The classic Valentine’s Day rose presents a conundrum: The blooms represent a lot of love but also a lot of climate pollution. More than 80% of flowers sold in the United States — roses especially — travel from overseas, on carbon-intensive, refrigerated jets. 

Here’s how to show both your sweetheart and the Earth a little love this Valentine’s Day.  

Buy seasonal  

While few locally grown roses will be available in February, there are plenty of stunning alternatives to telegraph your love. Look out for tulips, hellebores and ranunculuses from your local growers and purveyors.  

Flowering plants  

Amaryllises, anemones, tulips and daffodils can all be grown in pots, ready to bloom in February. If DIY is your thing, plan for Valentine’s Day 2026 — potted bulbs generally take about two months to flower. 

Give an experience  

Who says flower gifts have to be so literal? Try a gift of a flower arranging class. 

“Or you could get someone a membership to a botanical garden, where they can see beautiful flowers all year long,” says flower farmer Mimo Davis of Urban Buds in St. Louis, Missouri.   

Delayed gratification  

Many local flower farmers and florists offer gift subscriptions, so you can get beautiful, in-season deliveries throughout the year. 

“I always think this is actually a better gift, because you can give more flowers, more often,” says Ellen Frost, owner of Baltimore’s Local Color Flowers, which sources from nearby farms. 

Fair trade, foam-free  

Even if you’re buying from your local supermarket or a national delivery chain, you can still up your sustainability game. Flower sustainability expert Becky Feasby recommends looking for Florverde-certified options because they meet certain environmental and labor standards. Likewise, she suggests avoiding plastic floral foam, which doesn’t biodegrade and isn’t recyclable.