Why do people send roses on Valentine's Day?

Roses are the Valentine's Day flower of choice for a variety of reasons, from the perceived symbolism of the flower to the widespread availability and the personal preference of the recipient. Hundreds of millions of roses are grown for Valentine's Day each year, meaning there is a large supply of the flowers available.

Amongst different varieties of roses, the most popular color is red, followed by mixed color bouquets and purple or lavender hues. According to the floral retailer ProFlowers, red roses represent a feeling of passionate love, while purple can signify enduring love. The floral industry has developed other symbolic meanings to different colors and quantities of roses.