The Meaning & Symbolism of Different Rose Colors

Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or just want to brighten someone’s day, roses are the perfect flower to give as a thoughtful gift to a loved one or acquaintance. With their wide variety of colors, each rose holds a different meaning – and we’ll help you make sure you’re choosing the right one for the occasion.

Common Rose Colors & Their Meaning

From classic reds and pinks to yellow and fiery orange, there’s a rose color that can be used to mark any event or milestone. Before choosing a color, you’ll want to give some thought to your relationship to the receiver and the message you want to convey.

Red Roses

Symbolizing love and passion, red roses are often associated with romance. But this doesn’t mean they’re only appropriate for significant others. Red roses also symbolize respect and admiration – making them lovely gifts for close relatives or friends. 

When to buy red roses: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. 

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Nothing says “I love you” like Hearts – a bold and sophisticated rose that will make your loved one swoon. 

Hearts, A symbol of modern romance, this rose enchants with its deep scarlet hue and heart-shaped center. Partially open by design, its lovely layered petals reveal a vivid, ruby-red core—a striking expression of love and devotion captured in a single bloom. 

Pink Roses

With their different shades and tones, pink roses can be suited to a range of styles and personalities. Pale and light pink roses symbolize gentleness and admiration, while deep pink roses convey a sense of gratitude and appreciation. 

When to buy pink roses: Mother’s Day, birthdays, graduations & other milestones, and weddings.

April & Ashley’s recommendation: With a striking contrast of light and medium-pink petals, the London Eye & Dark X-Pression Bundle is sure to brighten anyone’s day. 

Experience the perfect blend of timeless elegance and bold expression with this bundle. This striking arrangement features 24 stems of two breathtaking rose varieties—London Eye and Dark X-pression—each chosen for their unique beauty and captivating contrast.

White and Ivory Roses

White and ivory roses symbolize purity, innocence, and new beginnings – making them the perfect choice for weddings and religious ceremonies. Also signifying remembrance, white roses can also be used for more solemn occasions – such as funerals and memorial services. 

When to buy white or ivory roses: Weddings, baptisms, funerals, baby showers, and graduations. 

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Mondial’s full blooms and creamy white petals make the perfect gift for any milestone. 

Featuring creamy white petals subtly edged in green, these luminous blooms exude quite sophistication. As it blooms, the delicate buds elegantly open to reveal a beloved, classic rose perfectly poised for any arrangement.

Yellow Roses

Signifying joy, friendship, optimism, and warmth, you can’t go wrong with yellow roses. Whatever your relationship to the receiver may be, you’re sure to put a smile on their face. 

When to buy yellow roses: Birthdays, graduations, promotions, housewarmings, and other achievements or milestones.

April & Ashley’s recommendation: With its pale yellow glow, Buttercup is the perfect rose to show a beloved friend how much you care. 

The Buttercup rose transforms the traditional garden bloom into a hallmark of understated luxury. With pure white petals and a soft yellow hue at its heart, this blossom never fully opens for demure and delicate charm.

Orange and Peach Roses

We’d consider orange roses and peach roses the sisters to yellow – as they are also great gifts for achievements and milestones. They often represent pride, enthusiasm, and energy.

When to buy orange/peach roses: Birthdays, promotions or new jobs, retirements, graduations, and other accomplishments.

April & Ashley’s recommendation: With its fiery orange petals, Dante sets the tone for any celebration.

Radiating fiery orange brilliance, the Dante rose captures the essence of vibrance and vitality. Its vivid hue and exquisite blossom instantly transform any space into a striking celebration of color

Unique Rose Colors & Their Meaning

We’ve covered the most popular rose colors, but you may be surprised to learn about the more unique ones – such as purple and black, and even blue and green! Just as the more common ones do, these rose colors have different meanings and make great gifts for friends and acquaintances with more eclectic taste. 

Lavender and Purple Roses

Lavender and purple roses evoke a sense of mystery and enchantment. They’re also associated with royalty. These roses are a perfect gift to show someone respect, or for the fantasy enthusiasts in your life. 

When to buy lavender/purple roses: Birthdays, corporate events, graduations, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. 

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Shocking Blue puts a twist on the traditional rose with its dreamy lavender blooms. 

A reinvention of the traditional rose, Shocking Blue enchants with open, ethereal lavender petals. This refined pastel hue evokes romance and elegance, offering a modern interpretation of a beloved classic.

Green Roses

Green roses often convey good fortune, rebirth and renewal, and fertility. They bring with them a sense of joy and hope for the future to come – making them a unique and ideal choice for a variety of occasions. 

When to buy green roses: Weddings, new pregnancies, graduations, get-well-soon gifts, and anniversaries. 

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Matcha unfurls from a light pink to a light green petal.

Black Roses

As with other rare colors, black roses symbolize mystery, rebirth, and dramatic transformations. But they also signify farewells and mourning – making them an obvious choice for more solemn occasions. 

When to buy black roses: Graduations, career transitions, funerals and memorial services, and retirements. 

Choose the Rose Color for Your Message

With the variety of rose colors available to choose from, thoughtful gifting is a breeze for any occasion. Visit April & Ashley to find the perfect rose bouquet that matches your loved one’s personal style and sends a meaningful message.