The Meanings of Rose Colours

Did you know each rose colour has its own unique meaning?

The language of flowers has long been used to give different blooms their own symbolic meaning, but it goes further than this! Different coloured flowers of the same type can express different emotions and ideas as well.

Roses are one of our most popular flowers, so we thought it would be helpful to tell you all about the different colours and their meanings. If you want to express a specific sentiment or message with a bunch of roses, look no further than this guide.

Red Roses Meaning

The meaning of red roses goes without saying, really. They’re an iconic symbol of love, romance, and passion, making them incredibly popular for romantic occasions like anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. This meaning is very well established – it’s believed red roses were associated with love as far back as Roman times. The Victorians also agreed with the meaning – sending someone a red rose was an unambiguous declaration of love.

The number of red roses you send can also alter the meaning slightly. For example, a single red rose symbolises “love at first sight”, whilst the classic gift of a dozen red roses says “be mine” (perfect for budding romances at Valentine’s Day!)

White Roses Meaning

White roses have a number of symbolic meanings, including purity, innocence, and eternity. They’re often seen in wedding bouquets, where they signify new beginnings and young love.

The quiet beauty of white roses also makes them fitting as sympathy gifts. In this context, they can express reverence, spirituality, and peace.

Pink Roses Meaning

Pink roses are very versatile in their meanings and can be sent for lots of different occasions. Their meanings include grace, elegance, admiration, and appreciation. They’re lovely as birthday gifts to friends and family, and are very popular at Mother’s Day too.

The shade of pink can also alter the meaning. Darker pink roses typically symbolise appreciation and gratitude, making them a lovely way to say thank you, whilst light pink roses are associated with happiness, femininity, sweetness, and grace.

Yellow Roses Meaning

You can’t get more positive than yellow roses, which represent joy, happiness, and friendship. These cheerful flowers are the perfect way to share some joy, so send them to say congratulations or happy birthday. They’ll also do the trick if someone needs a bit of a pick-me-up.

Peach Roses Meaning

Peach roses represent sincerity and gratitude. These sweet flowers are said to convey very genuine emotion, so they’re the perfect way to say thank you, or show someone just how much you appreciate them.

Orange Roses Meaning

Orange roses show desire, liveliness, energy, and enthusiasm. Fierce and fiery, orange roses are perfect for exciting occasions, so they’re fantastic for congratulating someone on a big achievement.

Blue Roses Meaning

Blue roses are a bit of an enigma – they don’t exist naturally, and even attempts to genetically engineer them have failed. Because of this, they represent mystery and achieving the impossible. Luckily, they’re not completely unattainable – for anyone who loves a bit of mystery, dyed blue roses will do the trick.

Purple Roses Meaning

If you want a bit of magic into your life, you can’t beat lavender roses. They’re one of the rarest natural rose colours, and symbolise enchantment and love at first sight. If you’re being swept up in a fairy tale romance, a bouquet of purple roses will show just how you feel.

Black Roses Meaning

A popular gothic symbol in books and films, it’s no surprise that black roses have a meaning darker than most. Traditionally, black roses symbolise concepts like death, mourning, despair, and hatred. If that’s just a bit too moody for you, don’t worry – they’re also seen as a symbol of rebirth, change, and new beginnings.

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