The Complete Rose Color Meanings Guide

Coveted through the ages for its simple beauty and intoxicating fragrance, there’s no better way to send a heartfelt message than with the classic rose. Roses make great tokens of affection however depending on their color can have different meanings. Whether you are selecting a rose for a friend, family member or special someone, picking the perfect rose color can be a great way to send a message using no words at all. To aid in your decision and help you make a “wow” impression we’ve rounded up all the different rose color meanings as well as common rose traditions to compliment them.

What Do Different Rose Colors Symbolize?

When deciding on a rose color, ask yourself what message you are trying to relay. Whether your message is one of love, friendship or remembrance our rose color meanings guide is here to help. Keep reading and explore the versatile color meanings of the rose or jump to a specific color you love!

1. White Roses

To begin with our rose color meanings guide, let’s travel from lightest rose colors to darkest. White roses are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings, but their quiet beauty has also made them a gesture of remembrance. Suited to reverent occasions, the white rose is a fitting way to honor a friend or loved one in recognition of a new beginning or a farewell. Their pure color conveys respect, pays homage to new starts, and expresses hope for the future. When the occasion calls for reverence a bouquet of white roses is a perfect way to say, “I’m thinking of you.”

White Rose Meaning: Purity, Chastity and Innocence

2. Ivory Roses

Ivory while similar, is an off-white color that appears a shade darker. Commonly thought of as a cream or eggshell color, ivory roses are often used to make an elegant presentation and can provide a calming vibe and sense of luxury. The ivory color also represents charm and can be a great gift for someone with exquisite taste and style. This color meaning would be a great selection for letting someone know you care, without romantic intentions.

Ivory Rose Meaning: Charm, Luxury and Elegance

3. Yellow Roses

While the yellow rose once symbolized jealousy and greed, it now represents friendship and care. Like the warm sunflower, gifting a yellow rose to a friend conveys warmth and affection and can be a great way to show your delight. Yellow roses also symbolize remembrance and a warm memory or a token of appreciation to another.

Yellow Rose Meaning: Friendship, Care and Remembrance 

4. Peach Roses

Peach roses are known for showing thanks and expressing gratitude. They are commonly given to celebrate a business deal or arrangement and can be a sign of loyalty. Peach roses are a “sweet” surprise due to their warm color and are a great gift for showing adoration to a young daughter or friend.

Peach Rose Meaning: Modesty, Genuineness and Sympathy

5. Orange Roses

With their blazing energy, orange roses are the wild child of the rose family.  Orange roses represent fascination and pride. Whatever feelings you might be bubbling over with—enthusiasm, passion, gratitude—orange roses will get the message across with both oomph and elegance.

Orange Rose Meaning: Passion, Desire and Fierce Love 

6. Pink Roses

A classic symbol of grace and elegance, the pink rose is often given as a token of admiration and appreciation. They are the gentlest of roses and relay that message through their grace. Whether they’re for your best friend, fiancée or ever-dependable co-worker, a pink rose bouquet will create a bright spot in a special someone’s day.

Pink Rose Meaning: Sweetness, Admiration and Joy

7. Red Roses

Long associated with beauty and perfection, red roses are a time-honored way to say “I love you.” Red roses convey passion and a strong romantic love for another person. Whether it’s for a birthday, Valentine’s Day or just to express appreciation on any day, there’s no better way than a bouquet of red roses to share your feelings.

Red Rose Meaning: Ultimate Love, Passion and Longing 

8. Lavender Roses

Lavender roses are often seen in spring and represent love at first sight. These roses are used to express fascination and adoration. Their beauty is known to convey enchantment and their meaning can differ by shade. Darker shades of lavender roses convey a sense of regal, majesty and splendor.

Lavender Rose Meaning: Majesty, Fascination and Splendor 

9. Green Roses

Green roses represent harmony, opulence and fertility. Like the lavender rose these colors are seen in spring and can represent rebirth and tranquility. As a gift, green roses symbolize best wishes for a prosperous new life or wishes for the recovery of good health.

Green Rose Meaning: Harmony, Peace and Health

10. Blue Roses

Blue roses, like the black rose, represent mystery and illusion from their mesmerizing hue. In terms of love, blue roses embody ultimate desire and lust. Given as a gift they also represent unattainable love but unfathomable favor.

Blue Rose Meaning : Unattainable Love, Desire and Mystery

11. Black Roses

Black roses, commonly used during Halloween, represent death and the ending of a feeling, idea, or relationship. Like blue roses, black roses are not created naturally so they represent mystery and elusiveness. Spooky! If you are to receive or give black roses you are conveying the end of your relations with another or signifying death.

Black Rose Meaning: Death, Elusiveness and Farewell

12. Multicolored Roses

Multicolored roses, also known as “rainbow roses,” are unique gifts that represent happiness and joy. The brightness and range of colors in multicolored roses convey fun and make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or a new baby. Like mixed rose color bouquets, multicolored roses can be a great way to share multiple emotions and messages into one gift.

13. Mixed Rose Color Meanings

Mixing different rose colors into a bouquet is a personalized way to combine many messages into one display. Mixing pink and green roses can symbolize gentleness and harmony which would be a great gift to show love and affection to a family member or kind friend. Mixing red and ivory roses could mean your love is intense and tasteful. Sending a message through rose color meanings is an extraordinary way to share your true feelings.

For a complete breakdown of rose color meanings our floral expert Kate Law explains them in this video:

Watch on Youtube - Rose Color Meanings - Choose the Right Color for Your Roses Delivery

Rose Traditions and Meanings

Once you’ve decided on a color to convey the message you wish to send, consider a few other elements that play a part in your rose bouquet or flower selection. A few options include giving a single rose or dozen roses, a long-stemmed rose or a petite rose! Peruse common rose traditions and their meanings below to select a type of gift that will compliment your message!

One Dozen Roses

A dozen roses traditionally send a message of love and gratitude. As the significance of a dozen roses has become more prevalent, it has become the standard for rose arrangements for all occasions. When giving a dozen roses you are conveying the message “Be mine” or “I love you.”

Two Dozen Roses

With double the number of roses than a traditional dozen, a bouquet of two dozen roses carries double the meaning! Two dozen roses as a romantic gift say “I belong to you.” For other occasions, two dozen roses add to the extravagance of the gift.

Long-stemmed Roses

Long-stemmed roses carry deep meaning and are often the most desired and appreciated type of rose. A bouquet of long-stemmed roses signifies, “I will remember you always.” A single long-stemmed rose imparts a message of simplicity, such as “I love you deeply.”

Petite Roses

The petite roses are known for their miniature blooms, but their smaller size does not lessen their significance or their impact. Petite roses are also known as “sweetheart” roses. As their name implies, these roses are a symbol of affection perfect for a sweetheart. Petite roses are also more economical and can be repotted and pruned for longevity.

Now that you are familiar with rose color meanings and common rose traditions you can find a complementary pair of your choosing. Whether you are creating a bouquet for a friend or surprising a special someone do so with rose color meanings sure to get the message across. For more inspiration, explore all of our rose bouquets and find something special for the person you wish to impress.