Blooming marvellous – a day celebrating women’s achievements has become so popular that it is now one of the biggest flower-giving occasions in the UK calendar, latest sales data can reveal.

International Women’s Day, which takes place every March 8, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.

And in the last few years it has become such a prominent occasion to honour women in business, sport and in everyday life that Tesco says it is now in the top flower giving occasions of the year, after Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter.

Over the last three years the supermarket has seen demand for flowers soar in the days leading up to the occasion with an average of nearly 300,000 extra bouquets. Tesco first noticed the trend a few years ago and each year since it has seen a steady rise in the number of bouquets bought for the occasion.

Tesco flower buyer Ryan Daley said:

“Celebrating International Women’s Day appears to have really taken off in the UK judging by the growing number of bouquets that are being bought on and around this special day."

“The day is a great opportunity to celebrate women's achievements and giving a bouquet is a great way of saying that you appreciate and admire what they do."

The most popular flowers being bought for International Women’s Day are tulips and roses.

Flower-giving in general is making a major comeback after being one of the first things that fell during lockdown and the cost of living crisis. Last year Tesco saw demand for its top of the range Finest bouquets soar by 20 per cent.

That’s roughly the equivalent of more than a million extra bouquets bought in the last year versus the same time period the previous year.