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Plants for Valentine’s day: grow your own romance

From scented roses to heart-shaped houseplants, there’s a romantic plant-based gift out there for every gardener

They say love makes the world go round, and in these heart-felt times, there’s nothing nicer than a thoughtful Valentine’s day gift.

Chocolates and cut flowers have their place but, once eaten and faded, they are easily forgotten. Choose the right plant and it will be a present that will bring months and years of delight, becoming an enduring symbol of your love.

Here’s my top five choices to inspire you to pick the right plant for your loved one.

Roses

Rosa 'Sweet Juliet' is a delightfully scented shrub rose
The winged thorn or silky rose has striking prickly stems
What could be more romantic than growing your own roses? We have to be honest though, potted roses are out of season on Valentine’s Day and still thorny sticks, so on the day you’ll be gifting the promise of beautiful blooms. However, if you are giving to a gardener, the recipient will easily see the promise. Of course, it is also possible that your partner is of the Addams Family school of romance and prefers the thorns anyway. If so, the silky rose (Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha) is the perfect plant for them!

To evoke the language of Shakespeare, the heavily scented, peachy ‘Sweet Juliet’ is a gorgeous choice. For the pink rose with the right name, go for ‘Valentine Heart’. 

There are few classic red roses to choose from as the colour and tight flower form have fallen from favour in gardens in recent years – though they are still popular as cut flowers. If it must be red, go for the climber ‘Guinée’ or the shrubby, crimson-flowered ‘Prince’s Trust’. 

Hearts on a string

Ceropegia makes a tough and unusual houseplant
The trailing stems can be used to create pretty swags 
The marbled heart-shaped leaves of this houseplant grow on long thin stems, which will happily grow down from a shelf to create a waterfall of foliage. Hearts on a string (Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii) is one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Happy in sun or a little shade; tolerant of being a bit wet and dry at times, it will produce tiny pink flowers when truly content. The long stems can be left to trail or, if the person you are giving to fancies being creative, it’s possible to create living swags and loops.

Rays of sunshine

Sunflower (Helianthus) 'Valentine'
Many colours of sunflower are available
Not everyone can be with their Valentine on the day, so seeds offer a solution that are easy to send in the post. This aptly-named sunflower Helianthus ‘Valentine’ is a cut above its yellow cousins, offering meltingly soft, creamy-coloured flowers. The seeds of this flower are ideal for anyone new to gardening as they are simple to grow, but unusual enough to appeal to a seasoned gardener. They make great cut flowers, as well as a beautiful border display.

Heart-leaf philodendron

Trailing or climbing, Philodendron scandens is a striking houseplant
The leaves are shaped like elongated hearts
Not every love likes frilly flowers, so this is a bold, sculptural option that bears its heart shape on every leaf. A houseplant grown for its foliage, Philodendron scandens looks good all year round. The stems produce little roots, so it can be trained up a moss or coir pole (available in garden centres and online). Alternatively, allow the stems to trail, making elegant arches. For a softer look, also consider cream and gold variegated forms.

The sweetest scent of all

Gardenias have a delicious, unique fragrance
For scent that will fill a room, it’s hard to beat gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). The scent is often used in perfumes though the true delicious fragrance of the flowers is difficult to capture. These pure white blooms form swirls just above the glossy green leaves. Gardenias like a bright position in a warm room; just keep the compost damp and they will thrive. It is also a great choice for those who have conservatories.
 

​How to find a plant named for your loved one

Use our online search engine to track down plants with specific names
Romeo and Juliet is the classic romance and both have names attached to many plants, including a rose (see above). You can search for plants with a name using the RHS Find a plant search engine. 

Can’t find the words? Say it with flowers

19th century flower watercolour by Antoine Toussaint de Chazal
In the Victorian Language of Flowers, a subject of numerous 19th-century books, many flowers were ascribed particular meanings. As a result, receiving a bouquet could mean reaching for a floral dictionary to unpick the true meaning of each bloom – what was your love trying to tell you?

Well, forget-me-not and honeysuckle would be a sign of true love, and even the evergreen nature of ivy signifies wedded love. In contrast, you might not be pleased to see cabbage leaves as they indicate cold-heartedness and daffodils rebuke unrequited love. Both fun and somewhat intense, only roses have widely retained their enduring Victorian meaning of love.


About the author - Leigh Hunt

As RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor, Leigh loves helping with strange and unusual enquiries that test more than 30 years of knowledge.

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