Valentine's Day bouquets that will blow the budget
How to choose the perfect bouquet for Valentine's Day, you ask? First of all, we'd say go for seasonal, bespoke blooms - but is she (or he) a pink spray roses kind of girl (boy), or would bright, bold buttercup ranunculus be better suited to her (or his) tastes?
If you're really stuck, one solution is to throw money at the problem. After all, the best Valentine's Day bouquets are often the most expensive - and whatever you end up with, it beats droopy carnations from the petrol station.
That said, carnations are said to be experiencing a comeback - but unless you're sourcing them from a hip, up-and-coming florist, you're in danger of getting it terribly wrong.
In any case, we've helpfully rounded up the most show-stoppingly luxurious bouquets to impress your amour this Valentine's Day. Swoon.
Phillipa Craddock
Inspired by the romantic poet John Keats, this design by award-winning florist Phillipa Craddock features roses, ranunculus, protea, kangaroo paw, wax flowers, astrantia, dianthus and seasonal foliage. As Keats would say - a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Available for Selfridges nominated day delivery (£8).
Maison de Fleurs
Luxury florist Maison de Fleurs have launched a limited edition collection of three bouquets. Choose the Luxury size (£300) or go mad and get the Outrageous size (£400). We like this single stem option, aptly titled 'The One', but there are two other mixed rose options too. Sigh...
Delivery is available to all London postcodes at a flat rate of £10.
Marks and Spencer
The Collection Forever Love, £250
This extravagantly beautiful bouquet is arranged with 36 red Naomi roses, 12 red spray roses, 7 sprigs of eucalyptus (dyed burgundy), 7 black tie leaves and 8 hypericum.
Available to pre-order, and available from 10th February 2018, with free nominated day delivery.
A year of flowers with Bloom & Wild
Sadly, a bunch of flowers doesn't last forever. Step forward the one-year letterbox flower subscription from Bloom & Wild, which will see a different fresh bouquet delivered to your loved one (in a slender letterbox friendly packaging) every month for 12 month. Just try not to break-up before the year is up.
Grace and Thorn
East London florists Grace and Thorn seek to make flowers "dance and sing". They certainly achieve that with the wonderfully minimalist Dirty Dozen bouquet of 12 huge red roses. We also like the textures and vibrancy of the fuller St Valentine bouquet (£85).
Same day delivery is available in London, and next day delivery outside of London.
Orchidya
Crazy in Love, £129.95 – £4,999.99
An obscenely expensive gift of 999 ultra-deluxe red roses? That must be true love. Or, you could opt for two dozen. Whatever your chosen quantity, we're sure she'll adore this wonderful bouquet of blue viburnum berries paired with pretty red Naomi roses from Orchidya, which is also renowned for award-winning orchids. Free shipping available.
Flower BX
Flower BX is an online flower delivery service which sources fresh flowers direct from growers, and delivers them to your front door in clever letterbox-friendly boxes. But to really spoil her on Valentine's Day, we recommend either the Grand Bunch of 100 fiery red Naomi roses, or the large bunch of 50 (from £170).
Delivery in London only.
Moyses Stevens
Moyses Stevens - founded in 1876 - claims to be the inventor of the hand-tied bouquet. Can't get more classic than that. Oh, and you can also add champagne to your order.
Moyses Stevens offers same day or next day delivery in London Monday to Sunday with orders until 5pm for same day delivery. For rest of UK there's a next day service. Delivery outside of London is not possible on Sunday or Monday due to overnight courier restrictions.
How to care for your Valentine's Day bouquet
According to Flower BX, you should recut stems diagonally and remove all excess foliage before placing blooms in cool water. All foliage should be above the waterline. Your flowers will respond best to temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees.
Keep roses away from ripening fruit as the ethylene gas given off shortens the life of the flower; all flowers benefit from flower food and respond well to changing water regularly.
As flowers are a natural product, there will be slight size and colour variations.
