Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday in 2025, the busiest possible day for flower deliveries since offices are open and the weekend follows right after. Florists across the country are already sounding the alarm: supplies are tight, prices are climbing, and last-minute orders will mean slim pickings or outright disappointment.
Every local shop owner says the same thing this week: the rush has already started.
In Grand Junction, Colorado, Sandi Reynolds at Country Elegance Florist told KJCT that customers need to lock in orders immediately to secure the best blooms and guaranteed delivery. She has not seen a Friday Valentine’s since before the pandemic, and her coolers are filling faster than usual.
“This is going to be insane,” Reynolds said. “Friday means everyone wants workplace deliveries so their partner can show off all day, then enjoy the flowers all weekend. We run out of red roses by Wednesday if people wait.”
She is not alone.
From California to New York, independent florists report pre-orders running 40-60 percent ahead of last year. Many have already capped the number of Feb 13-14 deliveries they will accept.
Red roses remain king, but the supply chain is shaky.
Ecuador and Colombia, which grow nearly 90 percent of U.S. Valentine’s roses, faced heavy rains and shipping delays in December and January. Wholesale prices for premium long-stem reds are up roughly 25 percent compared to 2024, according to the Society of American Florists.
That cost gets passed straight to customers. A dozen long-stem red roses that cost $60-$75 last year now starts at $89-$125 in most cities, and some high-end shops quote $150 or more for premium varieties.
Local shops fight back against wire services and big boxes.
Reynolds and thousands of other independent owners push the “shop local” message harder every year. When you order through 1-800-Flowers or similar sites, only about 50-60 cents of every dollar typically reaches the actual florist who makes and delivers the arrangement. The rest goes to middlemen and marketing.
“Your money stays here, and we actually care if you are happy,” Reynolds said. “Our name is on the van. We see these people at the grocery store. We are not sending half-dead flowers in a crushed box.”
Customers are listening.
Google Trends shows searches for “local florist near me Valentine’s Day” spiking earlier than ever, starting the week after New Year’s. Shops in Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, and Nashville report phone lines ringing off the hook by January 10.
Many florists now offer “Valentine’s Week” delivery incentives: order for Monday-Thursday delivery and pay regular prices instead of holiday premiums. Recipients still get the surprise at work, and the flowers last longer into the weekend.
Trending alternatives to classic red roses in 2025
- Ranunculus and anemones in soft pink and peach tones
- Heart-shaped succulents and potted orchids (perfect for plant lovers)
- Dried flower arrangements that last all year
- “Moody” mixes with chocolate cosmos, burgundy carnations, and black calla lilies
- Tulips (prices are excellent this year and they scream spring romance)
Grand Junction’s Country Elegance has already sold out of its signature “Colorado Sunset” mix twice and keeps restocking.
The real reason florists love this week
Reynolds gets emotional talking about it.
“I delivered for years before I owned the shop,” she said. “You walk into an office with flowers and grown men light up like kids on Christmas. One guy cried once. Grown man, tears rolling. Said nobody had ever sent him flowers before. That moment is why we kill ourselves every February.”
She paused and smiled.
“Flowers are just plants. But for five minutes, you get to hand someone pure joy. In February, in the cold, when everything feels heavy, that matters.”
So if you love someone, do it now. Call your local shop today. Pick the weird $110 mixed bouquet instead of the safe dozen roses if it feels more like “you.” Lock in delivery for Wednesday or Thursday. Tip the driver double.
Because come Friday morning, February 14, the coolers will be empty, the phones will be silent, and the only thing left will be sad “sold out” signs and a whole lot of people wishing they had listened.
Tell us in the comments: are you ordering early this year or rolling the dice? Drop your city and what you are sending. Let’s make the florists smile before the madness hits.
