No matter what the occasion is you can never go wrong with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, whether it’s a birthday, a celebration of birth or marriage or even Easter, flowers always make for a touching and thoughtful gift. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching it may be time to start thinking about gifts which are traditionally romantic, an obvious choice being a bouquet of roses. Each flower is a symbol of a different sentiment and emotion so to make your gift more personal why not select your stems based on what message to wish to convey to your recipient. Roses, for example, carry a different meaning depending on their colour:

Red Roses - All roses convey warmth, affection and love in varying degrees. But the red rose, being the queen of roses, is the most popular and beloved of all. Red Roses are classic and a popular choice, particularly for occasions such as Valentine’s Day as they represent love, passion and desire. In addition to beauty and passion, red roses also symbolise courage. The red rose is also a symbol of power, as represented in the War of the Roses. Red roses seek to congratulate a job well done, and to express respect and appreciation. The red rose celebrates the creative spirit of love.

White Roses - One of the oldest varieties of rose, Rosa Alba or the white rose has been a favourite of all civilisations, ancient and modern alike. The white rose is the perfect emblem of innocence, loyalty and purity, Brides traditionally wear white and the Pope wears white on holy days. White roses symbolise not only purity and innocence but also remembrance and are therefore often given in sympathy.

Pink Roses – In their variety of shades pink roses have come to mean joy, happiness, gratitude and admiration. There are many different variations of pink, from a pale blush to a gentle medium pink to a vibrant pink, each having its own meaning and implication. The palest pink roses are a sign of gentleness, joy and grace. The light to medium pink roses can show sympathy or admiration. Deep pink roses are perfect choices to show someone how grateful you are to have them in your life.

Yellow Roses - Yellow roses in their unassuming charm and sweet simplicity send out an equally important message and are often given to say ‘thank you’ or ‘I care’. Shades range from light yellow to golden and express joy, gladness, and friendship. They are given to new mothers, newlyweds, and graduates. They're also used as a reminder to a loved one to show that you care.

Lavender Roses - One of the rarest rose colours is lavender. The eye-catching shades of light purple have made the lavender rose a popular alternative for romantic occasions, especially as they traditionally symbolise ‘love at first sight’. Lavender roses also share some of the symbolism of the fabled blue rose. Because blue roses do not occur naturally, they have come to represent the mysterious and unattainable. While the quest for blue rose continues, many of the meanings associated with them have become tied to that stem which is most similar, the lavender rose and therefore, lavender roses can also represent wonder and impossibility.

Visit Interflora for a beautiful and unique collection of roses, seasonal bouquets and a range of alternative gift ideas such as hampers and personalised champagne.