Every year over 200 million roses are grown and sold especially for Valentine’s Day. So why do we send roses on Valentine's Day? Whilst they come in a variety of gorgeous colours, more than half of the roses sold for Valentine’s Day are one colour: red. If you have received (or given) more bouquets of red roses for Valentine’s Day than you care to remember, then perhaps it is time to think about some of the other amazing roses, or flower options which are available at this time of year. 

The History of Gifting Red Roses

The tradition of giving red roses to a loved one can be traced back to ancient Rome and the festival of Lupercalia which was celebrated in mid-February. As part of the festival, men would give their beloved small gifts, such as red roses, as a token of their affection. Gifting roses as a symbol of love and passion also has its roots in Greek and Roman mythology. The red rose in particular is often associated with Aphrodite who was said to have pricked her finger on the thorn of a white rose, which then bled onto the petals turning them red. 

Alternative Valentine’s Day Flowers

Over the centuries, red roses have continued to be adopted as a symbol of love or affection and for many people they are the obvious choice for celebrating Valentine’s Day. However, as any keen gardener will know, you will struggle to find a rose in bloom in the UK until May at the earliest! Perhaps it is time to break the tradition of gifting roses for Valentine’s Day? There are so many gorgeous flowers just starting to come into bloom at this time of year which would make wonderful presents for Valentine’s Day.  From bridal white hellebores to pale pink tulips  there are so many beautiful options to choose from. 

Whilst the price of real rose stems often increases at this time of year, here at Peony, our prices remain the same whatever the month. Plus, whilst stocks last, all of our stems are currently 3 for 2 so you can create your own gorgeous bespoke bouquets for less this Valentine’s Day! 

If It Has To Be Roses…

For the traditionalists amongst you, we know that gifting anything other than roses at Valentine’s Day might feel a step too far - especially if they happen to be your loved one’s favourite flower. However, instead of buying a real bouquet of roses this year, why not choose a gift which can be enjoyed all year round? We have the most beautiful collection of bouquets and arrangements featuring a variety of stunning rose colours which will make the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day. 

Our Top Picks for alternative Valentine’s Gifts

For a truly romantic display of roses, look no further than our large rose and foliage bouquet. The soft pastel shades of pink and apricot roses have such an abundance of beautiful petals making them look as if they have come straight from a summer flower garden. Finished with pale green foliage, this bouquet is the perfect way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day. 

Spoil your significant other this year by gifting our show stopping bouquet of roses, dahlias, hydrangeas and summer foliage. This is a floral display which will definitely impress this Valentine’s Day. So much better than the usual bouquet of real red roses! 

If you’re willing to move away from roses, then we recommend this gorgeous bouquet of blue hydrangeas, berries and foliage. The hydrangeas are in the most wonderful shades of blue and lavender and look so pretty with the addition of berries and summer foliage. A perfect arrangement for displaying in a large vessel the whole year round.  

Finally, if you would like to send a smaller arrangement to let a loved one or friend know you are thinking of them this Valentine’s Day then the beautiful pink hydrangeas and eucalyptus in our patterned cube is the perfect option. This arrangement will look stunning on a bedside or dressing table and because it is faux, it can be enjoyed all year round. 

Happy Valentine’s Day

We hope we have convinced you to look beyond the classic red rose bouquet as a gift this Valentine’s Day. Whether you decide to choose some beautiful, seasonal spring flowers or opt for roses in stunning shades of pink, or apricot, we have something for everyone at Peony this February. Don’t forget that all of our individual stems are currently 3 for 2 so you can create your own bespoke bouquets to really spoil your loved one this year. 

We always love seeing your bespoke creations, so please share you arrangements with us on social media using the hashtag #MyPeonyAtHome!

May is such a wonderful time of year in the garden as so many beautiful flowers seem to be bursting into life on an almost daily basis. As the last of the tulips and other spring bulbs fade for another year, our amazing peonies, wisteria and roses start to make their appearance. This month also signals the start of the main flower show season with the RHS Malvern Spring Festival taking place in the middle of the month shortly followed by one of our favourite shows: The Chelsea Flower Show. Whilst we love to see all of the incredible show gardens, our team gets most excited by all the new flower varieties on display in the Great Pavilion. In particular we absolutely love to see what new roses all the amazing growers have produced for this year as they have provided us with so much inspiration over the years. 

Our favourite flowers

It goes without saying that our absolute favourite flower is the peony, but following a close second has to be the rose. There are hundreds of different rose varieties to pick from in a stunning array of colours and they look just as magnificent growing in the garden as they do in a vase in our homes. Roses can flower in the garden for a few weeks or a few months, depending on the variety you grow. However, if you do not have your own garden, or haven’t got the space to grow as many roses as you would like, then our faux roses are the perfect option. As well as being beautiful to look at, our faux roses enable you to enjoy rose season all year round! 

Pick your own rose stems

We have created so many different rose varieties at Peony Faux Flowers over the years with many of them exact copies of the ones growing in our own gardens. Within our current summer collection, you will find dogwood rose stems; beautiful Old English roses; delicate climbing roses and the classic cabbage rose to name just a few! Many of our individual rose stems are also real to the touch meaning they feel exactly the same as touching a real rose petal. 

The Perfect Match

Roses look fabulous arranged in your favourite vase on their own, but they also match perfectly with so many other beautiful summer stems. We love to arrange our roses with wisteria, peonies, dahlias, hydrangeas or sweet peas, however they also work with gorgeous greenery such as eucalyptus or viburnum. Now is also the perfect time to stock up on our individual stems, as they are all available as part of our summer 3 for 2 mix and match stem offer! Simply add 3 stems to your shopping basket and receive the lowest price stem for free. 

Our Summer Rose Collection 

If you find the process of creating your own bespoke floral display a little daunting, then we have some stunning rose arrangements for you to choose from. Here are some of our favourites from this year’s summer collection:

Medium Rose and Foliage Bouquet - This bouquet features gorgeous pastel pink roses alongside an abundance of summer greenery. It has been created to look as if you have cut all of the stems straight from your garden. Perfect for adding a hint of colour to your interior this summer or for gifting to friends and family.   

Rose, Calla Lily and Foliage Bouquet - If you’re looking for an elegant summer arrangement for your home, then we think this bouquet will be the perfect piece for you. We have combined gorgeous pastel pink vendela roses with calla lilies and soft green foliage to create this wonderful bouquet. It will look simply stunning in your favourite tall vessel.   

Old English Roses and Eucalyptus in a Small Coral Vase - Old English roses are so many people’s favourite rose variety. These beautiful cream roses look so realistic with their buds and leaves. Arranged with the eucalyptus spray which is the perfect foliage to give that natural look, this display comes complete with our small coral vase. An ideal arrangement for your coffee table this summer. 

Roses, Peonies and Foliage Hand-Tied Bouquet in a Large Coastal Vase - This arrangement is summer in a vase! Our large coastal vase simply overflows with pastel pink roses, gorgeous white peonies and an abundance of green foliage. It is a real show stopping arrangement which would look stunning displayed on your entrance hall table. 

Peach Sophia Roses with Fern and Berries in a Rope Lantern Vase - The Sophia rose is one of our favourite roses and these ones come in such a pretty shade of peach. Displayed with green ferns and pretty berries, we have set this arrangement in our still water within the gorgeous rope lantern vase. A wonderful display for your home or for gifting for a summer birthday. 

The Finishing Touches

We hope we have given you plenty of inspiration for adding the beauty of roses to your home for summer and beyond. From our gorgeous collection of individual stems to our beautiful pre-made bouquets and arrangements, there really is a colour for every interior style. Don’t forget that you can also make sure your floral displays smell as good as they look with our fragrance sprays. Our English Rose fragrance has been created to smell as if you are walking through a summer rose garden in full bloom! 

As always, we love to see our flowers in your home, so whether you are creating your own bespoke displays or adding our arrangements to your interior this summer, then don’t forget to share them with us on social media!

Roses are often considered as one of the most quintessentially English plants with their beautiful scent and stunning colours. They also make the perfect cut flower and are often given as gifts.

One of the most famous names of modern rose cultivation is David Austin Roses. Since 1961 they have been growing and developing roses right here in the beautiful Shropshire countryside! 

Rose varieties

 There are so many gorgeous rose varieties to choose from that you could dedicate your whole garden to them - and I’m sure many of you have!

But to enjoy their beauty all year round? You simply have to go faux…

Our collection of faux roses have been designed to be as botanically correct as possible with many featuring real touch buds, leaves and thorns.

From pretty cabbage roses, vibrant red Old English roses through to bridal white rose buds, there is something for every rose enthusiast!

 Roses are such an incredibly versatile flower to arrange, as they look stunning in a plain vase on their own or combined with foliage or other seasonal flowers such as peonies or wisteria.

Here are just some of my top picks from our wonderful rose collection: 

1. Lilac Cabbage Rose - this beautiful old English rose stem comes complete with leaves and is so botanically correct with the green edges on the petals and thorns.
   
   
2. Bridal White Avalanche Rose - this is such an elegant rose to arrange in a glass vessel. Each stem comes with layers of green leaves which really enhance the bridal white colour.
   
   
3. Rose and Hops - a rose copied straight from the gardens here at Ruckley, in stunning fuchsia with paler edges. We have arranged the rose with hops and salal leaves in our bottle vase and finished with our incredible still water.
   
   
4. Rose Mix with Wisteria - arranged with salal leaves and displayed in the Grecian vase, this is such a seasonal bouquet. I love the combination of romantic bridal roses and cascading wisteria against the gorgeous greenery. 
   
   
5. Rose Gift Set - give the gift of everlasting beauty with this arrangement. Our gift wrapped cylinder vase comes with wax flowers, eucalyptus and a vibrant red, open rose. All presented in a gift bag, it comes complete with our fresh flower fragrance.   

Finally, if your favourite feature of roses is their heavenly scent, then don’t forget to finish off your rose bouquets or arrangements with our flower fragrance sprays!

Our bestselling Fresh Flower fragrance combines rose, peony and eucalyptus and is the perfect accompaniment to your stems. If you like to layer your fragrances, you’ll simply love our  Gift Boxed Set, which contains three gorgeous scents to transport you straight to an English summer garden!