Rose Colors and Their Meanings

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," William Shakespeare famously penned in Romeo and Juliet. But a rose of any color contains a deeper message than just a beautiful flower with a prized scent. Rose bouquets can express their sender’s feelings and intentions simply by their color. Next time you send a bouquet to someone you love, this guide can help you add another dimension of beauty and symbolism to your gift.   

Thinking beyond red

While red roses are widely known as a symbol of romantic love and Valentine’s Day, don’t assume all women prefer a bouquet solely made up of red roses. In fact, studies as well as florists typically claim that over half of women prefer pastel or softer-colored roses to the classic deep red. If you truly want to impress your recipient with a unique arrangement, you can go with a mixed bouquet of any of the colors below--or, make a bold statement by just choosing a bouquet of a single color.

• Pink: Pink roses have a classical, sweet look and are associated with grace, elegance, gratitude, and happiness.
• Lavender: Lavender roses are said to convey “enchantment.” Lavender makes a perfect choice to express falling in love with someone at first sight, and a bold, unique statement of devotion.   
• White: White roses were traditionally the bridal rose, and were associated with true love before the red rose became the more popular symbol of romantic love. Today, white roses are still used to convey feelings of innocence, purity, and reverence.
• Yellow: Most people know the yellow rose as a symbol of friendship and platonic love. The color yellow has long been associated with happiness and joy, which also makes yellow roses a popular choice to send someone in need of cheering up or getting well.
• Orange: The vibrant color orange symbolizes energy. In roses, this energy often expresses both desire and enthusiasm for the relationship or recipient.
• Peach: Peach roses have gained in popularity due to their beauty, charm, and elegance. Luckily, their versatility in meaning also makes them a practical choice for expressing thanks, appreciation, sincerity, and friendliness. They are also sometimes said to symbolize modesty.  
• Red: Red roses are, of course, a timeless and classic way to say “I love you,” as well as express deep romance and beauty. A solid bouquet of red roses has long been a popular choice for expressing love, but adding a few red roses to a multi-colored rose bouquet will also send the same message.

Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden has been serving the Rochester, Minnesota  area since 1991. We offer a selection of colorful flowers, including rose bouquets, to suit every occasion. Please visit our website to see our collections, or call us at (507) 288-7800.