Roses and Beyond
Valentine's Day Alternatives
Let’s be honest, nothing is truly cost-effective in February. Peak summer conditions drive prices up across all varieties, not just roses. But that doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day has to erode your margins.
With smart flower choices and thoughtful design, you can still create high-impact arrangements that feel indulgent, romantic, and beautifully considered..
Work Smarter with Roses
If you're using roses, think strategically about stem length and variety. Shorter stem roses in compact vases deliver visual impact at better price points. Mix spray roses with standard and extra large heads to create perceived volume and texture variation. This approach gives you more stems and fuller arrangements for your investment.
Here, we’ve mixed medium size Harlequin roses with extra-large Quicksand roses and dainty red spray roses and sea holly, that create texture and add dimension to this cosy romantic bouquet.
This bouquet is created using Pink Floyd, Freedom, Pink Avalanche, Pearl Avalanche, and red spray roses - combining vibrant shades of pink and red. We’ve combined extra-large, large, and medium roses with spray roses, to create this sumptuous bouquet and give a feeling of abundance.
Don’t be a flower snob
Carnations are one of Valentine’s best-kept secrets, it’s not about the flower itself, it’s how you use it. Generous in size and more affordable than roses, they allow for abundant, oversized bouquets that feel intentional rather than predictable. For customers looking beyond the classic red-rose moment, carnations offer a fresh yet deeply romantic alternative.
Available in everything from blush and pistachio to warm beige and sunset tones, they’re perfect for playful palettes like our sherbet-toned bouquet, blending soft orange, pale pink, and nuanced green-beige hues.
In vase arrangements, consider cutting stems shorter so the focus sits on the face of the bloom rather than the length of the stem. Carnations are at their best and create more impact when used for fullness, and structure.
Let the flowers do the talking and avoid relying on exposed stems for sculptural form.
The Galentine’s Opportunity
Valentine’s Day is no longer just about romantic love. Galentine’s celebrations are on the rise, with more people gifting flowers to friends as a thoughtful way to show appreciation, connection, and joy.
A Galentine’s tablescape built around bud vases is a smart, flexible option for Valentine’s day. Each vase becomes a miniature bouquet or posy that can be taken home, adding built-in value for customers while keeping stem counts controlled.
Styled in playful pinks and reds using gerberas, tulips, freesia, delphinium, queen anne’s lace, and sweet william, these vases feel fresh, modern, and intentional, without relying on roses.
Bud vases also work as versatile vignettes, easily styled on dining tables, bathroom shelves, or kitchen windowsills, making them ideal for both gifting and everyday floral moments.
The goal isn’t to avoid roses; it’s to create arrangements that feel generous, romantic, and considered, no matter what’s in the vase.