Valentine’s Day flower bouquets delivered to members of Congress by the Colombian embassy in Washington sparked an unexpected security advisory inside the U.S. Capitol this week, according to Colombian media reports.
The Colombian embassy partnered with the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) to promote Colombian-grown flowers ahead of the Valentine’s holiday. As part of the initiative, Colombian Ambassador Daniel García-Peña personally helped coordinate the delivery of flower arrangements to all 535 members of the U.S. House and Senate.
In a video shared online, García-Peña described the effort as a celebration of the strong trade relationship between the United States and Colombia.
“Colombia is the leading supplier of flowers to the United States, and 80 percent of the flowers we export come here,” García-Peña said. He noted that the floral trade supports approximately 220,000 jobs in the United States and a similar number in Colombia, calling it a clear example of mutually beneficial economic ties.
He added that the deliveries were meant to reflect Colombia’s identity as the “country of beauty” during the season of love and friendship.
However, the gesture reportedly prompted concern within Senate offices. Caracol Noticias reported that a Senate Operations Center message titled “Unsolicited Flower Deliveries to Senate Offices” circulated among staff. The notice allegedly advised offices to contact local police if they wished to arrange for pickup and disposal of the bouquets.
Journalist Julio Sánchez Cristo shared what he said was a screenshot of the internal message on his Instagram account, drawing attention to the unusual security response.
The Colombian embassy addressed the controversy in a statement issued Thursday evening. The embassy confirmed that it had delivered Valentine’s bouquets to members of Congress and said the initiative followed longstanding diplomatic practices carried out in coordination with congressional staff.
According to the embassy, roughly 90 percent of the flower arrangements delivered to House members and more than 90 percent of those delivered to senators were accepted without issue.
The statement emphasized that Senate rules permit gifts of intrinsic value, including floral arrangements, and asserted that the deliveries complied with applicable guidelines. It also acknowledged that the Senate Operations Center had circulated a notice in light of heightened security protocols, providing instructions for handling returns if necessary.
The embassy concluded that numerous lawmakers expressed appreciation for the gesture, reflecting what it described as the spirit of friendship in which the flowers were offered.
Colombia remains a dominant player in the U.S. floral market. According to El Tiempo, Colombian flower exports to the United States exceeded $1.3 billion in 2025, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all U.S. flower imports. Approximately 720 million Colombian flowers were shipped to the U.S. between January and February 2025 for the Valentine’s season alone. Floriculture represents nearly 28 percent of formal agricultural employment in Colombia.
