Valentine’s Day and red roses go hand in hand – or at least, that’s what we’ve been told. But if you’re looking for flowers that are actually in season in the UK in February, the classic bouquet of red roses just isn’t it.

Most supermarket and high street bouquets come from far-flung places like Kenya and South America, clocking up huge air miles before they even land in your hands.

So, what should a seasonal Valentine’s bouquet look like? And what are the best options if you want flowers that are both beautiful and genuinely sustainable? I asked British flower farmers and florists from across the UK to share their thoughts – and their alternatives to imported blooms.

What’s in Season in the UK for Valentine’s Day?

The UK in February isn’t exactly bursting with fresh flowers – at least, not in the way that supermarkets would have you believe. What’s available depends a lot on where you are in the country.

In Scotland, as Emma Angus from WilderBlooms in Ayrshire explains, fresh flowers are incredibly scarce at this time of year: “In February, you won’t find locally grown flowers here in Scotland. Snowdrops and crocuses are just appearing, but daffodils are still a few weeks away. The best options for sustainable flowers at this time of year? Dried flowers, or fresh flowers grown in greenhouses in the south of England.”

For those local to her and wanting a floral bouquet, Emma is offering a seasonal February bouquet of tulips, narcissi, curly willow and foliage.

Further south, more varieties start to appear, thanks to slightly milder temperatures.

In Devon, Ellie Lavers from The Byes Blooms is offering 100% British grown hand-tied bouquets made from “British-grown double tulips (via Evolve Flowers), Cornish narcissi, Devon-grown textural foliage, hellebores, hazel catkins, and magnolia buds.” The hellebores, hazel catkins, berried ivy and magnolia buds are all grown by Ellie in Devon.

Florists like Jess and Katie from Featherstone Flowers in Hampshire are sourcing Lincolnshire-grown tulips, Cornish narcissi, ranunculus, alstroemeria, camelia, and hazel, plus some bits from their field.

However, as Lisa from Homestead Flowers in Surrey points out, “many British-grown flowers at this time of year are greenhouse-grown, sometimes with extra light and heat, so it’s worth asking where and how your flowers were grown.” As such, Lisa has decided to only sell dried flower bouquets this Valentine’s Day, with a few stems of fresh pink pussy willow added.

Claire Brown who runs PlantPassion, also in Surrey, is offering Valentine’s bouquets featuring hellebores – a flower that is starting to flower in many areas during February. She told me “I think what’s really important is getting more people to think about the two highest problem areas of floristry – chemicals and transportation by air.”

Hellebores in a range of colours also feature in Kathryn’s Valentine’s Day bouquets, alongside soft stems of pussy willow, tulips, and lots of interesting foliage. Based in Worcestershire, her business Chamomile & Cornflowers champions locally grown, seasonal flowers.

Others such as Eloise McKinna from Studio Dandelion in London are choosing an alternative approach – she is offering local bouquets of just magnolia stems, making for a striking arrangement and lovely alternative to the red rose bouquet.

It seems if fresh flowers are a must, the most sustainable option in February is British-grown tulips, narcissi, and hardy foliage – but even these are likely to come from greenhouse-grown stock rather than fieldgrown blooms.

Seasonal Alternatives to Fresh Flowers

If you love flowers but want to avoid out-of-season imports, there are plenty of alternatives that still feel special and thoughtful.

Dried Flowers – Dried flowers are always in season, last for years, and don’t require any transport emissions beyond their initial harvest. Elena from Bracken and Fleur in Oxfordshire is offering dried bouquets made from “roses, strawflowers, cress, nigella, statice, oregano, amaranthus, and grasses, all grown chemical-free in Oxfordshire and air-dried.” She describes them as having “a vintage charm, far more sophisticated than a bunch of bright red imports.”

Another florist who specialises in dried British flowers is Sarah from Sarah Breese Design. Her arrangements here contain British roses, including little ones from her mother’s garden, and other ingredients are grown and foraged locally.

Rhiannon from Blue Hill Flora in Wales is another flower farmer florist offering dried flowers this Valentine’s Day. She made dried flower bouquets and wreaths: “I know a lot of people are wanting to make eco conscious choices and that some of those people might think they have to give up flowers all together for Valentine’s – but there are other beautiful options like dried flowers, British grown tulips, or even a voucher for a floral workshop.”

A note on dried flowers – not all dried flowers are equal, a lot of dried flowers are shipped across the world and produced unsustainably, so make sure you check your florist is sourcing British dried flowers.

Paper Flowers – For a bouquet that will never wilt, consider handmade paper roses (or other flowers!). One of my recommended eco wedding suppliers Paper Tree create stunning handmade flowers from eco-friendly paper, some crafted in England and the rest ethically made overseas. These are a great option for a lasting, waste-free gift.

Potted Plants – Instead of cut flowers, why not gift a potted rose, lavender plant, or another flowering perennial that will bloom year after year? David Austin potted roses are a popular choice, offering the romance of a rose without the waste.

Framed Pressed Flowers – A bouquet you can hang on your wall. Whether you choose a framed floral artwork, a pressed flower card, or even a voucher for a floral pressing workshop, this is a gift that lasts. I love these ones from The Wild Flower Press in Dorset.

How to Find Truly Seasonal Flowers

If you want to buy fresh flowers but make sure they’re British grown, here’s how to check:

Ask your florist where their flowers are from – Many florists stock imported flowers, even when they offer some British blooms. If they can’t tell you the origin, it’s likely they’ve been flown in. So just ask!

Search on Flowers From The Farm – This collective of UK flower growers champions locally grown blooms. You can search for growers in your area at Flowers from the Farm.

Think beyond the supermarket – While supermarkets may label some flowers as ‘seasonal,’ they often aren’t. It also doesn’t tell you how they’re grown. Independent florists and flower farmers are more likely to provide genuinely seasonal options and be able to give you more information on how the flowers were grown – so you can make a conscious choice.

When Did Valentine’s Day Become About Red Roses?

My research has found that Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for over 1,500 years, but for most of that time, people weren’t exchanging mass-produced gifts – let alone out-of-season red roses. In medieval times, romantic gestures were more personal, with lovers exchanging handwritten notes, poems, or small handmade tokens. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Valentine’s cards became popular, thanks to mass printing, and chocolates soon followed, cleverly marketed as the perfect romantic gift.

Fresh red roses? They’re actually a very recent addition to Valentine’s traditions, becoming mainstream only in the last few decades – a tiny fraction of Valentine’s long history. Before that, gifting flowers was more about what was naturally in bloom, not what could be flown in from thousands of miles away.

Maybe it’s time we took inspiration from the past and embraced gifts that are a little more thoughtful – and a lot more in tune with the seasons.

A Valentine’s Bouquet That Reflects the Season

So, if you’re choosing flowers for Valentine’s Day, consider what’s truly in season. A February bouquet in the UK might look more like a mix of British tulips, narcissi, hellebores, and textural foliage – or perhaps something entirely different, like a dried bouquet, a living plant, or a lasting floral keepsake.

Sustainability doesn’t mean giving up flowers altogether. It just means making more thoughtful conscious choices – ones that celebrate the beauty of the season, rather than chasing an illusion of what Valentine’s flowers should look like.

My suggestion if it HAS to be a red rose you gift, choose one of these exquisite red paper roses from Paper Tree – an excellent investment as it will last for almost ever!

And finally, if we really want to be sending roses as an expression of love, maybe we should move Valentine’s Day to June – when they’re actually in season in the UK – instead of racking up air miles and environmental damage just to stick to tradition. (Thanks to Sarah Vaux for this sensible suggestion!)

Would You Choose a Seasonal Bouquet?

What’s your ideal Valentine’s flower choice? Do you love fresh flowers, or would you consider something like dried blooms or a potted rose? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks so much to all the florists and flower farmers who helped make this feature possible – do support them and those local to you this Valentine’s Day, or for Mother’s Day, birthdays, weddings, and celebrations of any kind.