Red Roses

What red roses mean

Red has stood for love and passion for centuries, which is why these flowers are the go-to romantic gift. Deep, velvety blooms say devotion; brighter scarlet feels bold and celebratory.

How many stems to send

Tradition gives each number its own meaning. One says love at first sight, six says you want to be theirs, and a dozen is the classic declaration – the gesture most people picture on Valentine’s Day. Twenty-four says forever, and fifty or more is a grand statement for a milestone anniversary or a proposal.

Want something that keeps longer than a week? A preserved rose holds its colour for a year or more.

Choosing the right bouquet

Roses only or mixed?

Some bouquets are roses only, which feels classic and elegant. Others add eucalyptus, gypsophila, hypericum berries or lilies for a softer, fuller look.

Long-stem and premium varieties

Long-stem flowers look the most luxurious. Naomi and Red Naomi are prized for their large heads and rich, radiant colour – look for the variety in the listing if you want a premium red rose bouquet.

Vase or no vase?

An arrangement delivered in a vase is ready to display straight away – handy if they don’t own a big one.

Price guide

Most bouquets here cost between £20 and £40, while fifty-stem luxury bouquets sit nearer £70–£80. Check whether the price includes delivery – many sellers add it free.

Occasions

Valentine’s Day

The busiest day of the year for florists. Order online early and pick a named delivery date, as the best options sell out.

Anniversaries

Match the number of stems to the years you’ve been together for a personal touch.

Christmas

Pair deep red blooms with pine, skimmia and red amaryllis for a festive arrangement. See our Christmas flowers.

Just because

A surprise on an ordinary Tuesday often means the most.

What to write on the card

Keep the message short and personal – a shared joke, a memory or simply “Thinking of you, always”. Most sellers print your card message for free, so you can add it at checkout. A red rose bouquet with a heartfelt note is a flower gift they’ll keep the card from long after the petals fall.

Delivery options

Most sellers offer a next-day flower delivery service if you add to basket before their afternoon cut-off, with tracked courier delivery to the door. Nobody home? Choose roses sent as letterbox flowers – the box fits through the door. Hand-tied stems usually travel with a water pack so they arrive fresh.

Care tips

Trim each stem at an angle and put the flowers straight into a clean vase of fresh water with the flower food. Remove leaves below the waterline, keep them out of direct sun and away from the fruit bowl, and change the water every couple of days. If a head starts to droop, re-cut the stem under water to revive it. With good care, a fresh bouquet lasts a week or more.