Tips for Choosing the Perfect Valentine's Day Flowers

2016-09-09 13:53:00

As well as chocolates and candlelit dinners, flowers are the face of Valentine’s Day. From a single rose to an extravagant floral arrangement, there are plenty of styles, colours and designs to choose from.

Don't limit yourself to red roses

Many may think of roses as a cliché option for Valentine’s Day, however, you may be surprised to learn that there are over 100 species to choose from. When buying them as a Valentine's Gift the most popular colours are red, pink and white. Each shade has its very own meaning, red for love, pink for sweetness and white for purity. If you want to push the boat out, opt for a mixture of red and white roses, as it symbolizes unity. If you’re looking for a more colourful option, choose yellow for friendship and orange for desire.

Tulips - the flowers that keeps on giving

Renowned for their bulb heads and curving leaves, tulips are the most prevalent of all garden flowers. Red, white and pink arrangements are the most popular style for Valentine’s Day, especially for a classic flower such as the tulip. Unlike most flowers, tulips boast a unique quality, as they continue to grow long after they’ve been cut. Simply place them next to a source of natural daylight. A bouquet of bright tulips is a great option for those wishing to give a gift that’s not too elaborate but that still says ‘I love you’. They’re also a symbol of balance and comfort.

Pick the freshest, least bloomed floral.

Whether you're at a professional boutique or a last-resort corner store, make sure that you're picking the least bloomed floral of the bunch. Your gift will last longer—as will the warm fuzzy feelings from your significant other.

No, baby, no.

Baby’s breath is to bouquets what coleslaw is to meals: low-grade filler that no one actually enjoys.

Go digital.

Try using online retailers or florists without a traditional storefront. They tend to charge less of a mark-up and are more likely to make your arrangement to order instead of giving out pre-made display pieces.

Order A.S.A.P.

Prices go up leading up to the big day. If you call or order ahead of time, you'll avoid paying more.

What else can men do to make their floral gifts special and personalized? 

The best thing, that sometimes gets overlooked, is the card message. Be sure to make it as thoughtful as possible, since the feeling someone gets reading the note resonates to the entire flower-receiving experience. 

Not all Valentine flowers need to be exquisitely expensive. Sweet pink carnations symbolize new love or special friendship. Also available in red and white, they last a long time and are often found at local department stores. Alstroemenia, or the Peruvian lily is long-lasting and easy to find. Its pink blossoms represent friendship and devotion.

With so many choices, it might seem difficult to decide on the right flower arrangement for the love of your life or the person for whom you hold a special affection. If all else fails, choose his or her favorite flower or color, and you can guarantee that your gift will always be a Valentine's Day success.