When it comes to buying flowers this Valentine’s Day, the golden rule is not to leave it until 7pm on 14th February, only to find that the local petrol station only has a sorry looking bunch of wilting Carnations left... this won’t score you any brownie points with the lady in your life.

Flowers have long been a Valentine’s favourite, making a thoughtful gift to sweep that someone special off their feet.

Top of every man’s wish list on the run up to Valentine’s Day is hassle-free shopping, so buying online is the perfect way to avoid the inevitable queue at the high street florist and thoughtfully surprise her when an unexpected bouquet is delivered to her home or office.

Roses are a Valentine’s classic, and generally a winner in the romance stakes with red representing love, pink for admiration, yellow for joy, white for devotion and orange for desire. Orchids make a great long-lasting Valentine’s alternative symbolising refined beauty, and Tulips were given as an expression of romance in Victorian times, with red expressing passion and white for purity.

Here are the top 5 tips when buying romantic blooms online this Valentine’s Day:

Get organised and check order deadlines – you many need to order 3 or 4 days before the day for guaranteed delivery.

Look for a no quibble quality guarantee and a U.K based customer service centre, just in case any issues arise.

Check to see if the company you are buying from de-thorns their Roses, as multiple cuts are not the best way to romance someone special.

Look out for free courier delivery – many florists will sneakily add a charge at the checkout, boosting the cost of your gift.

Keep an eye out for extra treats to add to your bouquet. Add-on gifts including teddy bears, luxury Belgian chocolates and Valentine’s cards are available from some florists and will all make the gift extra special.