Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say with Flowers this Valentine's Day

Are you planning to give someone flowers for Valentine’s Day this year? Say what you mean and mean what you say with your floral gift.

The Flower Expert, an online guide to flowers and gardening, offers information on flower meanings — the type of flower, the color and the number can all express different messages. Patch breaks it down with a Valentine’s Day flower giving guide.

Flowers that convey romantic feelings

• Red roses — An unmistakable expression of love that conveys deep emotions
• Orange roses — Signify passion and energy and can be used to express intense desire, pride and fervor, a sense of fascination and, according to The Flower Expert, these blooms rival only red roses as messengers of passion in romance
• Lavender roses — Convey enchantment and also expresses the idea of "love at first sight"
• Red chrysanthemums — Convey love
• Tulips — Signify a declaration of love
• Purple lilacs — Symbolize first love
• Red carnations — Symbolize love, pride and admiration

Not-so-romantic messages

• Blue roses — Say "I can't have you but I can't stop thinking about you"
• Black roses — Indicate the death of a relationship
• Anemone — Indicates fading hope and a feeling of having been forsaken

Flowers for friends

• Yellow roses — An expression of exuberance that evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome, these are symbols of friendship and caring
• Pink roses — Used to convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude and are indicative of sweetness and innocence
• Alstroemeria — A flower of friendship
• Gerbera daisies — Convey cheerfulness

Flowers for mom or grandma

• Amaryllis — Symbolic of splendid beauty
• Iris — Symbolizes eloquence, with purple iris symbolizing wisdom and compliments
• Orchid — A symbol of exotic beauty, refinement, thoughtfulness and mature charm, orchids also symbolize proud and glorious femininity

The number of flowers one gives also has has significance.

A dozen roses is “the ultimate declaration of love”, while 25 roses say congratulations and 50 roses express unconditional love.

Check out these local florists to craft a special arrangement for a special someone.

Do you own or know of a florist not listed in Barrow Patch's business directory? Tell us in comments.