Roses: 21 Hues and What They Symbolize

All of the Rose Color Meanings You Need to Know, Including Rainbow Roses and Black Bouquets

Because you don't want to give your S.O. friendship roses this Valentine's Day.

A rose by any other name may smell as sweet — but a rose of any other color may mean something quite different. In fact, the most popular flower in America has many different meanings, depending on the color of its bloom. That's why we've rounded up all of the common hues that you can find in a rose, and what each color symbolizes.

Floriography, also known as the language of flowers, was all the rage in the Victorian era. Gifting someone flowers was never just a gift — each flower had a secret meaning that could be used to convey to your sweetheart how you really felt.

Rose Symbolism and Colors
A rose’s symbolism varies by the color of the rose and how many roses are given.

Red roses symbolize love, romance and desire are the perfect Valentine’s Day rose. When red roses are used for a bridal bouquet, they represent bliss in the marriage as well as true respect and appreciation toward one another. A deep red rose can mean that you are ready for commitment, and have a deep passion for that person. Ultimately, if you want to tell someone you love them, a red rose is the way to go.
Pink roses symbolize femininity, elegance, gratitude, and joy. It can also have additional meanings depending on its shade. A deep or hot pink rose can convey gratitude, appreciation, recognition and is a great way to say “thank you,” while a light or pale pink rose conveys grace, gentleness, joy, and happiness.
Orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and passion. This bold and fiery bloom often stands for desire, fascination, enthusiasm, and energy. The orange rose can say “I am so proud of you” with its meaning of admiration and excitement. Feeling unenergized lately? Place a bouquet of these bold beauties in your house for a burst of energy! Coral and salmon colored roses will often convey the same message as orange roses.
Peach roses convey a meaning of modesty, genuineness, sincerity, and gratitude. It can be great for saying “thank you” and would be an appropriate gift when closing a business deal, for example. The peach rose can also be a great way to show sympathy to a loved one or a close friend.
Salmon roses are pinker than orange and darker than peach, salmon blooms suggest "excitement and enthusiasm."That makes them perfect for budding relationships.
Yellow roses symbolize friendship. During Victorian times, the yellow rose had a much different meaning than it does today. While it used to symbolize jealousy, now the symbol of a yellow rose represents friendship, joy, and caring. These beautiful sun-colored roses can also convey warmth, delight, gladness, and affection, as well as say good luck, welcome back, and remember me. The yellow rose is the perfect rose for a close friend or someone who needs a little cheering up since these blooms are sure to brighten anyone’s day.
Yellow roses with red tips. When yellow roses have red tips, however, they take on an entirely different meaning. These multi-color roses mean "falling in love," so they're perfect for a new relationship — especially if you two were friends first.
Coral roses; even lighter and brighter in color than its close relative salmon, this sunny shade of coral represents desire. These roses are perfect for the new person in your life that you're excited to get to know better.
Lavender roses are unique yet stunning roses that can make quite a statement. Their symbolism is often tied to enchantment, wonder, splendor, and mystery as well as love at first sight or enchantment at first sight. So, if you have a secret crush or if someone has caught your attention and grabbed your heart, this may be the perfect rose to send them pale purple roses.
Purple roses in a darker hue, like a deep plum or mauve, is often associated with royalty. So if you're partner just binged the last season of The Crown in one weekend, this purple bouquet is for them.
Burgundy roses also known as wine red roses may not be as traditional as the classic red rose, this merlot shade is winter-appropriate and represents "unconscious beauty."
Blue roses represent mystery, the impossible, or the unattainable. Give a blue rose to someone and you are saying “you are extraordinarily wonderful and unique.” Blue roses are perfect for the woman who marches to the beat of her own drum.
Mint roses are illusive and super hard to find. Did you know that these green roses might just be the oldest, most ancient strain of roses of them all? In roses, this minty green color means "cheerfulness and new beginnings." So the couple in your life who just became parents? Gift them a bouquet of mint roses.
Green roses symbolize the color of life, abundant growth, and constant renewal of life and energy. The green rose signifies the constant rejuvenation of spirit and fertility. It can symbolize richness, abundance, and bounty. Green roses are a sign of plenty and copiousness. Green is also a very pleasing color and is often said it can impart a sense of balance, stability, and peace to the human mind. When you want to surprise or please someone, give them a green rose.
White roses symbolize purity, innocence, and youthfulness. White roses are sometimes referred to as bridal roses because of their association with young love and eternal loyalty. White roses can also symbolize a new beginning and everlasting love.
Ivory roses, although similar to white roses, have a totally different meaning. They are said to represent charm, thoughtfulness, and gracefulness. Ivory colored roses also represent richness and perfection. Ivory roses would be great for letting someone know you care, without romantic intentions.
Black roses are a mysterious bloom that can convey many meanings. The color black has often been synonymous with death and mourning and is usually used at funerals. But black roses do have a more positive meaning as well. They can stand for the beginning of new things and major change. Black roses can inspire confidence by signaling the birth of a new era and can bring hope and courage.
Rainbow roses. With their vibrant, multi-colored petals, rainbow roses mean happiness and joy. Rainbow roses are also known as tie dye roses, happy roses or kaleidoscope roses; these blooms may look like they were plucked out of a story book but trust us when we say they’re 100% real. These unique blooms boast vibrant and brightly colored petals, making them the life of the party or center of attention anywhere you put them.
Red and white roses: mixing red and white flowers together gives your bouquet a lovely new meaning. The combination of red and white roses symbolizes unity, which makes it a popular choice for weddings and celebrations of partnership.
Red and yellow roses convey happiness and cheerfulness. A yellow rose with a vibrant red tip is a beautiful flower to give when you're looking for something one of a kind. The yellow represents the vibrancy of your love and the red represents passion.
Mixed roses: Can’t decide on a single rose color? There's no one way to say "I love you!" By mixing and matching the shades in your bouquet, you are combining the meaning that comes with each rose, creating an arrangement as unique as your love.