On Valentine’s Day, a dozen roses can feel a little expected—nice, but predictable. That’s why Lauren Lee, gardener and owner of Dear Friend, Flower and Garden in Atlanta, Georgia, says camellias are the more meaningful choice.
You can buy roses almost anywhere, from the grocery store to the gas station. Camellias, on the other hand, are distinctly Southern. This winter bloom feels like a thoughtful alternative for anyone looking to give something a little more personal than the usual bouquet.
A Winter Bloom With Deep Southern Roots
“To understand why camellias became associated with Valentine’s Day and winter romance in the South, you have to look back to 19th- and early 20th-century Southern society,” explains Lee. “This was a culture shaped by reputation, social hierarchy, and an expectation of emotional restraint, especially for women. Feelings like romance, grief, and loyalty were deeply felt but rarely spoken outright.”
That sense of quiet restraint and gentility meant it wasn’t always socially acceptable to express big emotions openly. Instead, symbols, especially flowers, became powerful ways to communicate feelings that might otherwise go unsaid. As Lee shares, “Flowers allowed people to say meaningful things quietly and with grace.”
What Camellias Symbolize And Why That Matters On Valentine’s Day
“If a rose were to represent fleeting passion, a camellia represents enduring love,” said Lee. Blooming from January through early spring, when much of the garden is still dormant, camellias are a distinctly Southern winter flower, often more accessible locally than imported roses and deeply tied to the rhythms of the season. Their timing alone has helped make them a potent symbol for lovers, representing devotion and enduring affection during a time of year associated with waiting, patience, and quiet persistence.
Arriving in soft pinks, whites, and deep reds, “over time, the flower became a symbol of devotion, persistent desire, admiration, and enduring love, making it a natural emblem of winter romance and, eventually, Valentine’s Day in the South,” according to Lee.
How To Style And Gift Camellias Thoughtfully
Come Valentine’s Day, florists and garden centers across the South—especially in states like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and parts of North Carolina and Texas—often stock camellias during their peak winter-to-early-spring bloom season. Depending on the variety, Sasanqua camellias bloom from early fall through early winter, and Japonica camellias bloom from midwinter through early spring.
Lee recommends asking your florist to arrange a bouquet with both camellia varieties to complement each other. She recommends arranging the blooms in a lettuce-leaf vase that highlights the natural fall of the stems, or in a shallow floating bowl. “I especially love a blue-and-white chinoiserie bowl for a classic Southern look that complements their bright pink and red blooms,” she says. “Every time they use the vase or bowl, they’ll think of your loving gesture.”
If you’re lucky enough to have a camellia shrub in your own backyard, Lee suggests timing your cut for the cool morning hours, when stems hold the most water. Once cut, place stems immediately into a bucket of cool water and let them hydrate for at least two hours before arranging. Skip the flower food—woody stems store their own nutrients, and added sugars can encourage bacteria that actually shorten vase life.
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