January 24, 2025
Unique and Meaningful Alternatives to Roses for Valentine's Day
The tradition of presenting roses to loved ones on Valentine’s Day stems from – you guessed it – Greek mythology. The rose was sacred to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and her tears mixed with Adonis’ blood watered the bushes where they grew. Fast forward to Victorian England, where learning the language of flowers was one of the only appropriate customs for women. The 18th and 19th century brought forth published books regarding the language of flowers and the development of new species of roses.
The rose – specifically the red rose – is considered the classic symbol of love. But did you know that roses are not the only choice when it comes to presenting flowers to loved ones? Where some prefer to stick to traditions, others prefer to try something different. This Valentine’s Day, consider a more unique and alternative option to roses.
Express Your Love with Orchids
The downside of delivering a fresh bouquet of flowers to a loved one is that they do not last forever. If you would prefer a longer-lasting gift, an orchid is the perfect choice! You can choose from a multitude of colors and styles, as it is one of the world’s most ancient and widespread plants.
It is said that the orchid dates back to 4,000 years ago in China and Japan, where the plant was used for medicinal purposes. From coughs and fevers to wounds and infections, the orchid was used as their remedy for years before their distinctive shape and fragrance became a symbol of elegance and love.
There are between 22,000 and 26,000 accepted species of orchid, with the two most common for the home being the Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium. They bloom annually, but if well-maintained they may bloom more often. They also come in every color of the rainbow, and like any bloom, the meaning of an orchid varies depending on their color.
Red Orchids: Passion and romance
Orange Orchids: Enthusiasm and fascination
Yellow Orchids: Friendship and well wishes
Green Orchids: Health and good fortune
Blue Orchids: Confidence and loyalty
Purple Orchids: Royalty and respect
Pink Orchids: Grace and thoughtfulness
White Orchids: Innocence and hope
Although romantic love takes center stage on Valentine’s Day, orchids are an excellent gift for mothers, lovers, and galentines.
Tulips: A Colorful and Elegant Choice
For centuries, tulips have been given as a sign of unconditional love. The tulip can be traced back to Central Asia where they grew as wildflowers before being cultivated in Turkey around 1000 AD. Their popularity grew in the 17th century and even had entire festivals dedicated to them!
With over 3,000 varieties of tulips, they are a whimsical choice to gift a loved one on Valentine’s Day. They do not require much in the way of specialized care, and are considered an affordable alternative to roses.
Valentine’s Day tulips can have multiple meanings. A red tulip truly signifies eternal love and passion, while pink tulips are great to gift to friends or family members as a sign of caring. The brighter the color, the better! Their cheerful appearance is exactly what makes that February day all the more special.
Capture Their Heart with Lilies
The lily is a symbol of feminine beauty, making it the perfect floral bouquet for your galentine! There are more than 100 species of lilies and are actually quite different when it comes to their care.
Native to South Africa, the calla lily is tied to Greek and Roman mythology. Fun fact: they aren’t technically lilies at all! By the time a German botanist realized the error, it was too late. Calla lilies are a symbol of devotion and often seen at weddings. But that doesn’t mean Valentines can’t have them too! Similar to other flowers, different colors of calla lilies have different meanings. Purity and fertility are also popular associations with the lily.
Peruvian lilies have more of a flirtatious vibe, making them the perfect choice for playful Valentines. Also known as alstroemeria, their stems can produce multiple blooms and instantly fill a vase. Peruvian lilies can say to a companion or loved one that you will always be there for them and that you trust in your lasting bond. The brilliantly colored blooms of Peruvian lilies can light up a room as well as the hearts of their recipients.
Celebrate Love with Carnations
One of the earliest documented botanists, Theophrastus, is said to have discovered carnations in Ancient Greece. According to historians, Theophrastus gave the flower its scientific name, “dianthus.” A combination of the Greek words “dios,” which means divine, and “anthos,” which means flower, carnations have been used in Europe and Asia for art, decor, perfumes, and teas.
Different cultures take on different meanings for carnations, with the most common being love and devotion. The meaning of the carnation also depends on the color and whether that color was solid or striped.
Red Carnations: deep admiration and luck
White Carnations: purity and innocence
Purple Carnations: whimsy and unpredictability
Pink Carnations: gratitude and fascination
Striped Carnations: regret or refusal
Carnations have plenty of staying power to delight your loved ones longer than many cut flowers. The powerful sentiments these flowers can express are a perfect complement to their classic beauty and long-lasting freshness.
Don’t Forget to Mix and Match
A bouquet of tulips, lilies, or carnations are wonderful options for Valentine’s Day, but they don’t have to be solo! Some of our romantic designs include the Butterflies Bouquet, with roses and carnations of red and pink hues mixed with eucalyptus berries to add a lovely scent, and the Honeymoon Bouquet, with bold blooms of red and pink including beautiful starfighter lilies.
Original designs from Proflowers florists offer the best experience for unique bouquets. The Love of My Life Bouquet, a design rich in texture with lilies and carnations, is a classic and well-loved choice. Better Together – A Florist Original is a one-of-a-kind bouquet created by local florists using the finest quality flowers.
Want to try your hand at making your own unique bouquet? Here’s an idea from our design expert, Andrea Ancel:
If you are looking to create a dreamy and romantic bouquet that will include lilies, tulips, orchids, and carnations I would stick with a simplified color palette to keep the look modern and intentional – let’s plan for a red and deep plum design. Let’s start with tall, bold pink lilies and add in hot pink Mokara orchids that will add some drama to the bouquet. Tuck in hot pink and purple tulips at the base of the design (these will grow over time so it’s ok to tuck them in while designing and then let them pop up over time and fill in the bouquet). Next, incorporate spray roses towards the base of the bouquet to ensure you don’t create any unwanted gaps in the design when the tulips grow. Plum carnations would be lovely in this bouquet, and they’d pop and provide rich texture. Feel free to add in a few stems of red Sweet William and green trick (both are in the carnation family and will bring a lovely texture into the bouquet). I would design this a little looser and let the spray roses and tulips cascade over the sides.
Tag us on social media with your one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day bouquets – with or without roses!