There’s more to Valentine’s Day than roses and chocolate.

Bouquets and floral arrangements are often used to say simply “I love you” or “thank you,” but, as University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein explains, people have used floriography, the language of flowers, to express a variety of sentiments and messages.

If you want a more long-lasting gift, consider a houseplant with heart-shaped leaves. One option is Cupid’s flowering love child, cyclamen.

But if you’re committed to cut flowers, Trinklein shares the recipe for his special “elixir of youth” homemade floral preservative.

Valentine’s Day might be a lot less colorful if it weren’t for pollinators. For that reason and others, Emily Althoff, an MU Extension urban entomologist, says insects deserve love, too.

At candy stores, Valentine’s Day shoppers often line up for chocolate-covered strawberries. But long before the celebration of Valentine’s Day, the strawberry symbolized love and fertility, says MU Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. In an old French tradition, strawberry soup is served to newlywed couples as an aphrodisiac.

But don’t share the sweets with your pets. Chocolates in particular contain a number of compounds toxic to dogs, warns MU Extension veterinary toxicologist Timothy Evans. Fat, sugar and some sugar substitutes in candy may also harm pets.

MU Extension youth and family specialist Kale Monk offers 10 tips to keep the romance in relationships.