Flowers are a traditional gift for Valentine’s Day. They’re simple, thoughtful, and versatile, with options for all tastes and budgets. If your goal is to make an impact this Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank, there are plenty of floral options to help you accomplish your goal.
Here are some of the best inexpensive Valentine’s Day flowers to show your love on a budget.
Tulips
Tulips are one of the most delightful and overlooked flowers you can give as a romantic gesture. While roses tend to steal the romantic flower spotlight, tulips were once considered preferable in comparison. In Victorian times, anyone could grow roses in the United Kingdom, but tulips had to be imported from Holland. Giving the gift of tulips was a grand gesture relegated only to the wealthy.
Now, tulips are one of the more affordable flowers, but no less stunning. The good thing nowadays is that you can conveniently order them online. Check out East Olivia for corporate flower arrangements.
Fortunately, you can get tulips from any reputable Valentine’s Day flower delivery service. Think beyond the traditional red Valentine’s bouquet and opt for something more magical and eye-catching, like a blend of pink and purple tones. Remember to share the history of tulips as well to bring a smile to your partner’s face.
Daisies
Valentine’s Day falls during that period in the winter, where the novelty of frosty mornings and snowfall has long since worn off. Invoke the feeling of spring with a simple Valentine’s bouquet of daisies.
Giving daisies as a gift dates back to ancient times. In Celtic lore, daisies growing in a field were a gift from the gods to bring forth cheer and joy after a long winter or tragic loss. They also represent new beginnings, which makes them ideal for a newer relationship — the perfect gift for your first Valentine’s together.
In modern times, daisies are the subject of a child’s game: they love me, they love me not. This game originated in France in the 1800s and was called “la décision de la fleur” (the decision of the flower). Let your loved one know how much they mean to you, so there’s no need for picked petals.
Mums
The chrysanthemum — mum for short — is another underrated flower that looks amazing in a Valentine’s bouquet. These blooms are also quite hardy and long-lasting, as well as affordable. Like many flowers, the color of the petals changes the symbolism associated with the bloom. When choosing mums as your Valentine’s Day gift, opt for red to symbolize love, or white to symbolize lasting devotion and loyalty.
Mums also come in a variety of shapes and are one of the most cultivated flowers in America. In other words, you’ll have options when choosing a bouquet you like and the opportunity to support local and sustainable growers.
Lavender
Lavender is a unique flower to give as a gift, making it both unexpected and appreciated. This beautiful purple bloom not only looks stunning in a floral arrangement, but also has important aromatherapeutic properties. Studies have shown that lavender helps temporarily reduce stress and anxiety, creating a calming atmosphere for those who smell it. You can’t go wrong with this arrangement for your hard-working other half.
Another benefit of this affordable flower is that it’s one of the easiest blooms to dry and keep forever. Dry the arrangement in its entirety or repurpose the blooms to make potpourri.
Lavender also looks beautiful when arranged with other affordable accents, like baby’s breath and eucalyptus leaves.
Carnations
Carnations tend to be a polarizing flower: some people love them, others hate them. Giving carnations as a gift also dates back to ancient times, as it was a treasured bloom in ancient Rome and Greece. The name roughly translates to “flower of love” or “flower of the gods,” making it perfect for the person you worship. Surprisingly, carnations outsell roses in many parts of the world.
Choosing the right color is everything when taking advantage of this inexpensive bloom. As with roses, red and deep red symbolize love and devotion, while pink symbolizes gratitude.
Gladiolus
When it comes to symbolism, gladiolus isn’t really a traditional Valentine’s Day flower. Rather than representing love and devotion, this colorful stalk represents pride, glory and victory in battle. If you’re looking for something symbolic, gladiolus could be an excellent choice to represent overcoming challenges in your relationship.
The large, distinctive shape of the flower and blooms make this a fun alternative to the traditional bouquet. Gladiolus are less in demand than roses and lilies and tend to be more affordable this time of year as a result. The blooms come in a variety of colors, often with multiple shades on a single stalk.
Ranunculus
If you’ve never heard of ranunculus, you’re not alone — but you’ve probably seen this bloom before. The ranunculus is similar in appearance to some breeds of roses and gets confused for them all the time. In fact, the other name for this plant is “rose of spring.” These flowers have delicate, feminine blooms in a compacted formation that looks lush and eye-catching.
This beautiful bloom looks great as an accent flower or as a standalone bouquet. As most consumers don’t know about this plant, it’s quite inexpensive.
Anemones
Anemones — not to be confused with the sea creature — are small wildflowers with soft, delicate petals. These adorable blooms come in a variety of shades and sometimes boast double petals as well. Like many wildflowers, these blooms practically grow themselves, making them plentiful and affordable for bouquets.
These wildflowers are also rooted in ancient history. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite cried anemones at the loss of her mortal lover, Adonis. The blood he shed stained the anemones red. These blossoms are said to represent profound love and forsaken love — and what’s more romantic than a Greek tragedy about the goddess of love?
Forget-Me-Nots
Finally, think outside the traditional assortment of Valentine’s Day bouquets and opt for the simplicity and beauty of the forget-me-not. These delicate blooms represent respect and true love, making them a perfect option for Valentine’s Day. The true blue tones are also a nice contrast to the traditional Valentine’s shades of white, pink, and red.
Buying flowers on a budget doesn’t mean you have to give up on quality; there are plenty of affordable options that are sure to stun. You can’t go wrong with the flowers on this list, both in terms of beauty and symbolism.
