You can certainly select roses and other floral gifts based on price, appearance or the advice of a florist. But wouldn't it be nice to start out knowing what some of these colorful products of nature really mean? Consider the following information as you're shopping online for Valentine's Day flowers.

The word rose, stemming from the Latin word rosa (meaning red), stands for love, passion and perfection. Roses have been symbols of love for many generations. Today, it can be hard to follow all the different colors and meanings of roses. Here's my best attempt at figuring things out for you:

Burgundy Roses suggest inner or unconscious beauty.
Coral/Peach Roses communicate desire, passion, gratitude and admiration.
Dark Crimson Roses express mourning.
Lavender Roses convey enchantment.
Orange Roses show fascination, enthusiasm and pride.
Dark Pink Roses communicate a feeling of gratitude.
Light Pink Roses say happiness, admiration, friendship, joy, grace and sympathy.
Pink & White Roses together mean I love you still and always will.
Red Roses express love, passion, respect, courage, beauty, loveliness and prosperity.
Red & Pink Roses together communicate strong romance.
Red & White Roses together stand for unity.
Red & Yellow Roses together mean happiness and congratulations.
Yellow Roses once stood for jealousy, but today they mean joy, friendship, caring and new beginnings.
Yellow Roses with Red Tips indicate friendship and falling in love.
Yellow & Orange Roses together express passionate thoughts.
White Roses mean a lot, including innocence, purity, secrecy, truth, virtue, humility, spiritual love, reverence, charm, sincerity, silence and youthfulness.

A Single Red Rose usually communicates love at first sight.
Two Red Roses joined together show commitment or engagement.
A Dozen Red Roses say "Be mine."
Twenty-Four Red Roses tell someone you think about him or her 24 hours a day.

Beyond the Rose
Most tulips, carnations, violets, zinnias and lilies express love. Lavender stands for devotion. Irises show faithfulness. Of course, an olive branch makes peace. Orange blossoms mean eternal love. And orchids stands for beauty, love and long life.

Avoid These Flowers
A yellow chrysanthemum communicates disappointment. A begonia says beware. A single daffodil stands for misfortune. Oleander and rhododendron convey a need for caution. A snapdragon stands for deception. A hydrangea means heartlessness. A larkspur shows fickleness. And a marigold has perhaps the harshest meaning of all, standing for cruelty, grief and jealousy. Needless to say, as pretty as they may be, these last few flowers probably aren't a fit for February 14th.

Start Shopping
Some of the best online sources for flowers include 1800Florals.com, FlowersUSA.com, FlowerStore.com, FlowersFast.com, DutchGardens.com, Kabloom.com and many more that earn you money back from ConsumerClub.com.