In 2009, more than 125 million roses were bought for Valentine’s Day.

In 2009, 89% of Valentine’s flowers were bought in person at a retailer, 8% phone-ordered from a local retailer, 4% phone-ordered from an out-of-town retailer, 15% ordered through the Internet and 2% phone-ordered through a toll-free number.

Men make 62% of floral purchases for Valentine’s Day.

82% of men’s Valentine’s Day flower purchases are for their wife or significant other; 19% of women’s flower purchases are for their husband or significant other. Women are more likely to buy Valentine’s Day flowers for their mothers than for their spouses.

California is the #1 US source of cut flowers, producing 65% of the total.

Americans consume close to $7.2 billion of flowers each year.

Miami is the flower import capital of the United States. 88 percent of the fresh-cut flowers that enter this country arrive at Miami International Airport. 32,500 boxes of flowers arrive at MIA each day! And two to three times that figure before Mother’s and Valentine’s Day. That’s 35 planeloads each day!

Don’t know the names of the flowers? Here’s a picture flower guide to get you started

Size of the Floral Industry

• Floriculture item sales at all retail outlets: $19.5 billion (estimated 2004)
• Retail florist shops: 22,753
• Supermarkets selling flowers: 23,000
• Plant nurseries and garden centers: 16,432
• Floral Wholesalers (estimate): 1,000
• Domestic Floriculture Growers: 11,099

Where Flowers Come From

• IMPORTS:
  Imports account for approximately 70% of fresh flowers sold in the United States.Top 6 Import Countries (2004)
  Colombia 59%
  Ecuador 19%
  European Union 10%
  Canada 3%
  Costa Rica 3%
  Mexico 2%
• DOMESTIC:
  Top 6 Growing States (2004)
  California 72%
  Washington 5%
  Florida 5%
  Hawaii 4%
  Oregon 3%
  New Jersey 2%