valentine's day flowers

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, it is traditional to woo a current or potential lover with Valentine cards and gifts, the favorite of which is the red Rose, a symbol of both passion and love; in more recent years, lovers have become more adventurous and choices for Valentine flowers have included exotic flowers such as the Orchid and scented flowers such as the Lily.

Traditional Valentine Flowers: The Rose

The Rose (rosa damascena) has been used in history by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans; Cleopatra was said to have showered Mark Antony in Rose petals in an expression of her love. The Rose was also a favorite of the Empress Josephine of France, who had some of the finest Roses in Europe in her Paris estate gardens.
However, it was the Victorians who began to use many flowers in earnest to express the language of love. Victorian flower giving was a complex affair and the scent, size and position of a given bouquet of flowers could convey many different messages; for example, a single red rose would have a different meaning than a red rose combined with white rose buds.

There are many varieties of cultivated roses today including wild Roses, Old Garden Roses (climbing and non-climbing) and Modern Garden Roses (climbing, miniature, bush and shrub roses). Roses are many colors and scents; some popular colors of roses for Valentine's Day are red, pink, yellow and white. Roses have a variety of scents too which have many aromatic qualities; the scent of a Rose is known to be warming, sensual and an aphrodisiac.

Exotic Valentine Flowers: The Orchid

Orchids often have an exotic association but can, in fact, be found in many habitats of the world including the seashore and the mountains; there are approximately 25,000 – 30,000 species of orchids worldwide. Orchids have exotic, powerful fragrances which are spicy and fruity; some Orchids have a scent reminiscent of Lemon, whereas other Orchid species may have a more floral fragrance such as the Cattleya species.
Orchids grow well in a conservatory, as they need consistent warmth and moisture; they have a wide variety of colors including many shades of pink, red, yellow and purple. Orchids are extremely beautiful and, although not traditional, are an ideal gift for any romantic occasion, including Valentine's Day; Orchids belong to the largest of the flowering botanical families, that of Orchidaceae.

Scented Valentine Flowers: The Lily

There are many species of exotic Lilies including Oriental Lilies, Tiger Lilies and the Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum); the Madonna Lily is the oldest of the cultivated lilies, a native of ancient Egypt and Greece. Although not traditionally associated with Valentine's day, the scent of the Madonna Lily is exotic, rich and an aphrodisiac.
The golden-rayed Lily from Japan (Lilium auratum) is known as the Queen of Lilies; this Lily has a very spicy and intoxicating perfume. Florists favor the regal Lily (Lilium regale) which was discovered in western China in 1908. Lilies have an array of colors including classic white and cream, pink, red, orange and yellow.