Rose Color Meanings

Every Rose Has Its Own Color Meaning

When you think “romantic flowers,” you think roses. From petals strewn across a honeymoon suite or the hundreds of ads you see for Valentine’s Day, everyone else thinks the same way. These images typically use the familiar red roses standby. While we love a beautiful red rose, there are so many more colors out there — a whole rainbow and more! Roses, especially red ones, evoke romance, but a rose by any other color will have an entirely different meaning. These other rose color meanings can still be perfect for your wedding day.

Whether you’re the type of Moxie bride who puts thought into every detail or you’re curious about rose colors and their meaning, Flower Moxie has got you covered! Read on to take the guess-work out of choosing rose colors for your wedding.

 

Rose Colors and Their Meanings

So there are a lot of rose colors out there — more than the red you probably first think of when you picture a rose. In this floral rainbow, color meanings of roses range from innocence to death. If you’re the type of Moxie bride to take color symbolism seriously, you’re eager to know these meanings. Even if you couldn’t care less about what the rose colors in your bouquet mean, you never know if a rose-color-meaning expert is on your guest list.

Natural Rose Colors

Let’s take it nice and slow by starting with natural rose colors. These are colors you would find in the wild, not that you’d be searching there when you can browse roses online. Natural colors include shades of red, white and a couple of others.

 

Here are their common meanings:

Red roses: If you figured that red roses mean love and romance, you’d be right! A classic and identifiable symbol, red roses can also evoke affection, passion and true love. White roses: As white in general does, these roses represent purity and innocence. White roses appear at weddings for that reason and sometimes to celebrate new beginnings. Ivory roses: Cream, ivory, off-white — whatever you prefer to call them, they have a different meaning than white roses. Ivory roses mean charm and thoughtfulness. Yellow roses: A yellow rose carries no romantic meaning. Take that bunch of yellow roses you were planning on gifting to your love and send them to your BFF instead. Yellow roses represent friendship and caring, and their cheery color also suggests optimism.

Pink roses: Pink roses are more gentle in both appearance and symbolism than their bright-red counterparts. A pink rose’s meaning is that of admiration, grace and joy.

 

These roses come in different hues, too. While the general meaning still applies to these deeper or lighter shades, these rose colors have their own meaning sometimes. Light pink is sympathetic while dark pink shows appreciation. Different shades of red represent shades of romance. Bright red signifies standard romance, but burgundy represents deep passion and unconscious beauty.

We aren’t limited to the colors Mother Nature provides us, though. Through the power of science, we can unlock colors of the rainbow and unleash them into bouquets of roses. But what do these human-made colored roses mean?

Man-Made Rose Colors:

Blue roses: While blue is a natural color for other flowers, it’s an intriguing color for a rose, no? Well, that’s exactly the meaning of a blue rose! They also evoke a sense of mystery.

Black roses: It’s not surprising to hear that black roses represent dark emotions. Death, anarchy, sadness and tragic romance all fall under a black rose’s meaning. Don’t be too discouraged by the dark side. Some consider black roses to represent a one-of-a-kind love since these flowers are unique.

Green roses: Green isn’t just for leaves anymore. One of the most interesting hues on the artificial-colors list, green means growth and energy. Use green roses to represent rejuvenation and life.

Purple and lavender roses: Purple colors have a tie to royalty, and because of that, they evoke enchantment and majesty. Lavender roses also represent love at first sight — whether or not you believe in it, these are still beautiful flowers! Peach roses: In between pink and 50, these roses are peachy keen for representing sincerity and gratitude. Because of their meaning, a peach-colored rose makes the perfect thank-you. Orange roses: If you remember first-grade art class, it makes sense that red and yellow rose meanings combine to make that of orange roses. More romantic than yellow and less passionate than red, orange roses are great for a budding — not sorry! — romance.

Even though they’re human-made, people still find significance in these rose colors. Are rose color meanings vital to know for your wedding day? Some will say yes. Why use a symbol of death to decorate for your big day? But we say these colors are up to interpretation.

We want you to be happy with your color selection, no matter what that involves. If anyone makes a fuss, spin the symbolism to work for you. Black roses, after all, can represent a unique romance, and your love is one-of-a-kind.

Roses also come in combinations of the above colors. So if you’re concerned about the symbolism but want to incorporate colors with meanings less-than-lovey, go with a hybrid. Offset the friendliness of yellow with blush pinks or reds. Breathe love into the darkness with burgundy and black flowers. Didn’t even know that was a possibility? Well then, let’s talk about the origins of these colors and combos.

Where Do Different Rose Colors Come From?

You know about the rainbow of options out there and rose color symbolism, but you may be curious how these colors even come about. If you can’t find a black rose while searching for rose bushes in the woods — again, no need to do that — then how are they made? Are they delivered via unicorn? Does a witch touch each petal with her magical fingers, rendering them a completely new shade? Not even close. 

Florists can create a rainbow of rose blooms through:

1. Cross-breeding: Also called cross-pollination, this process involves one flower pollinating another. Natural sources, like wind, rain and pollinating insects, can help roses cross-breed. Artificial processes can also create hybrid rose flowers with hybrid meanings. Roses produced through cross-breeding often have traits of both their parents — “oh, she has her mother’s stem!” — and are multi-colored as a result. This process involves natural colors. So the reds, pinks, whites and yellows we mentioned before can create an assortment of combinations.
2. Food coloring and absorption dyes: Typically, plant-based dyes create human-made hues. Roses more easily absorb these natural dyes through their stems, though food coloring and other pigments can work. Fresh blooms soak in warm water mixed with dye and eventually take in the pigment, which transfers to the petals. Anyone dyeing roses uses white or other naturally light-colored flowers. Lighter colors allow for the dye to appear in the petals more vibrantly.
3. Spray and dip dyes: Other dyes get right to the source and dye the petals directly rather than waiting for roses to absorb the color. Spray and dip dyes color the petals and can sometimes help flowers retain moisture. Spray dyes especially can help rose blooms last longer.

A lot of common rose colors you’ve probably seen on your Pinterest prowl aren’t found in nature and are a result of these processes. Orange, purple and blue roses, among other colors, come from dyes, though that doesn’t make them any less beautiful!

You may also come across bi- or multi-color roses in your flower hunt. Dip-dyes and absorption dyes soaked in through the stem can create these rainbow effects, often combining natural colors with artificial shades. There are multi-color rose options that feature only natural colors, too. These combinations create unique blooms and multi-colored roses can take on new color meaning based on their components. Because of their significance — and beauty, of course — particular roses, either single or multi-colored, are the most popular choices for weddings.

Most Common Rose Colors for Weddings

Knowing these meanings has probably sparked some ideas for your wedding, right? If you feel overwhelmed by the options — there certainly are a lot! — here are the most popular colors of roses for brides to use in their weddings:

• Red roses
• White roses
• Ivory and cream roses
• Pink roses
• Peach and orange roses
• Purple and lavender roses

Most of these colors are natural, meaning that they’ll be a bit easier to find. They also represent love, celebrations and happiness, so it’s no wonder brides use them on their wedding days. The norm may be a starting point for you in your flower search, but remember that your wedding is your day! Choose rose colors that will accent your event and add a personal touch. Whether it be through the symbolism of rose colors or your interpretation, pick what makes you happy.

Don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to one color, either! Take a look at our selection of bulk roses to see the variety of colors we offer the DIY bride! You’ll see that many shades complement each other. Peaches and pinks will add contrast to white flowers, while cream roses will bring subtlety to a red arrangement. Remember also that these colors contain multitudes of shades. You will find everything from classic red and rich burgundy to deep pink and pastel tones.

Once you’ve got an idea of the colors you’d like to use, or if you’d rather know where you’re going to put these roses first, you should consider how to incorporate roses into your wedding.

Best Uses for Roses in Weddings

Now that you know the meaning of roses and their colors, and maybe what colors you’d like to use, you’ll want to use them at your wedding! But there is more than one way to include roses in your special day. Consider all of these different uses:

1. Bouquet: Carry your exquisite rose selection down the aisle to complement you on your big day. Then everyone can see how great you are at making flower selections.
2. Flower crowns or hair decorations: If you’re going with a flower crown, well duh, you need flowers for that! Even if you’re not going with a crown, you may be able to incorporate flowers into your hairstyle. A Moxie bride’s party can also wear flowers or crowns, and what’s a flower girl without some flowers in her hair?
3. The wedding party: This is an especially great choice when using roses in your own bouquet. Bridesmaids can carry roses and groomsmen can wear boutonnieres on their tuxes and suits. Involve the parents of the bride and groom, as well, with corsages and boutonnieres.
4. Centerpieces: Centerpieces allow the most creativity for our DIY brides. Incorporate different flowers, candles, vases and other decorative items that match the theme or inspiration for your wedding. Bring life and color to every table with a centerpiece of roses.
5. Cluster centerpieces: Also called organic or loose centerpieces, these sprawling and scattered arrangements often top a long table. Organic centerpieces, like roses, are very versatile. Achieve a classic, contemporary or rustic vibe with clusters of roses and other decorations.
6. Around the cake: While pretty much every table in your venue can feature a centerpiece, the cake should be the showstopper of its table. That shouldn’t stop you from embellishing the table around the cake with beautiful roses and other floral pieces. This decor can draw even more attention to your beautiful cake.
7. Backdrop wall: Spruce up a venue with an enchanting backdrop wall adorned with roses. Stand before your wall as you say “I do” or create the perfect background for photos. Use a gradient of roses or mix in other greenery for this eye-catching feature.
8. Chair and aisle bouquet: Use these lovely DIYs to decorate chairs for everyone, the wedding party or just the newlyweds. Place them on chairs closest to the aisle to draw in even more floral beauty.
9. The aisle: Scatter beautiful rose petals that tie your floral decor together down the aisle. Have your flower girl toss the petals or ask someone else to do it before the ceremony. Either way, the aisle is one of the most classic places to decorate with flower petals.
10. The arch: Standing before a gorgeous, rose-decorated arch can elevate your ceremony. Make your wedding photos pop with a breathtaking arrangement of roses in the background!

Don’t limit yourself to these 10 decorating ideas, though. Put roses wherever your heart desires! Adorn every entryway, give guests petals to throw as natural confetti or adorn place cards and table numbers with floral decor. Let your creativity run wild and customize your venue with gorgeous roses.

 

Ready to Use Roses in Your DIY Wedding

 

Elegant, classic and still contemporary — you can’t go wrong with roses. From color meanings of roses to all the different ways you can use these flowers in your ceremony or reception, there’s a lot to consider for your big day. No need to feel overwhelmed by options or possibilities. We at Flower Moxie are DIY experts, and we want to help!

Ready to shower your wedding venue in rose petals? Need help with a flower recipe tutorial? Or do you need to shout into the void about the thorns — again, not sorry! — of wedding planning? Whatever you need, we’re here to listen! Contact us today!