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12 Rose Color Meanings You Should Know Before You Buy

Find out what the most popular colors symbolize.

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roses for sale at flower marketpinterest
Tibor Bognar

We love to give and receive flowers, and when it comes to Valentine's Day, nothing is better than a bouquet of fresh roses. The beautiful blooms will convey how much you care, no matter if you're buying a gift for your mother, your friend, your significant other, or another special person in your life. But before you buy, you might want to know what the colors of different types of roses mean. All colors of roses are beautiful, but different colors of roses symbolize different things.

According to the Society of American Florists, more than 250 million roses are produced each year for Valentine's Day. Roses make up 83% of all flowers sold on Valentine's Day. Red roses are by far the most popular, with pink and white taking the second and third spots. Once you pick out the perfect bouquet, find out how to make your roses last.

1

Meaning of Red Roses

bouquet of red roses
Clive Nichols

Red is the most popular color of roses sold at Valentine's Day, making up 60% of sales, according to the Society of American Florists. And for good reason! The striking color symbolizes love, specifically romantic love.

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2

Meaning of Yellow Roses

yellow roses
Kativ

Yellow is a bright and cheerful color, and a bouquet of fresh yellow roses is sure to put a smile on your recipient's face. The color is traditionally meant to symbolize friendship and joy, making a bouquet of yellow roses a perfect gift for your Galentines.

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3

Meaning of White Roses

white rose
Getty Images

White roses are classically beautiful and often seen in wedding bouquets. When displayed alone, the flowers traditionally symbolize purity and loyalty and even young love. Mix them with any other colors for a stunning display.

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4

Meaning of Light Pink Roses

close up shot of lots of rose heads placed close together
Jonathan Knowles

Pale pink roses are delicate and lovely, but give a sweeter impression than darker hues. It's an elegant choice, perfect for a daughter, mother, or sister.

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5

Meaning of Hot Pink Roses

luxurious scarlet rose flower
Maestrovideo

When it comes to roses, not all pinks are created equal! Hot pink roses can symbolize gratitude and can also be a flirtatious choice for a boyfriend or girlfriend.

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6

Meaning of Purple Roses

elegant flowers bouquet toned in the color of 2022 very peri romantic beautiful spray roses floral composition of petal shapes and textures perfect purple background for web or print design, text copy overlay
Yana Iskayeva

Purple roses range from lavender to darker hues. Purple, traditionally a color of royalty, symbolizes love at first sight and sincerity. It's a fresh and unexpected color that is likely to surprise the recipient.

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7

Meaning of Blue Roses

closeup of blue rose
Pelin Matyar Huhn / EyeEM

Compared to other choices, blue roses are rare. They send the message that the recipient is unique and special and are often reserved for true love.

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8

Meaning of Orange Roses

close up of small bright orange coloured roses
Nancybelle Gonzaga Villarroya

A bouquet of orange blooms makes a strong statement. The fun, fiery color conveys a message of happiness and joy. Give them to friends or family—really anyone who could use a mood-lifter!

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9

Meaning of White Roses with Pink Tips

bouquet of long stem roses held up to sky
Judy Davidson

This less-common choice is stunningly beautiful and sure to be treasured by anyone. The red tip brings an extra element of glamour to simple white blooms. The color combination symbolizes unity, so they're a great choice for a romantic gift.

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10

Meaning of Yellow Roses with Red Tips

yellow roses with red tips
Ali Majdfar

As you might expect, multicolored roses have multiple meanings! Pairing yellow for friendship with red for love can mean a new relationship, or even a crush.

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11

Meaning of Peach Roses

orange roses in a full bloom in the gardenadobe rgb color space
mdragan

Peach roses are a sweet choice that can really work for any friend or loved one. They're thought to symbolize gratitude, so pair them with a thankful quote and give them to your sister, teacher, or friend.

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12

Meaning of Burgundy Roses

big red rose on black background with place for text in the dark
Olena Ruban

Dark red roses are a super dramatic choice and can almost look black. They're meant to symbolize passion and devotion, but keep your recipient in mind. For some personalities, cheery bright red roses are a safer bet. Or, break up a burgundy bouquet with some softer colors.

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Katie Bowlby

Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue 

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