Have red roses at Valentine’s Day had their day?

It’s an issue which seems to be dividing the district’s florists.

But a Telegraph & Argus straw poll of the fairer sex has revealed that the traditional symbol of love still plays a major part in winning their hearts. That is not a view shared by the owners of Ivy Florists in Galloway Lane, Pudsey, though who have decided to stop selling red roses, arguing that they are overpriced and do not satisfy the needs of modern women.

Claire Jude, who opened Ivy Florists with Sofia Lanovy in 2007, said: “We are no longer doing red roses. We know we are moving away from the norm, but they are overpriced and we don’t feel comfortable charging our loyal customers so much money.

“It can cost anything from £39 right up to £150 for a bouquet that might just last seven days depending on the quality.

“The other thing is that most women don’t actually like them. The modern woman likes something a bit different.

“It’s so easy for a man to go into a shop and buy a red rose without giving it too much thought, but it’s a bit of an 80s thing. Women today want something unique.”

And Chris Thompson, owner of Thompson’s Florist, of Darley Street, Bradford, said: “At the wholesalers the other day I heard someone saying the exact same thing – they were thinking of not doing roses this year.

“I can understand it really because there’s other flowers out there which are just as posh.”

But other florists believe there is plenty of life left yet in the red rose. Richard Grayson, of TL Flowers and Plants, a wholesaler at St James’s Market, Bradford, said: “We still take plenty of orders and I would say they are still the most popular flower.”

Howard Russell, owner of Elsie Russell Florists, in Shipley, said: “We always sell an awful lot of roses.

“The biggest thing facing florists is that it’s not us that jack the prices up at this time of year. February 14 is Valentine’s Day everywhere, so roses are in demand across the world. The wholesaler I use was apologising last month when he got his price list. The majority of roses at this time of year come from Holland and if they are also selling them to the US and they are prepared to pay a bit more, then we have to pay a bit more as well.”

Claire Creek, owner of The Flower Gallery, in the Kirkgate Centre, Bradford, said: “I would say the other colour roses are the second most popular flower at Valentine’s Day, after red, but roses are by far the most popular.”