Occasions
St Andrew’s Day in Scotland: date and flower ideas
Scotland · Regional
Scotland celebrates St Andrew’s Day on 30 November. If you are sharing a meal you could bring a small bouquet of blue sea holly with white lisianthus. It is an idea for bringing the colours of the Scottish flag to the gathering. The thistle is Scotland’s floral emblem; the sea holly in our flower guide is a different plant.
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Celebrating Scotland on 30 November
St Andrew is Scotland’s patron saint, and his day brings celebrations of music, dancing and food. The date is 30 November every year. Local events may follow their own programme.
The calendar keeps the celebration on that date even when a weekend bank holiday is replaced by a weekday. If your meal is on a different date order the flowers for when you will meet.
The Scottish thistle and sea holly for a bouquet
The thistle is an emblem of Scotland. The sea holly in this guide is Eryngium planum. Its blue flower heads resemble a thistle, but it belongs to the Apiaceae family. We suggest it for its shape and colour without identifying it as the national emblem.
For a blue and white bouquet you could combine a few stems of sea holly with white lisianthus. For a softer look choose lisianthus alone and bring in the blue through a card or wrapping. These are gift ideas rather than a required traditional arrangement.
A gift that leaves room for the meal
You could order “A small bouquet of blue sea holly and white lisianthus to bring to a St Andrew’s Day meal. Please keep it low and include a vase we can put on a side table.” Add your budget and the date you will meet. If the flowers change keep the size you need.
Fresh sea holly can have a faint manure-like smell. If it will sit near the food assess the actual stems or choose lisianthus without sea holly. If you prefer dried sea holly order a dried arrangement separate from the fresh bouquet. The flower guide helps you choose between the two formats.
Which flowers to choose
Compare flowers to choose the format, colours and care that suit the occasion.
Sea holly
Main flower in our selectionWe suggest blue sea holly for a small bouquet to bring to a St Andrew’s Day meal. It adds texture and colour. It is not Scotland’s emblematic thistle.
Lisianthus
White lisianthus softens a blue and white arrangement. You can also choose it alone for a bouquet without sea holly near the table.
Guides to help with your decision
Burns Night in Scotland: date and flowers for supper
Burns Night is 25 January. Red rose ideas inspired by A Red, Red Rose, a gift for your host and flowers for the supper table.
Scented or low-fragrance flowers: how to choose
How to choose fragrant or low-scent flowers around the recipient and setting. What to ask about varieties, foliage and substitutions.
Which flowers to bring to a dinner host
Which flowers to bring to dinner at someone’s home and how to give them. Bouquets with a vase, centrepiece advice and card examples.
How to order flowers from a distance and plan delivery
How to send flowers from afar and choose the format, date and handover. Includes UK letterbox flowers and addresses and deliveries in other countries.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this occasion appear in the calendar?
Under the United Kingdom as Scotland · Regional. It is included when you select all occasions or Scotland, also alongside UK national occasions. It is excluded from the UK national-only filter and from the Wales selection.
Sources and what they support
- Scotland.org · Who was St Andrew?
Annual 30 November, Scotland’s patron saint and celebrations with music, dancing and food. Does not establish a flower-giving tradition.
- VisitScotland · Scottish culture and history
Thistle as floral emblem, blue and white Saltire and 30 November celebrations. Sea holly/lisianthus is an editorial choice, not identification of the emblem or a required species.
- NC State Extension · Eryngium planum
Apiaceae, blue heads resembling thistles, cutting/drying and a faint smell in fresh flowers. Does not establish Scottish November supply or identify the national emblem.
- mygov.scot · Public and bank holidays
30 November 2026 and weekday substitution for a weekend bank holiday. Does not move the cultural calendar date or guarantee closure or delivery.
How we put these guides together
We review dates, care and recommendations to help you plan each gift.
Spotted something we should review? Contact Agenda Floral.