Go green and vertical with the slender foliage of Dietes bicolor, an iris relative. Or perhaps your special someone loves orchids. For a splash of valentine red, use gerbera daisies or geraniums.

The name dietes refers to the close association the plant has with two of its relatives. The foliage is reminiscent of an iris - long, stiff leaves that grow in fans about 3ft tall.

There are two dietes species that carry the common name butterfly iris. The rhizomatous plants in this genus, too, are known as fortnight lilies because their bloom crops come in two-week periods.