are popular around the world for their sweet, citrus-like scent. Their dainty shape ensures that you can also combine these flowers with other blooms for a personalized arrangement. Some flowers you can add to a freesia arrangement include roses, lisianthus, ranunculus, peonies, and greenery like eucalyptus or fern.
4. Chrysanthemums
One of the most popular fall flowers in the country, chrysanthemums, lovingly called mums, represent optimism, loyalty, longevity, and joy. They come in a wide range of colors, including yellow, pink, red, and purple, adding a burst of warmth to any space.
Known for their large blooms, vibrant variety, and long-lasting nature, mums are a favorite choice for friendship flower arrangements. They're perfect for a windowsill, where your friends can enjoy their beauty for days on end.
These are composite flowers, meaning each blossom is made up of many tiny florets, giving them their full, layered look. Add them to a rustic fall centrepiece or mix with eucalyptus for a fall-inspired bouquet that brings cozy charm to any room.
5. Hydrangeas
Classic and versatile, hydrangeas can be featured in modern arrangements, garden-inspired bouquets, and vintage designs. They are representative of gratitude and deep emotions. These flowers are available in a variety of colors, such as white, blue, pink, and purple.
Hydrangeas are made up of clusters of tiny flowers. Their cloud-like appearance, large size, and dreamy color palette make them an excellent option for friendship flower arrangements. Additionally, they can be paired with peonies, roses, lilies, lisianthus, or eucalyptus.
Interestingly, some Hydrangea varieties can change colors based on the soil’s pH level!
6. Tulips
Symbolizing unconditional love, red tulips are an underrated bouquet for friendship day gifting. Pink tulips represent care and well wishes, whereas yellow tulips symbolize cheerfulness and sunshine. Choose purple tulips if you wish to send them to a friend you admire, and white if you wish to apologize to a dear one.
They are extensively favored in modern floral arrangements for their structured and sleek look, tall stems, and bulb-shaped appearance. Additionally, tulip bouquets are highly customizable; you can opt for modern arrangements, rustic bouquets, or minimalist designs.
7. Alstroemeria
Also known as the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, Alstroemeria is one of the most favorite flowers for a friend due to its symbolism. They are a powerful emblem of devotion, loyalty, and lasting bonds. They are available in a variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, purple, and orange.
Their distinctive striped or freckled inner petals add a unique touch and visual detail to an already beautiful flower. Alstroemeria arrangements can showcase a vibrant mix of colors tailored to your friend’s personality, or embrace a single hue to express a more specific sentiment through each bloom.
8. Sunflowers
Universally known as the symbols of joy, optimism, and warmth, sunflowers are the floral versions of a sunny day amid winter. Their tendency to turn toward the sun (heliotropism) also represents loyalty and love. Choose sunflowers for that friend who’s your personal lighthouse in every storm.
An early autumn favorite, their large yellow blooms, dark centres, and thick stems make them an excellent gifting option. These flowers pair well with foliage like eucalyptus, ruscus, or ferns for a natural, rustic look.
If you're unsure, consider a yellow flower (the ultimate symbol of platonic love), paired with a personal note or an inside joke. It’s thoughtful, effortless, and unforgettable.
9. Lilie
Lilies are perfect for friends who love bold, eye-catching floral arrangements that command attention. With their elegant trumpet-shaped blooms and striking structure, lilies make stunning centrepieces and statement bouquets.
Available in a wide range of colours including white, red, pink, yellow, and orange, they suit every mood and moment. Rich in symbolism across cultures, lilies represent divinity, admiration, beauty, purity, and love, making them both meaningful and majestic. These flowers are paired beautifully with roses, orchids, chrysanthemums, baby’s breath, and lush greenery.
10. Carnations
Symbols of love, admiration, and devotion, carnations are another excellent choice for friendship bouquets. They are one of the most long-lasting flowers, which means your friends can enjoy their distinct beauty and unique clove-like scent for weeks.
They are recognisable by their multi-layered petals that give them a plush, textured look. They are typically featured in monochrome floral designs due to their texture and longevity.
The Bottom Line
This International Friendship Day, express your love for your friends through flowers. Opt for a floral arrangement featuring your friend’s favorite flowers or choose a flower that can convey your emotions. Customise them into an arrangement that matches their aesthetic or pick from curated collections made by floral experts.
At its heart, Friendship Day is about expressing your gratitude, affection, appreciation, and love. Whether it's a large arrangement or a single stem, it’s the thought that counts. For those friends you can’t hug in person, our same-day fresh flower delivery makes sure your love reaches them—fresh, thoughtful, and right on time.
Celebrate International Friendship Day with Alpha Floral
With Alpha Floral, you can opt for Santa Barbara flower delivery to ensure your friends receive the freshest blooms, wrapped in your love, right on their doorstep. Explore our extensive collection of floral arrangements for the one that catches your eye. If not, our in-house floral experts will be happy to guide you through selection, care, and more.
Send us an email at alphafloral@gmail.com or call us at (805)965-5165.
