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Fri Feb 07, 2025
Client: FOFC - FOREST OF FLOWERS
Well, well, well. It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? Valentine's Day season! This is a big one for your local flower shops, who will be providing back-to-back flower delivery services and hand-crafted floral arrangements.
However, 2025 is the time to try new things, isn’t it? Roses are often associated with being the most romantic flower there is, but what if you want something… different? Luckily, there are tons of flowers to choose from! In this blog post, we’ll explore unique floral Valentine’s Day alternatives to roses.
Forest of Flowers has the scoop on unique floral Valentine’s Day alternatives you can choose over the traditional rose. We’ll even offer some literal rose alternatives you can consider.
Roses are a classic and beautiful choice. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with something timeless. However, they are a common choice, and around this time, they’re in high demand. Most flower shops will do their best to ensure they have ample stock of roses, but if you’re trying to get something last-minute – you could be out of luck.
As well, sometimes you may just want to change things up. You may want something that is unique and special to the person you’re buying the flowers for. Unique floral Valentine’s Day alternatives to roses offer an opportunity to take advantage of other beautiful seasonal flowers that are one-of-a-kind.
Hydrangeas are beautiful bulbs of petals and elegance. They’re an excellent option if you want a bold bouquet or arrangement without relying on the typical rose to give it that proverbial “oomph.” They come in a variety colours, the most common being green, blue, purple, and white. However, shops will sometimes spray/colour them to match a certain theme.
A bundle of hydrangeas is almost like having a bouquet of nature’s pompoms. They can be cute, elegant, and beautiful, depending on what you decide to match them with.
Hydrangeas can be bold because they’re large blooms that catch the eye effortlessly, and they look extremely unique when you put them in something like an opulent bouquet or arrangement.
For example, our Basket Of Dreams arrangement utilizes stunning blue hydrangeas coupled with soft pink lilies and snapdragons. It does come with roses, but they are most definitely not the main focus.
However, our experienced local florists can also make you a unique, hand-tied bouquet that fits your specifications.
What other flowers and greenery go with hydrangeas, you may ask? We’re so happy to answer that for you. Please keep in mind, these may not all be universally available at the time you place your flower delivery services. Be sure to check ahead of time for availability:
Gerberas are whimsical, unique, and come in a vast variety of colours. You can create something truly Valentine’s Day-themed with a mix of reds, whites, and pinks, or get very out of the box, instead opting for yellow, purple, orange, and pastels. It all depends on what theme you’re going for and what you think will really stand out to that special someone.
Gerberas are perfect because they’re versatile. They’re white blooms that vary in shade and hue, and their petals are long and sprawling like the sun or stars. You can do something subtle like a rainbow 6-stem bouquet, or a large, sprawling arrangement with a large collection of gerberas, such as our Simply Gerberas arrangement. This arrangement allows the gerberas to be front and centre, and comes in a collection of vibrant and beautiful colours that are sure to brighten up any home.
But what else can you match with gerberas? Let’s take a look. Please be sure to check for availability at your local flower shop.
If you want a show-stopping flower that can even out-do a rose – you should look no further than the lily. Lilies are sprawling, multi-bloom stems that look like shining stars in a clear night sky. They fill out beautiful bouquets and arrangements and demand attention! They also come in a variety of stunning styles and colours, from stargazer lilies consisting of soft white and vibrant pink, to pure white, yellow, and fiery orange.
Lilies are a great alternative because they have the same “sparkle” and opulence that roses have. They’re classic, eye-catching, and really show the person you love that they’re special and one-of-a-kind. A great example of this is our Picture Perfect Arrangement, which features yellow lilies, daisies, and pink spray roses. Spray roses are a smaller, more delicate alternative to the much louder and obvious rose, and can be a great alternative to the traditional.
Here are some additional flowers and greenery that can pair well with lilies. Please be sure to check ahead to make sure these are available, or ask your experienced local florist what options will suit your desires best:
Keeping a bundle of flowers or an arrangement alive and well can be a bit of a task. So, what is a great option when you want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving?
Dish gardens! Dish gardens are perhaps the most iconic, unique floral Valentine’s Day alternative to roses. They’re lush, they’re beautiful, they have bold leaves and delicate blooms that are sure to last the test of time.
From orchids to tropical flowers and leaves, these are bold and beautiful gifts that you can present to the person you love this Valentine’s Day season. For example, check out our Large Tropical Planter featuring Anthurium.
Anthurium, also known as laceleaf, flamingo flower, painter's palette, and oilcloth flower, is a tropical flower that has over 1000 species. You can't get much more special and unique than that! It's a durable bloom accompanied by thick, dark forest-green leaves. Our example comes in a sturdy, boat-shaped pot and is perfect for in-home decor.
Now, we can’t recommend any additional greenery or flowers to pair with this option, because our dish gardens are already planted in their respective pots. However, there are some additional gift options you can include with it to make it even more special:
Carnations are a very underrated flower, often wrongfully classified as “cheap” or as a “filler flower.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. While carnations are a more affordable alternative to roses, they are stunning flowers that have some of the widest colour varieties out there.
Here’s just a few colour options for reference:
Carnations easily pair with a variety of other flowers and greenery, too. They also aren’t just a filler flower – they can be the star of the show! You can theme multiple red, pink, white, and bi-colour carnations to make the most classic Valentine’s Day bouquet or arrangement. Or, you can choose something out of the box, like gem tones, pastels, purples, earth tones, or even neutral tones.
Take our Gorgeous Gem Tones arrangement featuring carnations, daisies, altromerias, and a few roses. Yes, there are roses, but they aren’t the main focus of the arrangement. Our experienced local florists can also hand-craft you a hand-tied bouquet to your specifications, provided we have the stock available.
Here are some additional flowers and greenery you can include in your carnation creation. Make sure you double-check with the local flower shop to make sure you don’t get your heart set on something before ensuring it’s in stock:
Flowers can be your show-stopper, but you don’t have to stop with just a bundle of beautiful blooms. You can also add additions to your Valentine’s Day gift that are sure to show your loved one how much you’ve been thinking of them in the new year.
Forest of Flowers has everything you need to have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. Our experienced local florists have the skills and passion to craft you a stunning hand-tied bouquet and hand-crafted floral arrangements that will take your breath away. Don’t wait until the last-minute to get your Valentine’s Day gift ordered, contact us today!
