Having trouble figuring out this Valentine’s Day how to express your affection towards your biology-loving significant other? Words, obviously, are best, but if you are like me and tend to overthink things when you speak, then the best choice is a simple gift. Though you may not realize it, there is a lot of botanical meaning behind your chosen flower! If you enjoy being nerdy like I do, here’s a guide you can use to ensure you pick the perfect one:
1. Bilateral or Radial Symmetry
Does your significant other create balance in your life? When you select your flower, like the beautiful tiger daylily (
This is not only pleasing to the eye, but you can also ensure that you always win at games of “(s)he loves me, loves me not” with these flowers, so long as you start with “he loves me not!”
Or, do they make you feel special and unique? Consider flowers with bilateral symmetry, then, like the delicate orchid ( Phalaenopsis amabilis ). Irises, too, would be a nice choice.
These flowers have only one axis of symmetry, giving them cool-looking petal shapes and arrangements. Notice that on these particular varieties, one of the petals acts as a little landing pad for butterflies and moths. They are a perfect symbol for how your significant other gives you a place you can rest and be yourself.
2. Inflorescence
Does your partner make you feel giddy and full of life when you’re with them? I think a perfect symbol for this is inflorescent flowers which have not one or two but many different flowers blooming at once. The yellow center and all the white petals of the daisy (Bellis perennis ), for example, are actually hundreds of individual little flowers! But together, they create the effect of being a single, uniform flower.
3. Annuals, Biennials, and Perennials
Are you and your partner types that like to live in the moment and savor life to the fullest? For you, I would suggest annuals, plants that bloom and grow seeds for one season. Are you two the cautious types who take your time when deciding on things? Maybe a biennial, which requires two seasons to produce flowers, would be best. If you envision your love will be one that matures slowly and lasts forever, then perennial flowers, which may grow for many or for indefinite numbers of seasons, are the best choice for you. One good example is the bleeding heart plant (Lamprocapnos
4. Pollinator Species
This detail is a bit less obvious, but your biology-savvy partner will appreciate that you went this extra mile. If they are afraid of bees, reassure them that they have none to fear by buying a flower exclusively pollinated by butterflies or moths. Butterfly-exclusive plants will be bright red in color, while moth-exclusive flowers will be white and have a sweet scent. Hummingbird-pollinated plants, like hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus species), are another nice choice, often having bright and slender flowers. The downside is that a bird-pollinated plant will have no scent since birds cannot smell!
This helpful guide is to ensure you make the best flower selection for the best science nerd in your life. Happy Valentine’s Day!
