Top 10 Most Romantic Flowers

With Valentine's Day coming up, do something different this year and give more than roses alone. The lore surrounding flowers is remarkable and below I have listed the ten most romantic. Use this information to compose your own love message for that special someone.

10. Iris - The Iris is one of the loveliest flowers, and has the meaning of faith and hope. The three points of the Iris are said to symbolize faith, wisdom and valor. In Ancient Roman times, it was used for purification.

09. Sunflower - The gorgeous and luminous Sunflower stands for adoration. Long ago, women who wished to conceive would eat sunflower seeds. Sunflowers are also known as the emblem of spiritualism.

08. Gardenia - The sweet smelling Gardenia symbolizes love and peace and along with the daisy, is one of my favorite flowers. Scattering dried gardenia around a room is said to stimulate peaceful and loving vibrations.

07. Lilac - Lilacs have been loved by many generations, both for their breathtaking beauty and for their irresistiblearoma. The Lilac is said to ask the question "Do you still love me?" to the receiver. The Lilac is also a symbol of protection and was first planted in the New England region to protect against evil.

06. Carnation - The promising Carnation, very popular in corsages, stands for fascination and should be given to someone who holds you captivated. The Carnation also has healing properties and in Elizabethan times, was used to defer sickness.

05. Orchid - The orchid is commonly one of the most used floral symbols of affection in the West and stands for love, beauty and seduction. Be careful to whom you give this flower to, as it's message is clearly put across.

04. Lily - Lilies (excluding Lily of the Valley) stand for beauty and are extremely popular in wedding ceremonies. Lore surrounding the Lily states that whoever finds the first Lily of the season will bring strength to him or herself.

03. Tulip - The highly popular tulip also stands for love as well as protection. In fact, Middle Eastern countries wear this flower in their turbans for protection.

02. Daisy - Daisies, a personal favorite, symbolize innocence, purity and loyalty. The Daisy is said to bring love to the receiver. It is also said that whoever picks the first daisy of the season will be possessed by flirtatious spirit beyond their control.

01. Rose - The rose is a classic and a staple involving anything to do with love, especially Valentine's Day. Roses simply mean, "I Love You" but they also have other wonderful qualities. Rose petals sprinkled around the home are said to calm personal stress and household turmoil. You could go even further and add Rose Oil to make a sensual bath for two.

Though the flowers listed above are only the top ten, many other recommendations abound.

Primrose (love), Sweetpea (friendship and chastity), Magnolia (fidelity), Pansy (love), Passion Flower (peace and friendship), Hibiscus (meaning lust), Periwinkle (love and lust), Hyacinth (happiness), Lavender (love, longevity, happiness, and peace), Plumeria (love), Violet (love, lust and peace) and Jasmine (spiritual love) would also all be great additions to any bouquet.