Soft, blousy blooms in shades of white and pink. Fragrance that lights up the garden. Names that evoke love and longing. Glossy, heart-shaped leaves…
All these characteristics and more can be found on our favorite romantic plants list below. These beauties are the perfect way to mark Valentine’s or “Palentine’s” Day, or to signify your adoration any day of the year!
The Most Romantic Outdoor Plants
Roses
Roses are undeniably one of the most romantic plants of all time. They’ve been lauded in songs and poems and hold a special place in the heart of any die-hard sentimental person, especially when it comes to Valentine’s Day. While bouquets of Roses will always be a classic, we love the idea of gifting a rose plant to both express affection and to guarantee blooms for years to come.
- The Poet’s Wife David Austin English Shrub Rose – Ruffled yellow blooms with a strong fruity fragrance adorn round shrubs with shiny foliage.
- Eden Climbing Rose – Pale, blushing pink blooms with subtle sweet fragrance repeatedly flower on this 10’ climber.
- Distant Drums Floribunda Rose – Ruffled blooms with bronze centers give way to soft pink edges for a stunning ombre effect atop busy plants.
- All Dressed Up Grandiflora Rose – Soft pink, old-fashioned flowers bloom heavily on this shrub with superior landscape performance and cut-apple fragrance.
- Vavoom Floribunda Rose – Brilliant orange blooms last for ages with glowing color on a compact plant.
Set your love up for success by following the tips in our Rose Care Sheet. Not sure which Rose will best suit your garden? Find inspiration in our Rose Design Guide.
Camellias
Sturdy, evergreen plants with shiny leaves, Camellias take center stage in Winter and Spring when they burst into bloom. In tones ranging from white to soft pink all the way through to brilliant magenta and crimson, we think their steadfastness and extravagant display has earned them a place among the most romantic plants of all time.
- Camellia sasanqua ‘Apple Blossom’ (Winter Camellia) – Subtly fragrant pink and white petals are set against bright yellow stamens and add gorgeous color to any winter garden.
- Camellia sasanqua ‘Pink-A-Boo’ (Winter Camellia) – Coral-pink blooms, strong fragrance, and a sweetly-silly name make this an unforgettable landscape plant.
- Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’ (Spring Camellia) – Ruffled, light-pink blooms appear on this beautiful shrub as early as March.
- Camellia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ (Spring Camellia) – Pointed petals move from pink to white in a perfect Fibonacci sequence in a show-stopping display late-Spring.
- Camellia japonica ‘April Remembered’ (Spring Camellia) – Semi-double, pink blooms show off straight, golden stamens in each bloom on this strong landscape specimen.
Get more information about Winter Camellias here.
Daphnes
When Daphne blooms, people swoon… while that may not actually be a turn of phrase, it has every right to be! The heady fragrance of Daphne odora really is one of the best parts of February, let alone the whole year. The sparkling, miniature flowers arranged in neat little bundles hold hours of scent and are as impactful as a cut stem indoors as they are outside. Owning a Daphne plant is an absolute must for any Pacific Northwesterner looking for a way to bring life to the grey months. And adding in Summer-blooming Daphne offers a way to extend their impact into the warmer months.
- Daphne odora ‘Aureoamarginata’ (Winter Daphne) – The classic daphne plant featuring narrow, variegated leaves, white flowers with a pink reverse and a powerful, sweet fragrance.
- Daphne odora ‘Perfume Princess’ (Winter Daphne) – Created to flower even earlier in the winter, this plant has soft pink blooms and solid green foliage without sacrificing the classic daphne fragrance.
- Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’ (Summer Daphne) – Smaller-leaved than winter daphne, this plant has softer, rounded foliage and produces white blooms flushed with mauve in fragrant waves from spring through fall.
- Daphne x transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’ (Summer Daphne) – Variegated, soft foliage is neatly arranged on this small, evergreen shrub that blooms all summer with faintly blush-white, sweet-smelling flowers.
Discover more about Winter Daphne here.
Hellebores
It’s no secret that Hellebores are among our favorite winter plants for a whole host of reasons. But the new “Wedding Party” and “Honeymoon” series have also earned Hellebores a place on our list of the Most Romantic Outdoor Plants for their striking, unique blooms that coincide perfectly with Valentine’s Day. With names that evoke fond memories of your wedding or honeymoon, we think they make an absolutely charming gift.
- Helleborus ‘First Dance’ (Wedding Party Series) – Soft yellow flowers have a deep pink picotee outline around each double petal and last for weeks in the garden.
- Helleborus ‘Wedding Bells’ (Wedding Party Series) – Clear white, large double blooms are a must have for any white garden and brighten up even the darkest corners of the landscape.
- Helleborus ‘True Love’ (Wedding Party Series) – Rich mauve-red double blooms have maroon veining and are set above clear green foliage.
- Helleborus ‘Tropical Sunset’ (Honeymoon Series) – Large yellow blooms sport unique magenta veining on the front and back of each petal on plants that happily thrive in part shade.
- Helleborus ‘Spanish Flare’ (Honeymoon Series) – Buttery yellow flowers have intense maroon centers and stippling that show off electric yellow stamens.
Learn how to grow and care for Hellebores here.
The Most Romantic Indoor Plants
Anthurium
With their spade and heart-shaped leaves and blooms, we love gifting Anthurium for Valentine’s, Pal-entine’s, and Gal-entine’s day. These glossy, easy-to-grow plants look lovely set in a cache pot or planted up as a Kokedama.
- Anthurium andreanum – Waxy, heart-shaped blooms in corals, reds, and pinks adorn these 6 to 12-inch plants.
- Anthurium radicans x luxurians ‘Quilted Hearts’ – A rare variety with leaves that are puffed and textured around strong veining for the illusion of a quilted pattern.
- Anthurium forgetii – A rare and unforgettable Anthurium with emerald green leaves and rounded, white variegation that follows simple veins.
String of Hearts
This charming hanging plant lets down cascades of small heart-shaped leaves, suspended on wiry stems. The vining succulent Ceropegia woodii needs bright, indirect light and just the right amount of water (not too much, not too little) in order to thrive. If your sweetheart also thrives on attention to detail, this might be the perfect plant for them!
- Ceropegia woodii – Grey-green leaves sport clear white veining and red-brown stems on this classic String of Hearts.
- Ceropegia woodie ‘Variegated’ – The addition of pink tones around the edges the leaves add a stained-glass quality to each individual heart.
- Ceropegia woodii ‘Silver Glory’ – This variety has a stronger silver coloration than the straight woodii, which is offset by its dark wirey stems.
Heart-Leafed Hoya
Often sold as individual leaves rooted in their own pot, Heart-Leafed Hoyas are as close as it gets to gifting a living heart for Valentine’s Day. These charming plants are low-maintenance and will slowly grow to form a little bushy vine, full of heart-shaped leaves. Water twice a month and keep in medium light and watch the love grow.
- Hoya kerrii ‘Sweetheart’ – A grass-green leaf that looks perfectly at home in any setting.
- Hoya kerrii ‘Variegated Sweetheart’ – Yellow margins border green leaves, and often have a more pronounced mid-vein, perfect for those who appreciate variegation.
- Hoya kerrii ‘Variegated Reversa’ – This rare variety has a unique, mottled yellow center is inside each green leaf – no two are alike!
Our Garden Center staff can help you get find the perfect romantic plant, even if the location you visit doesn’t stock the particular variety mentioned in this article.