Dating Tips
Which Valentine’s Day Flowers to Give | An Essential Guide
Finally, the month of love is upon us!
January made sure we felt every moment of its 31 days, but now that the love month has arrived, so should your plans for Valentine’s Day! Whether you are single, talking to someone, exclusively dating, just got married, or celebrating your tenth anniversary, a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers for your beloved lady should never be absent on the fourteenth of February.
I mean, come on. Flowers for Valentine’s Day are the very symbol of the occasion. Not only does it symbolize love, but it also conveys your care and thoughtfulness.
Do you already have ideas in mind about what specific flower(s) to give? If not, I have just what you need. As someone who has several flower shops as neighbors, I can give you some insights.
A List of Valentine’s Day Flowers & Their Symbolic Significance
A lady would greatly appreciate it if you chose your flowers thoughtfully rather than relying solely on a florist’s opinion or picking the closest flower lying at your feet. Learn about each flower and its meaning so you’ll know which ones to pick:
Lilies
Recently, lilies have received more attention when this should’ve been the case all along. This flower is usually used in weddings because of its distinctive look and fragrance. What many people fail to realize is that this flower is versatile because it’s easy to grow and can complement any bouquet.
Lilies represent purity, chastity, fertility, beauty, and romance. I recommend purchasing the pink ones because they exude femininity and admiration, which are ideal to give to a lady you’re exclusively dating.
Orchids
Did you know that approximately 200 species of orchids are endangered? Well, the United States Botanic Garden has claimed it, making this flower even more special. Aside from its unique structure, it also comes in a variety of pretty colors! Orchids have recently become a fashion statement, too, appearing on heels, bags, clothing, and even hair clips!
Orchids represent elegance, refinement, thoughtfulness, and mature charm. If you intend to buy these, pick the purple and white ones, as these represent admiration and respect for your lover.
Peonies
Peonies are known to be a good omen of a happy marriage. Given that peonies have a traditional meaning, it would be a lovely gift to give your wife, especially if you’re celebrating your 12th wedding anniversary.
However, while they are more expensive than traditional blooms, they represent a marriage in which you can appreciate the finer things in life. Aside from a happy marriage, peonies represent romance, elegance, and good fortune. This flower is also known as “mǔdān” in Chinese, which translates to “the most beautiful.”
Chrysanthemums
This flower has so many different meanings all over the world. For example, The Sherman: Library & Gardens states that, in the US, this flower represents friendship, happiness, and well-being. However, yellow ones are given to express sorrow or neglected love.
In Japan, yellow chrysanthemums symbolize longevity, rejuvenation, nobility, and the imperial family. In Korea and European countries, these are commonly used for funerals.
It’s best to take note of this, especially if you’re dating a foreign lady. Consider which country she belongs to and what this flower means to them. Generally, this flower represents deep passion, longevity, fidelity, and optimism.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers, in my experience, never fail to make a lady smile regardless of the season or whether you’re celebrating anything. True to its name, it simply makes people beam like the sun. Other than being visually appealing, it also carries a deep significance.
Generally, sunflowers represent optimism, positivity, and warmth. It also represents devotion and admiration from the myth of Clytie and Apollo. For a more romantic and sophisticated look, these flowers go best with roses.
Roses
Last but certainly not least, the ever-popular flower for Valentine’s Day — roses. They are timeless, elegant, and gorgeous. Though roses are undeniably romantic, these are delicate flowers to care for, and each color has a different meaning.
If you want to convey deep love and passion, go for red roses. If you want to express elegance and gratitude, pink roses are ideal. And, if you are secretly seeing each other and want to give her something special, blue roses are the best choice.
I could go on and on about flowers, but the aforementioned Valentine’s Day flowers are known to be easy to spot in any market, so you will have no trouble finding them. All you have to do is make a reservation for the specific flower you want to avoid having to wait in long lines or having nothing to give because everything has sold out!
References:
Nakatsui, K. (2022). “The Many Meanings of Mums”. thesherman.org.
https://thesherman.org/2022/10/24/the-many-meanings-of-mums/#:~:text=In%20the%20US%2C%20the%20chrysanthemum,a%20bouquet%20of%20yellow%20chrysanthemums.
United States Botanic Garden. (n.d.) “Conserving North America’s Native Orchids”. usbg.gov.
https://www.usbg.gov/conserving-north-americas-native-orchids
