Planning to give your lover the perfect flower bouquet this Valentine’s Day? You could either go for a dozen (over-priced) red roses or read up and pick flowers that truly conveys your feelings for your special someone. The meanings of flowers we love date back to Victorian times when folks were big on conveying their feelings through symbols such as flowers instead of words. To help you make known your heart’s desire, here are some of the popular flowers and flowers meanings.

1.  Flowers Meanings – Red Roses

These roses are a Valentine’s Day classic for a good reason — they represent love and romance, and they have been a powerful symbol for many cultures through the ages. So if you’re buying that bouquet of red roses, make sure you are committed enough to stand behind their strong sentiment! A darker red bloom just intensifies the meaning; these are great roses to give along with engagement rings.

2. Flowers Meanings – White Roses

White roses were the traditional first choice for true love, though they’ve now been overtaken by pink. They are also often used in weddings because of their representation of purity and innocence (the same reason most wedding dresses are white). But many people associate white blooms with sympathy and death, so they’re not the wisest choice for this holiday.

3. Flowers Meanings – Yellow Roses

These roses are a great choice for your buddy, as they represent friendship, but they might send the wrong message to a paramour (exception: yellow roses with a red tip represent friendship blossoming into romance). But we see nothing wrong with giving flowers to your bestie on February 14! Yellow roses also represent cheer and are a good “Get Well Soon” choice.

4. Flowers Meanings – Pink Roses

Pink roses are another colour that represents love, but one perhaps less intense than the burning passion implied by a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses. That makes them a good choice for a newer relationship — thoughtful, but less likely to seem over-the-top. They are also associated with giving thanks and admiration, especially lighter shades.

5. Flowers Meanings – Lavender Roses

Purple roses are an unconventional choice, but not an inappropriate one: they represent royalty, so they’re a good way to tell your loved one that he or she is the King or Queen of your heart.

6. Flowers Meanings – Orange Roses

Another non-traditional choice, orange roses are a mix (in more than one way) of red and yellow roses: great for that middle ground between friendship and love. Send some to your crush!

7. Flowers Meanings – Alstroemeria

Otherwise known as Peruvian lilies, these long-lasting, attention-grabbing petals represent friendship and devotion. They’re native to South America and feature multiple blooms per stem, which make for voluptuous arrangements.

8. Flowers Meanings -Daisies

Daisies represent innocence, and it’s not hard to see why. What is more innocent than a young boy or girl plucking the petals off a daisy to see if his or her crush feels the same? Gerbera, or Gerber, daisies have risen in popularity in recent years, with their cheery colours representing happiness, so they’re another great option for a friend on Valentine’s Day.

9. Flowers Meanings – Tulips

These flowers also change their meaning with the shade. Pink tulips represent caring, while purple mean royalty, as with purple roses. Red tulips mean love, white forgiveness, and yellow ones tell the recipient that you’re head over heels for them.

10. Flowers Meanings – Orchids

This flower’s meaning of delicate beauty is pretty literal; orchids are famously delicate blooms. But they also convey a flattering sentiment, and giving a plant instead of a bouquet is a nice way to ensure your Valentine’s Day gift lasts for longer than four days.

11. Flowers Meanings – Carnations

Carnations are often thought of as the bargain basement of flower choices, but they are perfectly appropriate for Valentine’s Day and can be quite lovely in the right arrangement. Like roses, their meaning varies by colour: yellow ones represent cheer, white ones remembrance, and pink ones gratitude. Avoid striped carnations, though, as those represent refusal — not a very romantic sentiment!

12. Flowers Meanings – Chrysanthemums

Yellow chrysanthemums represent a secret admirer, so thirteen of these are a good gift for your crush. And bronze ones convey excitement, so they’re a nice unexpected choice for a first date.

13. Flowers Meanings – Daffodils

These yellow blooms, aside from making us all think of spring (not that unwelcome in February), represent chivalry, making them a lovely gift from a man to his best female friend.

14. Flowers Meanings – Hydrangea

These full stems represent perseverance, which makes them a lovely choice for long-standing couples, and may be part of the reason why they are so popular for weddings.

15. Flowers Meanings – Peony

The national floral symbol of China, in Chinese the word peony literally means “beautiful.” In most cultures, these blooms stand for riches and good luck, so work wonderfully for a newly engaged couple or a long-time married pair.

16. Flowers Meanings – Lily

Lilies stand for “beauty, class and style. It is said that men who create a bouquet with these dramatic and expensive lilies are sophisticated and knows his partner well. Ladies also love these stunning blooms intense fragrance.

17. Flowers Meanings – Iris 

Dark blue or purple irises indicate royalty. No matter their colour (they’re most commonly seen in blue, white and yellow), they stand for faith and hope. They make a beautiful bouquet with red tulips or daisies.

18. Flowers Meanings – Sunflowers

Like the sun they’re named for, these blossoms represent warmth and happiness. They also stand for loyalty. Though the bright yellow blooms scream summertime, these spirit-lifting flowers are available all year round.

Flowers Meanings – Numbers Matters Too

The number of flowers you give can also express a particular meaning to the recipient. A single rose of any colour is meant to represent complete devotion, while two intertwined gives a strong hint of a marriage proposal. Six roses in a bouquet represent a need to be loved or cherished (which could also be seen as a little clingy). And 13 roses tells the recipient they have a secret admirer.

So depending on your intention and budget, go create the perfect bouquet for your lover or soon-to-be soul mate this Valentine’s Day!