Every year on 14 February, demand for roses shoots up around the world. It's no surprise: few flowers carry emotion as directly as a rose. But simply buying 'a bunch of red roses' without thinking about colour, variety and quality means missing a lot of potential. This article helps you make the right choice.
Valentine's Day traces back to Saint Valentine of Terni, a third-century bishop who is said to have secretly married couples in love — using roses from his own garden. During the Middle Ages the custom spread through courtly love poetry in England and France, before becoming commercialised in the nineteenth century with the mass production of greeting cards.
The rose itself has been the symbol of the goddess of love since antiquity — Aphrodite for the Greeks, Venus for the Romans. Its connection with love, beauty and passion is no modern invention; it is more than two thousand years old. That makes it the ideal Valentine's gift: it needs no explanation.
There is also a seasonal dimension worth noting. 14 February falls in the middle of winter, so high-quality roses at that time of year come almost exclusively from controlled greenhouses — mainly in the Netherlands, Ecuador and Kenya. Quality depends heavily on how quickly the flowers are processed and dispatched after harvest.
The colour of a rose is not a minor detail — it is the message itself. Here is a summary of the most important meanings:
A mixed bouquet of red and pink roses or red and white roses looks particularly refined and is a popular Valentine's Day choice. For something more adventurous, try combining orange roses with white lisianthus — the result is a modern, warm arrangement.
Not all roses are the same. For Valentine's Day, varieties with a long vase life, a large bloom and — where possible — an intense fragrance are the best options. Here are some tried-and-tested varieties:
If you'd like to learn more about the botany behind these varieties — their structure, origins and plant family — our rose guide covers all of that in detail.
Valentine's Day is the single biggest sales day of the year for florists — ahead of Mother's Day and Christmas. That means ordering late risks longer delivery times or a limited choice of varieties. Order your Valentine's Day roses ideally 5–7 days in advance.
If you want to send roses to someone, choose a supplier that works directly with growers. Cutting out the middleman keeps flowers fresher and noticeably extends their vase life. At Regionsflorist, roses come straight from Dutch auction houses and growers — often ready to ship within 24 hours of being cut.
Red roses are a classic on their own — but combining them with other flowers creates interesting arrangements. White lilies add elegance and a gentle fragrance alongside red roses. Coral-toned gerberas pair well with orange roses for a lively, spring-like bouquet. For texture, try mixing roses with eucalyptus or gypsophila.
Valentine's Day is primarily a celebration of romantic love — but roses suit more occasions than you might think. Here is a quick overview:
Roses are not just for Valentine's Day, of course. The same varieties work beautifully for Mother's Day in May, weddings, birthdays, or simply as a spontaneous 'thinking of you' gift.
The Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of cut flowers. The FloraHolland auction in Aalsmeer alone processes more than 40 million flowers every day. For the end customer, ordering through a direct supplier means receiving roses that have not been sitting in wholesale warehouses for days.
Regionsflorist works directly with growers and auction houses in the Netherlands. That means shorter transport routes, fewer intermediate storage stops, and fresher flowers for the recipient. Around Valentine's Day — when millions of roses flood the market simultaneously — this direct connection makes a noticeable difference to vase life.
It is also worth looking for a supplier that uses temperature-controlled packaging. Roses are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and a good shipping box keeps the flowers at a consistent 4–8 °C throughout transit.
There is no fixed rule, but tradition offers some guidance: a single rose means 'you are the one'. Seven roses mean 'I am in love with you'. Twelve roses symbolise complete devotion. Larger bouquets — 25, 50 or even 100 roses — make a bold statement and are guaranteed to turn heads.
At the latest, one week before — ideally 7–10 days before 14 February. Many suppliers are fully booked in the days immediately before Valentine's Day, or have only a limited range left. Ordering early gives you the widest choice and usually lets you select the exact delivery date.
With good care and fresh flowers, roses last 7–14 days. Varieties such as 'Red Naomi' and 'Avalanche' are particularly long-lasting. The key factors are: a fresh cut, clean water, a cool position and no direct sunlight.
Absolutely. Pink roses feel romantic without being overwhelming. A mixed bouquet of red and white roses is elegant and timeless. For something completely different, peonies are a wonderful option — they are lush, romantic and bloom in beautiful shades of pink and cream. You can also combine roses with the recipient's favourite flowers for a truly personal touch.
