Beyond the roses: avoiding Valentine’s Day cliches

By Jenna Munswami

February: a month filled with heart-shaped decorations, chocolate boxes and love letters. All of this is done in the name of Valentine’s Day. Whether you celebrate the holiday for its meaning or because of the discounted sweets on Feb. 15, it is easy to be immersed in all the classic symbolism. Among these are the iconic red roses that are displayed in flower shops all month. However, I believe the idea of giving out red roses to your significant other is overly cliche and needs to be put to rest.

Flowers are a timeless gift — gifting a bouquet for Valentine’s Day is a classic move for a reason. However, I do not see a reason why roses should be the go-to option. A 2022 survey by the Society of American Florists showed that 83% of consumers bought roses for Valentine’s Day. Of that percentage, red roses were the most popular. With everyone buying the same bouquets, the gift can come off as impersonal. 

There are so many different kinds of flowers. Be unique. 

The easiest way to pick out the perfect bouquet is to simply know your partner. If you have not been together long or it is a first date, red roses may still work. However, why not opt for a different color? If you know their favorite color, choose flowers or roses that incorporate that color. If you have been together for a while, though, there are certain flowers and colors that have special meanings.

Picking flowers with a message you want to tell your partner adds a sense of love and personality to the gift. Even a small amount of research can help to piece together the perfect bouquet. Some of the best flowers to give are ones that have a particular meaning associated with them, such as daisies (loyal love), white carnations (pure love), orchids (love and beauty), yellow poppies (success) and peonies (happy life), according to an article from Iowa State University. 

If you are instead doing “Galentine’s Day” or celebrating with a friend, there are flowers for that, too. Cattails (peace and prosperity), lavender heathers (admiration), iris and ivy (friendship) and magenta zinnias (lasting affection) are all great contenders. Whoever you are giving these flowers to will definitely appreciate the extra step taken into showing how much you care for them.

There is still one good reason why red roses may be worth it. They are nontoxic to animals. As someone with two cats, I am always worried about what they eat, and some common flowers are harmful if consumed by pets. Choosing nontoxic flowers is a great way to show you care not only about your partner, but their furry friends too. However, roses are not the only safe bet: sunflowers, snapdragons, stock and Madagascar jasmine are all beautiful and pet-friendly options. Orchids are as well and combined with their meaning, should become a popular choice. 

In short, red roses are boring. They are overdone and way too cliche. Even with all of the aforementioned flowers, there are still many more out there. Try something new! This Valentine’s Day, surprise your significant other with a bouquet personalized to them that shows how you feel. You do not need to be an expert on botany to do that. Any display of effort will always yield good results. Good luck to all the lovers — platonic and romantic — this year!

Jenna Munswami is a sophomore communication studies major