I’ve bought quite a few of these botanical sets over the years myself. Until this one I sorted them out straight away, not bother building. But this time I wanted to have a look myself what these sets are all about. Are they any fun to build?

So what do we get? We get 9 tiny plants in ‘terracotta’ pots. Instructions are divided in 3 booklets and 1-3 people can build these simultaneously. Every booklet has 3 pots, small/medium/large in size. Each time the pots of similar size are constructed with the same techniques. Only some small details like color choices (invisible from the outside) make a slight difference between them.

The full list of included plants:

• False Shamrock (Oxalis Triangularis)
• Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
• Laceleaf (Anthurium andraenum)
• Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
• Red Sundew (Drosera brevifolia)
• Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava)
• Britton’s Liveforever (Dudleya brittonii)
• Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
• Pincushion Cactus (Mammilaria crinita f. zeilmanniana)

In total the set consists of 758 pieces, divided over 6 numbered bags. The Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is €/$49.99 or £44.99.

Part selection

So this might be my favourite criterium to judge a set. And I really can’t think of many better sets. There’s a lot of recoloured parts, parts in bulk quantities or rare parts included. In this picture you can see all newly recoloured or rare (included in 3 sets or less) parts. It’s quite an impressive amount! and quite universally usable as well.

Other than new and recoloured parts, bigger quantities are also what defines a great parts pack. Below is the list of parts with the biggest quantities in this set. Unsurprisingly it’s a lot of Dark Orange.

image taken from Bricklink

So I assume these pictures give a good glimpse this is a very valuable addition to any builders parts collection. There are a lot of options for terrain building, structure etc. Some these parts are also especially added to please MOC builders since they are used invisibly like the unprinted Sand Green round 2×2 tiles. This is of course a well known practice from set designers to help colleagues or themselves out for introducing new parts and it’s great we can benefit from that.

Building process

Where I’m thrilled about the part selection, I’m not really about the building techniques. My initial thought when the set was revealed, was that most parts were used for the pots and the plants almost seem an afterthought.

Sadly, I’m still of this opinion after having built the set. The False Shamrock only takes 6 building steps in the instructions, including the pot. The Pincushion Cactus with 34 building steps is the most advanced when judged in the amount of building steps. And with the repetition in the pots, most of this set wasn’t very interesting from a building perspective.

Comparing the 9 models to pictures of the real life versions of these plants, some of them could have been represented better by going bigger.

Maybe 5 slightly bigger plants with some more variation in sizes would have been a choice I would have preferred. That would however also make it less of a desirable parts pack so there’s just no pleasing me perhaps.

I did think the building techniques on the biggest pots were really clever and the way a round shape was achieved was very satisfying. Previously I had my doubt about the need for a 1×2 SNOT brick with a centered stud on the side (part 86876). It felt to me a technic brick with pin could achieve the same. In this set however it’s used in such a way that really shows the neccessity of having this part as well.

Display-ability

Despite my criticism on the comparison between the real life plants and this sets, it does look rather cute. And thankfully they won’t expire and look dreary if you forget to water them.

The NPU choices like hats and butterflies give them a compelling look and this set might be acceptable when displayed in the house for non-AFOL partners. I can totally see this set being just as popular as earlier botanical sets  and have a broad appeal to new to LEGO fans.

The Cost

Just the set itself, displaying the 9 plants in your home seems worth the RRP of €/$49.99 or £44.99 to me. It looks nice and compared to other botanical sets in the same price bracket there’s enough value for me.

A simple Price Per Part analysis will be quite positive with 758 pieces, with less than 7c PP. However, I tend to judge more on how useful parts are to me and my MOC’s. And like I tried to show in the parts section of this review, there’s a lot to appreciate and an extraordinary value in all the rare and new parts. Even though I ended up finding it for €38.99 at a local retailer, I was already considering buying it at the regular price. To be honest, I’m also considering picking up a second one.

So I’d say: this is a fair priced set, well worth the (RRP) cost. As always, be on the lookout for a better deal because it might save you a bit.

So what do you think of this set? Have you bought and built the set already? Or are you convinced after reading this review. Share your thoughts in the comments!

The technique and part choice are reminiscent of earlier roses in the Icons Botanical Collection. Like in the ‘Dried Flower Centerpiece (10314)’. With a release in January this set will be perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. So surprised your beloved LEGO fan with a bouquet of bricks instead of actual flowers. You can be sure these will last quite a bit longer!

So what do you think? Is this a set for you or your valentine? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Official details:

LEGO® Botanical Collection Blooms With Bouquet of Roses

Today, the LEGO Group revealed a timeless classic to the LEGO® Botanical Collection: LEGO® Icons Bouquet of Roses.

A joy to build, this LEGO radiant bouquet depicts a dozen red roses – including four in full bloom, four blooming and four in bud – plus a scattering of small white flowers. Place the floral bunch in your favourite vase for a touch of elegant home decor that brightens any room, whether displayed at home or in the office.

The LEGO® Icons Bouquet of Roses is a thoughtful gift, either as an indulgent present to yourself or as a treat to a loved one to celebrate a special occasion. The building process has been designed to be enjoyable and easy: the set comes with separate instructions for the three flowering stages, making it perfect for a mindful solo project or great as a bonding group activity with friends and family.

The LEGO® Icons Bouquet of Roses joins LEGO® Icons Tiny Plants, which was also recently added to the Botanical Collection. The building set contains nine tiny plants, each from an arid, tropical and even carnivorous species, that are nestled in its own terracotta coloured plant pot. A great gift for gardening fans and plant lovers, this set is the perfect project to enjoy with friends and family, with different models for easy, medium and advanced builders.

What’s more, there is also a digital version of the building instructions available in the LEGO Builder app. Here, you can also discover a space for relaxation with the inspiring range of LEGO creative building projects designed specifically for adults. These have been introduced after finding 80% of adults are actively seeking new ways to unwind, with the vast majority (87%) adding that play helps them relax and feel calm (Play Well Study 2022 research).

The new LEGO® Icons Bouquet of Roses will be available from January 1, 2024, via LEGO stores, lego.com and from select leading retailers around the world. For more information, please visit: www.lego.com/adults-welcome/botanical-collection

At first glance I’m a little torn on this set. It sure has some nice pieces and part choices. Lime cake frosting, purple butterflies, dark red brushes, yellowish green hats among others. But on the other hand a big chunk of the piece count goes into making rather similar pots and the part counts for the actual plants appears to be limited.

Watch creativity grow
No green thumb needed as you craft these 9 tiny plants to fill your home with joy. The LEGO® Icons Tiny Plants showcase a range of arid, tropical and even carnivorous species, with each plant nestled in its own terracotta-coloured plant pot. A great gift for gardening fans and plant lovers, this set is the perfect project to enjoy with friends and family, with different models for easy, medium and advanced builders.

Rainforest champions
Tropical plants like the jade plant, false shamrock and laceleaf thrive in warm, humid conditions.

Captivating creations
Carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap, red sundew and the pitcher plant can lure and trap their prey.

Desert survivors
Succulents, prickly pear and pincushion cacti thrive in hot, windy climates with very little rain.

What do you think of this set? A day one buy or does it need to grow on you? Share your thoughts in the comments!