How to Buy Flowers for Your Girlfriend

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Sure, you can go online and send the first flowers you see, but a little thought and planning will go a long way toward impressing her.

Step 1: Send her favorite
If she’s ever mentioned a favorite flower, buy that. You’ll get bonus points for listening to her. If you have no clue, ask a friend or relative of hers what she likes.

Step 2: Be sentimental
If you can think of a bloom related to your relationship, like the ones on the table on your first date, send those with a card noting the connection.

Step 3: Get out of the rose rut
Resist the urge to send roses, which don’t show much imagination. Surveys show that when women buy flowers for themselves, they usually select more exotic blooms.

Tip
If you want to send a fragrant flower, go for gardenias, lilies of the valley, lilacs, freesia, or sweet peas. Hardy tropical types that won’t wilt overnight include Anthuriums, birds of paradise, and ginger. Bouvardias, Chrysanthemums, and Gerbera daisies are also long-lasting.

Step 4: Ponder the message
Think about the message. Forget-me-nots stand for faithful love, gardenias say, 'I love you in secret,' hibiscus represent delicate beauty, and sunflowers signal devotion. Color counts, too. Red means love, orange signals desire, pink conveys appreciation, yellow means friendship, and white represents purity.

Tip
A pretty bouquet doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, but beware of carnations. Because they’re so inexpensive, they can make you look cheap.

Step 5: Buy local
Take time to visit a local florist rather than calling an 800 number or ordering online. She’s more apt to get fresh, quality flowers, plus you’ll be able to write the card yourself—a gallant touch she’ll love.

Tip
Tell the florist to leave out the greenery—no ferns, no baby’s breath, no nothing. You want flowers, not filler.

Step 6: Send them to her workplace
If she works outside the home, have them delivered to her office, where she’ll have more time to enjoy them. Plus, she’ll get to show them off to jealous coworkers.

Step 7: Be random
Send flowers for no reason at all. She just might be moved to return the favor with her own romantic gesture.

Did You Know?
According to a book published in 2004, 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.