On the most romantic day of the year, what makes your Valentine happy? The traditional box of roses? Chocolate? Cologne? Tickets to a ball game or concert? Well, if your significant other is a gardener, keep reading.

A Bouquet of Flowers

It may sound common, but a gift of beautiful flowers is hard to beat, on any day of the year, including Valentine’s Day. Kathy Valentine (yes, that’s her real name), president of The Plant Professionals, an interior plant design and maintenance firm in Lansing, MI, has some interesting thoughts for traditional floral gifting. “I always suggest a mixed bouquet keyed to the favorite colors of the recipient, rather than just red roses,” she says. “I also recommend bright bromeliads in fun planters for a lasting token of love.” Furthermore, Kathy warns that bouquets may look quite different this year because of the loss of a key element. Leatherleaf fern, used as filler when stemmed flowers are presented in a vase, was heavily damaged by the recent cold in central Florida.

Another contributor to the bouquet approach is Debra Prinzing. She is the founder and creative director of Slow Flowers LLC and slowflowers.com. She says, “Now, more than ever, it’s easy to get out of the one-dozen-imported-long-stemmed-red-roses rut at Valentine’s Day, and to do something creative in floral gifting. For example, buy local tulips, pot up an orchid, plant a tray of paper whites or force flowering branches that unfurl when you bring them indoors. These are great options, especially for gardeners.”

“The members at slowflowers.com are shipping American grown tulips, calla lilies, succulent gifts and mixed bouquets for Valentine’s Day gifting coast-to-coast,” Prinzing also says. “Local florists, even in the areas of the country where there’s snow on the ground, are tied into these national sources and they won’t disappoint.”

If the traditional approach doesn’t appeal to you, here are ten more ideas for the Valentine gardener:

Plant containers

There so many pot selections available that choosing one is almost overwhelming. Here are a several options, some which come in kit-form:

1. Kokedama. This is a method that originated in Japan. Roots are packed into ball with moss and clay to hold their shape. Additionally, Kokedama also merges traditional planting styles of kusamono and bonsai. Interested? Pistils Nursery in Portland, OR, has a DIY kit.
2. Hypertufa. This is a versatile material made from Portland cement, peat moss and perlite, and also makes a great container for plants. Gift your Valentine with a readymade hypertufa container filled with succulents. Alternatively, buy a kit, or even schedule a class. Harry P. Leu Gardens offers a hypertufa class February 24, 2018, at 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL. Charlie Thigpen’s Garden Gallery, Birmingham, AL, offers classes for $55 – gift certificates may be available. Call 205/328-1000 for scheduling information. Farmbrook Designs offers lots of options from which to choose, including an all-inclusive hands-on Hypertufa Kit.