Valentine’s Day is known as an opportunity to celebrate love. Whether it be with roses, a sentimental card, or candy, there are many simple gestures to express love and friendship on this holiday. Jewelry and stuffed animals are also popular gifts, but really any token wrapped in standard Valentine’s day colors is pretty much the norm. However, if you also want to send a particular message to your special Valentine, why not do it through the language of flowers?

The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in countries throughout the world. For those of you with a literary bent, you may recall the use of flowers in works like those of William Shakespeare, particularly Ophelia’s act 4 speech in Hamlet, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts…”

There’s an old Welsh legend that if you’re the first to spot the early daffodils of the season, you’ll be rewarded by a year of good luck. Carnations have many different meanings. To the Indians of Mexico, they are the “flowers of the dead” used in burial rituals. Now, do you want to send death flowers to your beloved this Valentine’s Day? Probably not, but it just goes to show that nearly every sentiment can be expressed through flowers. Here are just a few floral options to gift your sweetie pie this Valentine’s Day!

Roses are the typical go-to for Valentine’s Day. Red roses symbolize energy, passion, and deep love and are perfect for budding romances, as well as enduring flames. Pink roses speak to affection, sweetness, and understanding and are appropriate for family members. While white represents spiritual love, purity, reverence, and humility and can make for a beautiful tribute to a loved one that has passed. If you’re looking to break away from these standard colors, non-traditional floral shades also convey meaning to create a more particular message to the recipient.

If you have recently fallen head over heels, send that person purple or lavender roses as an announcement of your affection. Welcoming back an old friend or estranged loved one? Give them yellow roses. If a friend is having a rough patch and you want to brighten their Day, then peach blooms are your ticket to express sympathy, sincerity, and gratitude. Coral is the color of desire, while orange roses represent enthusiasm and fascination. Of course, all of these meanings are open to interpretation, so a thoughtfully worded note should accompany any bouquet.

Of course, there are a variety of flowers to express love and gratitude. If you’re looking to switch things up, then gift red chrysanthemums, which also mean “I love you.” Red tulips are another flower to make a declaration of passionate love, while violets send a quieter message of loyalty and devotion. Red carnations represent heartache if you want to send a sign to a lost love, while pink camellias tell someone that you are longing for them. Asters are also a symbol of love, and peonies mean a bashful type of love.

If perhaps you’re feeling the darker side of romance and want to send a very different message to whomever, look to begonias for dark thoughts, hydrangeas for heartlessness, or marigolds for despair and jealousy. Black and dark red roses also symbolize romantic malice. If you find yourself on the receiving end of these types of blooms, you may want to check in with your significant other to make sure everything is on the up and up. And watch where you step.

Romance aside, you can gift an arrangement to a close friend, family member, or a loved one that’s far away from home to let them know you are thinking of them. Daisies, baby’s breath, bluebells, and ferns all stand for sincerity, affection, and constancy to various degrees. If you’re really not feeling flowers this V-Day, you may try gifting herbs or fauna. Presents of mint for virtue, sweet basil for good wishes, and coriander for worth not only convey affection but will also be useful in the kitchen. Potted bulbs of any variety speak to the season by conveying a sense of hope for the coming spring and will bring a subtle joy as the receiver watches it grow and bloom.

There’s a flower or plant for everyone on your Valentine’s Day gift list this year. But, if you don’t have the budget to be sending bouquets and arrangements, consider finding greeting or note cards that feature the flowers and colors that best represent your particular message of love for your nearest and dearest.