Best Flowers for Valentine's Day

The best flowers for Valentine's Day are red roses. That is the honest short answer, and if you are in a hurry you can stop reading here and order a dozen. But "best" depends on who is receiving them. A partner of fifteen years, someone you started seeing in December, a wife who has told you twice that she finds red roses predictable: each of them deserves a different answer. This guide goes through the flowers that actually work for Valentine's Day, what each one means, which colours change the message, and how to match the choice to the person.

Every flower below is one we make up for February in Dubai, with a real design you can look at. If you already know what you want, the full range is on our Valentine's Day flowers page.

Quick answer: what flowers are best for Valentine's Day?

• Red roses for a long-term partner or anyone who expects the classic
• Pink roses for a softer, gentler message
• Tulips for someone who likes clean, modern shapes
• Orchids for a partner who prefers something unusual and lasting
• Lilies for a large, fragrant bouquet
• Carnations and alstroemeria for colour that holds up for a long time
• Mixed bouquets when you know their favourite colours but not their favourite flower

The rest of this article explains each one properly.

1. Red roses: the flower of Valentine's Day

Red roses are the near-universal symbol of romantic love, and they are the number one Valentine's choice by a wide margin. Most of what any florist sends on 14 February is red. There is no clever reason behind it. Red roses mean "I love you" in a way nobody misreads, which is exactly what most people want to say on the day. You can see the wider choice, in every colour, on our rose bouquets page.

The reason people look for alternatives is that red roses can feel expected. That is a fair worry, but it is usually solved by how the roses are presented rather than by swapping the flower. A dozen loose-wrapped stems, a heart-shaped box and a hundred-rose bouquet say very different things.

Does the number of roses matter?

People read meaning into the count, so it is worth choosing deliberately:

• One rose: a small, personal gesture. It works well alongside dinner or another gift. Our individually wrapped single red roses are made for exactly this.
• Seven roses: a step up from a single stem without the size of a full bouquet, like our seven-rose hat box.
• Twelve roses: the traditional dozen and the most popular Valentine's order.
• Twenty-four or more: for a spouse or a long relationship, when the size of the gesture is part of the message.
• One hundred: a statement piece, often chosen for a proposal or a milestone year. The 100 red roses hand bouquet in a white wrap is one of these.

Red roses in a box

A box changes how red roses feel. It arrives already arranged, there is no need to find a vase, and the shape itself can carry the message. A heart-shaped box is the obvious Valentine's version.

2. Pink roses: softer, and still romantic

Pink roses usually stand for gratitude, appreciation and admiration. They are still unmistakably a Valentine's flower, but they speak more quietly than red. That makes them a good choice early in a relationship, for someone who has said they find red roses too much, or for a partner whose taste runs to pastels.

Pink is also more varied than red. Pale blush, bright pink and deep rose pink all sit under the same name and give a bouquet very different moods.

3. White roses: clean and elegant

White roses are a quieter Valentine's choice, often picked by people who want something elegant rather than obviously romantic. On their own they look crisp and modern. Mixed with red, they make one of the classic Valentine's combinations: the contrast makes both colours look stronger.

4. Mixed roses: when one colour is not enough

If you cannot decide between red, pink and white, you do not have to. A mixed rose bouquet keeps the romance of roses and adds variety. It also suits someone who likes colour but would find a full mixed-flower bouquet too busy.

Long-stemmed roses

Long-stemmed roses stand taller in a vase and look more formal than short-cut stems. For Valentine's Day they suit a dozen set in glass, where the length of the stem is part of the effect, like our 12 long-stem red roses in a glass vase.

Valentine roses and hearts

Roses and hearts are the two symbols of the day, and many Valentine's designs combine them: red roses set into a heart-shaped box, a heart drawn in white roses inside a ring of red, or a bouquet shaped like a heart. If you want the message to be impossible to miss, roses and hearts together do that.

What do rose colours mean on Valentine's Day?

The colour of a rose changes what it says, and on Valentine's Day people notice. The short guide:

• Red: true love and romance. The default for a partner.
• Pink: gratitude, appreciation and admiration. Gentler than red.
• Yellow: friendship. Lovely for a friend, usually the wrong choice for a partner on Valentine's Day.
• Red and white together: a classic Valentine's pairing, chosen for contrast.

If you are sending flowers to a partner and are not sure, red or pink is the safe answer. Yellow is the one colour most likely to be misread.

5. Tulips: deep love, modern look

Tulips are linked with deep or perfect love, which makes them more romantic than many people realise. They are usually thought of as a spring flower and come in a huge range of colours: pink, purple, white, red and orange.

Tulips suit someone with clean, modern taste, or someone you have not been seeing for long. A tulip bouquet shows care without feeling as intense as two dozen red roses. They also look good in a simple glass vase, so they work as both a bouquet and an arrangement. Every tulip design we make is on our tulip flowers page.

For something with more presence, purple tulips are a good alternative to pink.

6. Orchids: rare, refined and long-lasting

Orchids are associated with deep passion, luxury, beauty and refinement. In the Victorian era they were so rare that giving one was taken as a sign of serious feelings. Today they are easier to find, but they still read as a considered, grown-up gift rather than a default one.

Orchids also tend to last longer than many traditional bouquets, which matters if the person likes their flowers to stay around. They suit a partner with minimalist taste, someone who has received red roses every year, or anyone who prefers something less traditional.

Orchids and roses also work well together. Red roses with white orchids keep the Valentine's colour and add the elegance of the orchid.

7. Lilies: big, sculptural and fragrant

Lilies have a sculptural shape, a pleasant scent and many varieties. Their colours carry meaning too: hot pink lilies are linked with admiration, and red lilies with passion. A lily bouquet is large and makes an impression the moment it arrives.

Lilies are often delivered in bud form. They arrive closed and open over the following days, so the bouquet keeps changing after it is received. Paired with red roses, lilies keep the romance and add size and scent.

8. Carnations: colour that lasts

Carnations are known for lasting a long time and come in many colours. In the Victorian era, couples used them to send coded signals to each other, so they have a long romantic history even if they are less famous than roses. They work best mixed into a bouquet with roses and lilies rather than on their own.

9. Alstroemeria: devotion in jewel colours

Alstroemeria symbolises devotion and friendship, along with wealth and prosperity. It comes in rich, jewel-like colours and lasts a long time in the vase. It is a natural partner for pink roses, adding texture and filling out the bouquet.

10. Lilac: the first emotions of love

Lilac is linked with the first emotions of love, which makes it a thoughtful choice for a new relationship. Lilac-coloured roses carry the same feeling with the familiar shape of a rose.

11. Daisies and gerberas: cheerful and light

In Norse mythology, daisies were sacred to Freya, the goddess of love. Today they bring a lighter, more cheerful tone to a Valentine's bouquet, which suits someone who does not take the day too seriously. They work well with pink roses and lilies.

12. Spray roses: small heads, lots of them

Spray roses carry several small blooms on each stem instead of one large head. A bouquet of them looks full and delicate at the same time, which suits someone who finds standard roses too formal. Pink spray roses in particular make a soft, pretty Valentine's gift.

13. Lisianthus (eustoma): the rose lookalike

Lisianthus, also sold as eustoma, has ruffled petals that look a little like a rose but lighter and more open. Mixed with pink roses and orchids, it softens an arrangement and adds movement.

14. Mixed bouquets: several favourites in one

A mixed bouquet lets you combine several of the flowers above in one design. It is the right choice when you know the colours someone likes but not their favourite flower. Hydrangea with pink roses, for example, gives a full, soft bouquet that does not feel like a standard Valentine's order.

Affordable Valentine's flowers

Flowers on a budget for 14 February do not have to look small or cheap. Affordable flowers for Valentine's Day are about choice, not size. The trick is to choose fewer stems presented well. A single wrapped red rose, a half dozen in a simple arrangement, or seven roses in a hat box all look deliberate rather than budget. Tulips and mixed bouquets also give a lot of colour for their size. A smaller design with a good card message will always land better than a large one chosen in a hurry.

Valentine's flowers for her

For a wife or girlfriend, think about what she actually likes rather than what Valentine's Day is supposed to look like. If she loves classic romance, red roses in a heart box. If her taste is softer, pink roses or a pink and white arrangement. If she has told you she finds red roses predictable, orchids or a large mixed bouquet show you listened. Valentine's Day arrangements for her work best when the flowers clearly come from knowing her.

Valentine's flowers for him

Valentine's Day flowers for him are more common than people think, and they are usually very well received. Choose one strong colour, a clean shape and a box rather than a busy wrapped bouquet. Deep red roses, an all-white design or an orchid arrangement all work well for flowers for him on Valentine's Day.

How to choose: match the flowers to the person

In the end, the right choice is whichever flower fits the person receiving it. A few practical rules:

For a new relationship

Choose something tasteful and not too large: tulips, pink roses, lilac, or a smaller arrangement. The aim is to show care without making the moment feel heavier than the relationship is.

For a wife, husband or long-term partner

Go bigger. Red roses in a larger count, a rose box, or red roses mixed with orchids or lilies. If they have told you red roses feel predictable, keep the size and change the flower. Our love and romance flowers are made for exactly this kind of gift, all year round.

For a partner with modern or minimalist taste

Orchids, white roses, or a single-colour tulip arrangement in a vase. Fewer colours, cleaner shapes.

For someone who loves scent

Lilies, mixed with roses if you still want the Valentine's colour.

For a man

Men tend to prefer a single bold colour in a box over a big wrapped bouquet. Our guide on how to send Valentine's flowers in Dubai covers presentation in more detail.

When you are unsure of the size

Choose one size larger than you planned. Very few people complain that their Valentine's flowers were too generous.

Combinations that work well

Some of the strongest Valentine's designs mix two flowers rather than relying on one. Pairing red roses with white orchids holds on to the colour of the day and adds elegance. Red roses with lilies add scent and size. Pink roses with alstroemeria or hydrangea give a fuller, softer bouquet. Red and white roses together are a classic for a reason: the contrast makes both look richer. If you like the idea of roses but want the gift to feel less standard, a combination is often the easiest way to get there.

Bouquet, box or vase?

Once you know the flower, the format matters almost as much:

• Wrapped bouquet: the classic hand-tied gift. It needs a vase when it arrives, and it is the most traditional way to hand someone flowers. See our hand-tied bouquets.
• Flower box: arrives ready to display, often holds its shape better in transit than a bouquet, and suits heart shapes and luxury designs. See our flower boxes.
• Vase arrangement: arrives standing in water, so the recipient needs nothing else. See our vase arrangements.

How to keep Valentine's flowers fresh

Whatever you choose, the way the flowers are kept after they arrive decides how long they last:

• Trim the stems every few days.
• Change the water in the vase regularly.
• Keep the flowers in a cool spot with indirect light, away from direct sunlight.
• Keep them out of the direct path of air conditioning.

Roses, lilies and carnations generally hold up well indoors when they are looked after like this.

Adding a gift

Valentine's flowers are often sent with something else. A box of chocolates, a teddy bear or balloons turn a bouquet into a complete present. Our flower combos already pair flowers with a gift, and our Valentine's Day gift ideas in Dubai has more ideas beyond flowers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular flower for Valentine's Day?

Red roses, by a wide margin. They are the classic symbol of romantic love.

What are good Valentine's flowers besides roses?

Tulips, orchids and lilies are the strongest alternatives. Tulips stand for deep love, orchids for passion and refinement, and lilies make a large, fragrant bouquet.

What does a yellow rose mean on Valentine's Day?

Friendship. It is a lovely flower for a friend, but usually not the right choice for a partner.

Which Valentine's flowers last the longest?

Orchids, carnations and alstroemeria all have a reputation for a long vase life. Lilies sent as buds keep opening for several days too.

What flowers should I send to someone I just started dating?

Keep it light: a tulip bouquet, a few pink roses, or lilac.

Where in Dubai can I buy the best Valentine's flowers?

Every flower in this guide is part of our Valentine's Day flowers collection, with delivery across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE.