Haskins Garden Centre’s plant buyer, Richard Lockwood, has shared his top romantic flowers for Valentine’s Day gifting

Gifting flowers has been a societal convention since the days of Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Exchanging flowers is synonymous with romance; so much so it was once considered a form of communication in the Victorian era.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the custom is as valued today as it has ever been. Planning Valentine’s Day for that special someone is never an easy task, and with such a variety of flowers to choose from, picking the right bunch can be daunting. Drawing upon 25 years of horticultural experience, Haskins Garden Centre’s Senior Plant Buyer, Richard Lockwood, provides his suggestions.

“There’s no better time than Valentine’s Day to exchange gifts that express feelings of devotion and passion, and when chosen with care, flowers can be the epitome of romance. Traditional cottage garden perennials are a brilliant option; I’d suggest pairing peonies with the elegant lily of the valley. The combination of peonies’ voluptuous blooms with lily of the valley’s gently nodding bell-shaped flowers brings nothing but joy; while they will both also evoke an abundantly elegant scent. To complete this bouquet for your Valentine, you could also add the lime-green flowers of ‘Ladies Mantle’, the extra touch of foliage will create a heartwarming display.

“When it comes to romantic flowers, it will come as no shock that Roses are always a triumph, none more so than the traditional English Rose. There is a selection of gorgeous modern varieties to look out for, these have been chosen for their gorgeous scent, abundant colour, and longevity of flowering, making them perfect for a heartfelt Valentine gift. The elegant pink hue and light fruity fragrance of ‘Olivia Rose’ is a particular delight. This Rose features pretty buds that open to beautiful, cupped rosettes of an even, mid-pink colouring. To really make the romantic effort this year, combine roses in a vase with sprigs of fragrant honeysuckle and freshly cut foliage to craft a truly special display.

“Capturing the upcoming spirit of spring with flowers is also a lovely way to gift someone special this Valentine’s Day. Lenten Roses (Hellebores) are perfect for gifting, a true hardy perennial that show off a magnificent variety of colour, from white, pink, and dark purple. Lenten Roses will provide a long-lasting display of your love that will last for weeks to come.

“Creating a flower arrangement using the contrasting Polyanthus and Sweet Box ‘Sarcococca’ is a wonderful way to show someone you care this Valentine’s Day. The evergreen sweet box produces a mass of tiny white flowers which look superb when paired with the colourful, long-stemmed Polyanthus.”

Haskins has five garden centres across the South of England and has celebrated over 140 years in the Horticultural industry.

Please visit www.haskins.co.uk for further information or follow @HaskinsGarden on Twitter and @HaskinsGardenCentres on Facebook to share any garden related queries.