Anniversary flowers

Anniversary flowers work best when the choice feels personal. Roses are the familiar answer and the shade does the talking: a dark red rose reads as romantic, a blush pink one as gentle, a peach one as warm. If you want something less expected, lisianthus has the ruffled look of a rose without the thorns, and hydrangea gives a full, rounded head that fills a vase on its own. Dendrobium orchids sit well on a table and suit couples who prefer a plant-like gift. One variety in a single colour usually looks more deliberate than a mixed bunch. Count the stems to match the year if you like.