If you find Valentine’s Day bouquets tend to be over-priced and short-lived, you’ll be interested in our alternative suggestion of thoughtful Valentine’s plants that offer more lasting beauty. Giving a plant gift feels far more symbolic than choosing something like a cellophane-wrapped bunch of cut flowers that will quickly fade.
From scented indoor potted roses to houseplants with heart-shaped leaves, there’s plenty of options on offer to choose from. The Valentine’s-themed plants our team of experts have chosen here are highly symbolic too, signifying concepts like enduring love, romance, and deep connection in various parts of the world.
As well as being a more considered choice it’s a sustainable option too, as the best indoor plants that last are always preferable to the cut flower industry, which has a significant environmental footprint and particularly so around Valentine’s Day. Now find out what’s on our list of the best Valentine’s plants to choose this year.
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Sweetheart Hoya (‘Valentine Plant’)
(Image credit: Reni Purnama Sari/Alamy Stock Images)
This year the National Garden Bureau invited gift-givers to celebrate Valentine’s with a ‘living heart’. As the industry authority on garden trends, they recommend houseplants with heart-shaped leaves that offer a lasting symbol of love and appreciation for the home.
‘This year, we are asking people to think about what they appreciate most,’ says Diane Blazek, Executive Director at the National Garden Bureau. ‘Heart-shaped houseplants provide a sustainable, long-lasting way to brighten a loved one’s daily environment. They are truly the gift that keeps on growing.’
One of Diane’s recommendations is the sweetheart hoya, also known as the ‘Valentine Plant’. Famous for its perfectly heart-shaped leaves and slow-and-steady growth habit, it’s often sold as a single leaf in a pot that will eventually grow into a lush vine of green hearts.
To ensure these living gifts thrive, Diane recommends matching the plant to the recipient’s lifestyle. For those with low light, the sweetheart hoya is exceptionally forgiving.
‘Ideally suited for busy plant parents, this low-maintenance variety flourishes in bright, filtered sun and prefers to have its soil dry out entirely between waterings,’ says Diane.
‘There is a catch if you buy the trending single leaf starter (such as this sweetheart hoya in a terracotta pot from Walmart). For that heart to eventually sprout into a full, cascading vine, it must have a tiny segment of the stem (a node) tucked beneath the soil. Without that hidden node, your plant will remain a so-called zombie leaf, a cute, living heart that stays exactly as it is without ever producing new growth.
Diane Blazek
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Executive Director of the National Garden Bureau
From the rich soil of her Missouri family farm upbringing to the colorful green spaces of her suburban lot, Diane Blazek’s passion for horticulture has been a lifelong journey. As the Executive Director of the National Garden Bureau she channels this deep-seated enthusiasm into leading all their programs. Following 15 years as President of Ball Publishing, Diane found her true calling in her current role, where she enjoys fostering a love for gardening among consumers.
String of Hearts
(Image credit: Dima Berlin/Getty Images)
Also on the National Garden Bureau’s living heart gift list for Valentine’s Day 2026 is the string of hearts (Ceropegia woodii).
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The cascading vines of patterned, heart-shaped leaves of this resilient semi-succulent bring effortless style to high shelves or hanging baskets.
‘When one heart isn’t enough, this vine provides an entire cascade,’ says Diane Blazek. ‘Its trailing stems are dotted with small green and silver hearts, occasionally blushed with pink. It’s a sun-lover perfect for south-facing windows.’ It only requires a deep watering once its soil has dried out completely.
We love the idea of a string of hearts blushed with pink like this variegated one from Amazon to add a more romantic touch to your choice.
It’s also a dream gift for people looking to expand their plant collection. It’s easy to grow new plants by rooting cuttings in water.
Simply submerge a node, wait for roots to develop, and transplant your new baby into soil. This means it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Amaryllis
(Image credit: Clive Nichols/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images)
Red amaryllis flowers are a symbol of love, passion, and attraction. In Chinese culture, the red amaryllis is also considered to be a lucky flower.
Although frequently encouraged to bloom for Christmas you’ll find amaryllis available to buy and enjoy any time from November to April, making them the perfect choice if you’re looking for luxurious Valentine’s plants. Find red amaryllis bulbs here at Amazon for both indoor and outdoor planting, climate depending.
‘The amaryllis is also a reminder that love doesn’t rush,’ says Donna Letier, co-founder and CEO of Gardenuity. ‘It unfolds, often more beautifully with time. Rooted in ancient folklore, amaryllis has long symbolized love rewarded through patience.’
The name comes from Greek folklore, where amaryllis was a shepherdess whose quiet devotion eventually bloomed into a striking flower, an enduring symbol of love rewarded through patience.
‘Unlike fleeting Valentine’s blooms, amaryllis grows slowly and intentionally, making its dramatic flowers feel earned rather than instant,’ says Donna. ‘In many European traditions, it’s given as a gesture of admiration and confidence, suggesting a love that is bold, resilient, and meant to last.’
Donna Letier
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Plant expert
Donna Letier is co-founder and CEO of Gardenuity. Spreading the word about the impact of gardening on mental health for the past several years, Gardenuity has become a multi-million dollar business. Before launching Gardenuity, Donna had a successful career working for companies like Barneys and Borders. Now she works with the likes of Google and Converse on their wellness programs.
Bleeding Heart
(Image credit: Getty Images/Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world)
For an outdoor plant with heart-shaped flowers choose bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). There is something romantic about the dainty flowers nodding on arching stems, and they can be gifted and planted now to give someone a recurring loving memory every spring.
‘Plants often symbolize different emotions and connections for people,’ says plant expert Quinten O’Dea. ‘One of the first Valentine’s plants to come to mind is the bleeding heart. It’s an early spring flower, so makes a great gift to plant with a partner or other loved one that represents long-lasting love.’
According to Japanese legend, the bleeding heart plant tells the tragic story of a prince who tried to win a maiden’s heart. He offered her a series of gifts, which were all refused. When the maiden turned away, the prince pierced his own heart with a dagger. From the ground where his love fell, a bleeding heart bloomed.
Symbolic of deep and passionate unconditional love, you can buy bleeding heart plants here at Nature Hills.
Quinten O’Dea
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Plant expert
Quinten O’Dea is a professional landscape contractor in the Pittsburgh area. His company Q&A Landscaping has over 16 years’ experience completing high-end planting projects.
Anthurium
(Image credit: Bloomscape)
An emblem of love and passion as well as exotically beautiful, anthurium is one of the best Valentine’s plants to surprise your loved one with. The waxy, heart-shaped flowers come in various shades but bright pink or red is best for this particular celebration.
It’s definitely the choice of Adrian Aviles, owner of the Athletic Club Flower Shop in Los Angeles. He suggests looking beyond the usual Valentine’s clichés by choosing an anthurium plant.
‘These are tied to the concepts of enduring love and emotional openness. Because they bloom in red or pink and last for months, people often choose them when they want to signal something long-term, not just a one-day gesture.’
Adrian thinks plants are less about trends and more about what someone is trying to say with a gift. And these South American beauties – like this California Tropicals anthurium from Amazon – are known for their elegant blooms, making them the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
Adrian Aviles
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Florist
Adrian Aviles is the owner of Athletic Club Flower Shop, a legacy brick-and-mortar floral business established in 1916 in Downtown Los Angeles. He works hands-on with flowers and plants every day and views them less as décor and more as a way people communicate meaning, commitment, and care. He combines hands-on plant knowledge with day-to-day experience. The store creates beautiful arrangements for all occasions.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
(Image credit: Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images)
My idea of the perfect Valentine’s plants are orchids every time. These exotic flowers will bloom for months after Valentine’s Day, so make them your go-to if you want to give a gift (or receive one!) that lasts longer than a few days.
The elegant moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is one of my favorites. As well as exotic good looks it’s easier to look after than many varieties, making it one of the best orchids for Valentine’s Day as long as you get your head around orchid care. Try a gorgeous deep pink one like this Swan Orchid from The Sill, which will stay beautiful for months.
Orchids are considered to symbolize love and deep affection, so no wonder they’re one of the most popular Valentine’s plants to give as a romantic gift.
One last tip from the National Garden Bureau. They also recommend heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum).
It’s the ultimate easy-to-grow heart-shaped plant that forms dense greenery and is adaptable to almost any indoor space, making it an ideal gift.
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