Valentine’s Day looms just around the corner and with it comes a scarlet hued atmosphere of chocolate, flowers and heart adorned cards. Among the mass of holiday traditions is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Valentine’s Day–the red rose.

A single red rose has come to represent a romantic dream of love, intensity and desire. The deep hue commands attention, mimicking the feeling of broiling passion and an idealistic hope for the future. However, red roses are far from being the mandatory choice for romantic Valentine’s Day flowers.

But many make more original floral choices, picking non-red roses or something entirely surprising. You can even ditch the bouquet and get your love a living plant (if they have a place to let it grow). As you can see, there are many flowers that could fit the bill for couples with a non-conformist streak. In fact, some choices may strike a much more meaningful note with your loved one.

Five Romantic Flowers

1. Anemone. The name of these flowers is Greek in origin and means “windflower”. It’s said to have manifested from Aphrodite’s tears while she mourned the death of her beloved. Another tale depicts Anemone as a nymph that is turned into a flower. Anemones come in variety of colors, and white anemones are particularly beautiful. The flower has come to represent anticipation, rain and magic; the combination of happiness and a wistful melancholy.

2. Tulip. A bouquet of tulips offers an elegant and serene alternative to roses, and they can even rival them in their intensity. Tulips have softer hues and smoother edges and are almost dreamlike. Red tulips are believed to represent “perfect love”, in reference to a tale of a prince who killed himself after learning of the death of the maiden he adored. A scarlet tulip grew from each drop of his shed blood. The center of a tulip is also said to symbolize the heart of a lover.

3. Camellia. The camellia is a flower native to Asia, and it is known to mean “honest excellence.” These flowers are like a more grandiose form of a rose. Their large and many layered petals create an intricate visual that is unrivaled by more simple blooms. One of the most common colors is a powdery pink that means “longing”. It’s a hue that’s also perfectly in line with Valentine’s Day tradition.

4. Daisy. The origin of the name daisy comes from the words “daes eage”, which literally translates to “day’s eye”. The petals of a daisy actually open at dawn and close at night, a natural phenomenon that lends the flower a bit of enchantment and charm. The daisy is very famous as a symbol for innocence, and giving this flower to your Valentine is a sweet way to initiate the spark of a tender romance.

5. Chrysanthemum. In Asian culture, this flower represents peace and is commonly placed upon alters as a blessing to the gods. They’re very beautiful flowers composed of a splay of countless thin petals. The white versions denote honesty and candor while the red symbolize a proposition of love. Pair white and red together for a Valentine’s Day inspired bouquet that’s infused with purity and amour.

The giving of flowers is always a delightful and moving part of Valentine’s Day. But it does not have to be ritualistic, which can be the case if you give red roses every year. As you can see, adding a little surprise with your floral choice can bring a whole level of meaning to Valentine’s Day.

Creative Commons Photos from Flickr