5 Romantic Houseplants to Gift for Valentine’s Day

It might be traditional to gift red roses on Valentine’s Day, but wouldn’t it be more romantic to give the love of your life something that won’t die? The gift of a houseplant can be a more thoughtful and sustainable gift than a bunch of flowers. What’s more, most plants have a lust for life that will far survive a dozen red roses.

If you’re tired of seeing the same plants sold for Valentine’s Day, then you’ll be thrilled with this list of alternatives. There are so many houseplants with risqué or romantic symbolism, so it’s easy to find one that means something to you. If you don’t have a significant other, then why not treat yourself to one instead?

Beware: this article is about as X-rated as Bianca Censori’s grammy’s dress, so read with caution! Let’s start flirting with some romantic houseplant ideas for Valentine’s Day.

1.     Phalaenopsis Orchid – Your Honey Cups

Nothing says ‘I want you’ like gifting your partner a plant named after a testicle. Convey your feelings directly with an orchid this Valentine’s Day. With a name inspired by the ancient Greek word for male genitalia, orchids symbolise love, fertility, and beauty. With petals described as ‘honey-cups’ by Erasmus Darwin, your lover will think you’re a poet when you coin that pet-name.

Commercially sold orchids are epiphytes that obtain water and nutrients from the air. In the rainforest they wrap their roots around trees for support, living happily alongside other orga(ni)sms. Place yours in a bright east-facing window and grow in bark. Your orchid is thirsty when roots go blue-tinged, but make sure you drain well after flushing with fluids!

2.     Anthurium Clarinervium – Cupid’s Arrow

Steal the heart of your Valentine with this Mexican bonita señorita. First discovered during the glamour of the 1950s, Anthurium Clarinervium’s long stems and leaves have been likened to cupid’s arrows. Symbolising luck and love, this stunning houseplant has symmetrical heart-shaped leaves in dark velvet green with white veining.

Oozing extravagance and luxury in an indoor setting, this houseplant will attract attention wherever you place it. She’s an easy lover and can survive in ordinary household conditions – just make sure she has enough light and keep moist with a misting twice a week!

3.     String of Hearts – The Player’s Plant

Tolerant of the hot climates of Southern Africa, this little houseplant can really take the heat – if you get my drift. Ceropegia Woodii, known as String of Hearts, has trailing stems laden with an abundance of tiny heart-shaped, mottled leaves. The more sunlight they get, the pinker they turn!

You might forget about it if you have other love interests, but your ‘sweetheart vine’ will likely survive, as it can withstand periods of drought. Best potted in free-draining soil mix, it will hang happily in an east or west facing window. Oh, and if you give it enough warmth and TLC you’ll be rewarded with phallic looking flowers! Ooh la la!

4.     Philodendron Gloriosum – An Alternative Emerald

If emeralds are out of your price range, then you could always gift your Valentine an alternative Colombian green gem. Philodendron Gloriosum is curvaceous and soft, with its voluptuous heart-shaped leaves feeling pillowy to the touch. Lovers of companionship, philodendrons are kept best near other houseplants for added humidity.

Decorated with stunning white veins, in its natural environment, Philodendron Gloriosum crawls along the jungle floor. Best potted in long, oblong planters to grow across the surface of the soil, they’re kept satisfied in chunky aroid compost, so they never get too wet!

5.     Hoya Carnosa – The Sweet Scent of a Lover

Attract your Valentine with the fragrant nectar of a Hoya Carnosa this February. Your lover won’t be able to resist the clusters of sweet-smelling, star-shaped flowers and ever-unwinding vines. For perpetual romance, try the pink flowers of hoya ‘Krimson Queen’ or the deep rouge of hoya ‘Dark Red’.

Native to the steamy rainforests of Australia and Asia, these slow-growers are a showstopping addition to a hanging planter. Best placed inside a hanging pot, they like free-draining houseplant soil and happily dry out between waterings. They’re not toxic to people or pets, so don’t panic if things get a bit mouth-y!

Conclusion

So, there you have it, there really are so many alternatives for the classic red rose on Valentine’s Day. Which houseplant will you romance the love of your life with?

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