Romance at a premium! Valentine’s roses get pricier

It’s Valentine’s week, and by 5am, Ghazipur Phool Mandi is already buzzing as retailers, florists and NCR residents crowd in, hunting for the best blooms. Locally grown roses, bundled in lots of 90, are stacked high and closely guarded by vendors. When a customer questioned the count, one shot back, “Agar iss bundle mein 80 roses nikle, toh paise vaapis kar dunga!” He later added, “Iss baar demand zyada hai aur stock kam, isliye price badh gaya hai. Last year, this bundle ranged between ₹800 and ₹1,200; this year, it costs ₹1,600 to ₹2,000.”

‘Roughly 3 lakh roses from bengaluru arrive in Ghazipur daily’

“Demand for roses is high this year, however, profits aren’t proportional,” says Asim Kumar Haldar, a vendor, who has been trading in roses for over two decades. He adds, “The day begins at 1.30am, with mini trucks carrying Bengaluru-grown roses arriving by 3am. This year, three to five trucks have been reaching daily with 400-500 boxes. Each box holds 25-30 bunches of 20 roses each – roughly 3 lakh roses from Bengaluru alone.”

Phoolchand, a rose vendor at Ghazipur for 20 years, says, “I’m selling a bundle of 90 red roses for ₹1,800 this week. Valentine’s Day se pehle ₹100 bundle bhi bechte hain – yaani ek gulab lagbhag ek rupaye ka.”

About evolving customer preferences, Avi Kumar, CMO at FNP, says, “Consumer preferences have evolved, but roses remain the emotional anchor of Valentine’s gifting. What’s changed is presentation. Customers are now choosing curated arrangements paired with cakes, chocolates or cards. Gen Z tends to spend less but experiment more, opting for playful formats and a wider palette. Older buyers spend more overall and prefer classic red roses and traditional bouquets.”

Economics of love

₹550 - ₹700

Price of a bunch of 20 Tata quality roses from Bengaluru ranges during Valentine’s Week, which marks a 57% increase in the cost from last year, at the Ghazipur Phool Mandi

₹50-₹80

Per stem is the price at which local florists are selling roses after buying for ₹17-22 from Ghazipur mandi



₹100

Per stem price is charged by florists in South Ex and Gurgaon

₹100- ₹150

Per stem price range at NCR flower studios, with bouquet prices varying by arrangement and the mix of roses with exotic flowers like anthuriums and tulips

₹10,000-15,000

Price of a 100-rose bouquet at Delhi flower studios. At local florists, the price of a 100-rose bouquet costs between ₹6,000 and ₹8,000

This Valentine’s, think beyond roses

The season of love may be defined by red roses. But flower studios across NCR are witnessing a high demand for blooms other than roses. Shalini Dugar, founder of &Blooms, says, “This Valentine’s, buyers are asking for smaller but distinctive arrangements instead of large red rose bouquets. Peonies, protea and hydrangeas are in demand, often paired with a touch of roses. These mixed arrangements are easier to carry, fit neatly on desks or tables, and still feel luxe.”

Arshiya Khanna, founder of Kusum Flowers Delhi, says, “There is now a growing appreciation for global seasonal favourites such as peonies and tulips. Rare apricot, lilac, and coffee-toned roses are a part of our arrangements. For many clients, the classic red rose no longer holds the same allure; they seek something more exotic, flowers that feel distinctive, and entirely new.”

Ravi Advani, owner of Flower Power, says Indian seasonal exotics – stocks, snapdragons, dahlias, larkspurs and cornflowers – are increasingly being used for Valentine’s week. “Youngsters are visiting Ghazipur mandi to scout for variety of flowers. They also prioritise longer shelf life, so young buyers choose cut stems of local seasonal exotics or imported blooms such as eryngiums from Holland, pincushions and mokara orchids from Thailand, and flowers from the Netherlands, China, Kenya and Colombia,” he says.