Gifts for men in Shanghai: which bouquet to send and why
Two of the ten gifts for men in Shanghai are chrysanthemum bouquets, the Spray Chrysanthemum Bouquet and the Chrysanthemum Bouquet No. 2. The flower means longevity in China and stands for the imperial house in Japan, while in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland a large incurve bloom reads as a funeral flower. Picking the right one for him comes down to two things: where he lives, and how long the bouquet needs to hold up on a desk.
Flowers for a man: what the section sells
The section sells bouquets, not objects, and they are named two different ways. Some carry a man's name: Cleopatra 3, Vincent, Boom No. 1, Lotus and Kilian. Others are named for their flower: the Spray Chrysanthemum Bouquet, the White Tulip Bouquet "Monica", the Peony "Blue Logan" Bouquet and the Misty Duo Bouquet with Daisies.
Every bouquet is put together to order, and the flowers are bought only once the order is paid. If none of the names tell you enough, describe the occasion and a budget in the chat instead: a manager sends back a few options with photos and prices, and you choose before paying anything.
Chrysanthemum is the one flower here worth checking against the recipient's country before you buy. Where he lives in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain or Poland, a large incurve chrysanthemum is associated with funerals rather than a gift; elsewhere, including China and Japan, it carries none of that weight. If in doubt, a manager can suggest a different flower for the same occasion.
Longevity is where chrysanthemum earns its place regardless: it holds for two to three weeks in a vase, against roughly a week for a rose. Its leaves yellow before the flower does, so stripping them off keeps the bouquet looking fresh longer. It is also a greenhouse flower sold all year, unlike the White Tulip Bouquet "Monica". Dutch greenhouse tulips are cut from December to May, and a tulip keeps growing in the vase and leaning toward the light, so its silhouette shifts within a day or two.
The Peony "Blue Logan" Bouquet follows its own calendar. Peonies from the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK run from late April to June, and with proper care one lasts five to seven days in water.
Adding a card or a small gift to the bouquet
A card with a message costs nothing extra, and you can sign it or send it unsigned. Sweets, balloons, a small toy or a vase go into the same order at the cart step, where a link opens the gifts to go with bouquets section.
A vase is worth adding mainly when the bouquet is heading to an office rather than a home, since there may be nothing there to put it in.
Sending flowers to a man discreetly
Nobody calls the recipient ahead of delivery unless the sender asks for it, with one exception: a building the courier cannot enter without ringing up first. Beyond that, the courier works from a name and an address; if you only have a phone number, that is enough to place the order.
For an office delivery, give the company name and the floor. Where the building runs a pass system, the bouquet is left at reception instead of going up. A photo of the finished bouquet is sent before the courier sets off. Most orders reach the recipient the same day they are placed, and the exact timing for a given bouquet is shown on its own page, alongside the delivery page.
Starting from the flower rather than the name narrows things down fast. A single-variety pick sits in the mono bouquets section, and anything going to a hotel desk or an office reception travels better in flowers in boxes.