Every rose means something a little different. As you’re making your selections for Valentine’s Day, you’ll want to keep each color’s symbolism in mind. Fortunately, we will provide you with the following helpful guide so that you can easily choose the roses that hold the most symbolism for your friends, family and loved ones.

Keep reading and explore the versatile color meanings of the rose!

Single Colors

Red: Red roses are the most traditional Valentine’s Day flower and with good reason. This color represents romance, love, beauty and perfection. It is sometimes said that dark red roses represent humility or unconscious beauty.

Orange: Bright, fiery orange represents life, energy, passion and excitement. Give these roses to someone irresistible. Softer shades, like peach, are used to express sincerity or gratitude, while pastel peach is considered a modest color.
Yellow: The warmth of the yellow rose symbolizes friendship, joy and gladness. These flowers can also be used as a sign of remembrance or affection.

White: White roses come with a variety of meanings, including purity, innocence, grace and humility. Because these flowers have long been popular for weddings, they have also come to represent new beginnings and budding love.

Pink: Pink roses are given to express your admiration of someone’s refinement, elegance or femininity. Darker shades of pink convey a sense of appreciation, while pale pinks are generally used to give a sense of admiration, joy or gentleness.

Lavender: In the language of flowers, lavender roses are used to tell someone that you’re enchanted by them. They also represent desire and love at first sight.

Black：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.

Mixed：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.

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 a 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.