Flower power: A whole bunch of fresh picks that'll make ’em swoon! (Photos: Farmgirl Flowers, The Sill, ProFlowers, Bouqs Co., H. Bloom)
Want to woo a new Valentine, reignite an old flame or celebrate unwavering love? The perfect bouquet awaits. The centuries-old tradition of gifting flowers continues to flatter, delight and ensnare, and thankfully the act now transcends gender (flower him, already!). But how to pick the perfect arrangement for your paramour and keep it fresh? We talked to TikTok famous floral educator and owner of The Blum Bar Anna Enciso to get her expert opinion on all things floral. Then we went shopping for the prettiest arrangements from our favorite delivery services. Our picks run the gamut from chic, sexy designs and stunning red roses to plantable picks and buildable Lego bouquets.
Enciso's No. 1 pick for Valentine's Day? "Roses! They’re a classic for a reason! Whether you choose to style them in a traditional dozen rose design or add them to a mixed bouquet they’re always a fan favorite."
"Pro tip for roses, squeeze the base of the head if it’s hard it’s fresh and will last longer," she continues. When possible, she recommends picking out your own blooms from a local floral shop or opting for local hand delivery. But since that isn't in the cards for many of us, here are 12 flower bouquets from 12 delivery services that are earning high praise across the nation — plus one wilt-free Lego bouquet to grow on.
To send your love for less without sacrificing quality, go the ProFlowers route. The dozen 13-inch roses are packed in a pretty box with care and sent on their merry way. Simply beautiful.
A gift of 24 full, gorgeous red roses is a bold way to declare one's love. Present them in one of six vases for a little extra. You might also be tempted by add-ons such as teddy bears, candles, gourmet candies and even a spa kit.
Healthy, ethically sourced flowers hugged in burlap and bursting with love! This full-looking bundle includes a dozen seasonal stems — lilies, garden roses, ranunculuses — backed by eucalyptus. The San Francisco–based, woman-owned company delivers nationwide.
A poetic blend of pink calla lilies and roses of apricot and blush in a perfectly imperfect gold ceramic vase. Urban Stems couples a passion for design with compassion, working with Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. It offers same-day delivery in D.C. and NYC and next-day delivery elsewhere in the nation.
Looking for something that endures? This arrangement includes 12 lovely, long-lasting pinks and one plantable succulent. How cool is that? Consider the "deluxe" and "grand" sizes for even more plantables. Bouqs is well-regarded for its wide selection of responsibly sourced arrangements. Don't miss the site-wide sale going on now.
"A few of my favorite long-lasting blooms are lilies and lisianthus!" says Enciso. "But with proper care most cut flowers can last 10-14 days. The best thing you can do to keep any flower arrangement fresh is frequent water changes! A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t drink it your flower won’t want to either!"
Teleflora connects with local florists to bring your loved one everything from pretty, affordable bouquets — like this delightful bundle of lilies and fuchsia — to the exotic.
Ombre goodness! These 30+ stems span the spectrum of white to pink to burgundy black. Tulip, double lily, ranunculus, heather, peony, anemone, snapdragon — this bundle has it all (except the vase, which is not included). But who cares? They would look gorgeous in any vessel.
To keep blooms at their perkiest, Enciso shared another tip: "My favorite DIY flower food is a simple scoop of sugar! It acts like caffeine for your blooms and will perk them right up!" Tips like these keep her TikTok and Insta followers coming back for more.
This is one sexy bouquet. Comes with the glass vase, or send them naked for 10 bucks less. The bouquet features Pink Torch Ginger flower, tropical palm leaves and white chilis. Female-founded company the Sill is well-known for delivering happy, healthy plants; it's exciting to see their artful approach to flowers.
For a bit of drama, consider this desert-themed arrangement with 25 stems from Bloomsy. If you want to show your love again and again, you can spring for a subscription service.
Surprise them with a bespoke bouquet featuring the garden standouts of the day. Fresh Sends' "Regular Send" includes 15 to 18 stems dressed in newspaper wrapping and tucked into a charming box. Double that order with a "Full Send" (just $30 more). To get fresh picks year-round, go for the subscription service.
The tulip is a symbol of perfect love, and the pink here represents happiness. This 15-stem bouquet is sustainably grown at top-rated Stargazer Barn in California and shipped via Amazon.
This ranunculus rainbow shows the many colors of your love. White ranunculus represents charm and pure love, yellow represents happiness, red is for passion and pink symbolizes romance. H. Bloom serves restaurants, hotels, offices, spas and you!
Enciso believes that the best bouquets happen when we select and combine fresh flowers ourselves: "My absolute favorite flower combo is a bouquet using roses, hydrangeas and lilies! I love that they’re all long-lasting, can easily be DIY’d with grocery store blooms and come in so many colors so you can really have fun when designing!" For this, you might try Lowe's, Home Depot, Trader Joe's or CostCo.
But we've also found another awesome way to build your own...
For an even longer-lasting bouquet that you can build together, we're throwing in this 756-piece Lego set. Legos have never been more romantic. When I gifted this set to my favorite couple, they said it was the ultimate merging of their two worlds, their hobbies and their aesthetics.
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