Discover rose color meanings

While every flower has a wonderful story to tell, the rose stands alone in its abundant history and color meaning. So much so that we couldn’t resist giving it a little preferential treatment and dedicating a separate space to its rich symbolism.

Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words, rose have long been a symbol of confidentiality – the Latin expression sub rosa (literally “under the rose”) means something told in secret.

Regardless of color, their unique beauty and subtle fragrance convey a message guaranteed to elicit delight from the recipient and envy from others. If you’re looking for a way to add a little extra sentiment to your silent message of affection, we’ve put together a list of the meanings associated with the different colors of roses.

Roses are red, and pink, and many other colors. We know that giving roses as a gift shows a deep appreciation for the recipient and your feelings towards them. We are providing this traditional rose color guide to offer some assistance in your purchasing decision, but we also believe that giving roses means giving your loved ones (or even yourself) the colors that make them truly happy.

1. Red roses
Red rose meaning	A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love. Red roses convey deep emotions – be it love, longing or desire. Red Roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorrow. The number of red roses has special romantic meanings associated with them. 12 red roses is the most popular of all which conveys “Be mine” and “I love you”.
2. White roses
White rose meaning	It might be best to save these beauties for a more somber moment. White is the color of purity, chastity and innocence. White flowers are generally associated with new beginnings and make an ideal accompaniment to a first-time bride walking down the aisle. White flowers can be used to convey sympathy or humility. They also are indicative of spirituality. Hence, white roses also follow suit.
3. Yellow roses
Yellow rose meaning	Yellow roses are an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring. The yellow rose, like the other roses, does not carry an undertone of romance. It indicates purely platonic emotions.
4. Pink roses
Pink rose meaning	There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Over all, pink roses are used to convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude. Light pink rose blooms are indicative of sweetness and innocence. Deep pink rose blooms convey deep gratitude and appreciation. Pink roses also connote elegance and grace.
5. Lavender roses
Lanverder rose meaning	A Lavender rose like its color conveys enchantment. It also expresses “love at first sight”. Darker shades of lavender roses (close to purple) convey a sense of regal majesty and splendor. These roses are used to express fascination and adoration.
6. Blue roses
Blue rose meaning	A perfectly blue rose is still elusive like the perfectly black rose. Blue roses cannot be achieved naturally so they represent the unattainable or the mysterious. Blue roses therefore embody the desire for the unattainable. They say “I can’t have you but I can’t stop thinking about you”
7. Rainbow roses
Rainbow rose meaning	While the Victorians probably wouldn’t know what to say about these modern creations, maybe take cue from Shakespeare instead: “To paint the lily … is a wasteful and ridiculous excess.”
8. Orange roses
Orange rose meaning	While a yellow rose reminds us of the sun, an orange rose reminds us of a fiery blaze. These fiery blooms signify passion and energy. Orange roses can be used to express intense desire, pride and fervor. They also convey a sense of fascination. These flowers rival only the red roses as messengers of passion in romance.
9. Cream roses
Cream rose meaning	Don’t be fooled — an off-white rose takes on a different definition than its starker cousin. Ivory indicates both charm and thoughtfulness, according to Passion Growers.
10. Purple roses
Purple rose meaning	This unique hue symbolizes pride and enchantment. Even better, they’re tied to royalty, which is perfect for your friend who’s obsessed with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s whirlwind romance.
11. Green roses
Green rose meaning	Green is the color of harmony, of opulence, of fertility. It is also a color indicative of peace and tranquility. Green roses (these are off-white roses with shades of green) can symbolize best wishes for a prosperous new life or wishes for recovery of good health
12. Black roses
Black rose meaning	The black rose suggests the death of old habits and rebirth of the new. It could be the beginning of new things, a journey into new territory, the birth of hope and joy.
13. Mixed roses
Mixed rose meaning	By mixing rose blooms of different colors purposefully, you can create a bouquet of emotions. For example, a bouquet of red and white roses would mean I love you intensely and my intentions are honorable. A random mix of roses would convey mixed feelings or send a message: “I don’t know what my feelings are yet but I sure do like you enough to send you roses.”