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Roses and Their Meanings
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"A gathering of roses
a gift of love for you.
may all your days be filled with joy
and all your dreams come true."
~I Love You, Gently, Like A Rose~
 
Single Color Meanings
  • Red roses of any hue say "I love you"
  • Deep red roses imply unconscious beauty. 
  • White roses signify spiritual love and purity
  • Bridal white means happy love. 
  • Yellow roses today signify joy and gladness; historically, they meant a decrease of love and infidelity. 
  • Coral roses imply desire
  • Orange say "I am fascinated and enthusiastic." 
  • Lavender roses mean love at first sight 
  • Light pink roses imply grace, gentility and admiration
  • Dark pink roses say"thank you." 

  • In general, pale-colored roses signify friendship.

Variety of roses
  • Rose (Austrian) You are all that is lovely  
  • Rose (bridal) Happy love  
  • Rose (burgundy) Unconscious beauty  
  • Rose (cabbage) Ambassador of love  
  • Rose (Carolina) Love is dangerous  
  • Rose (China) Beauty always new  
  • Rose (damask) Beauty ever new; Young and brilliant  
  • Rose (deep red) Bashful shame  
  • Rose (deep-red) Admiration; Bashful; Embarrassment  
  • Rose (full-blown) Engagement  
  • Rose (guilder) Age; Winter  
  • Rose (half-blown) Timid love  
  • Rose (jacqueminot) I am true  
  • Rose (Japan) Beauty is your only attraction; Illusion  
  • Rose (marechal niel) Yours; Heart and soul  
  • Rose (montiflora) Grace  
  • Rose (moss) Superior; Confessions of love  
  • Rose (musk) Capricious beauty  
  • Rose (red) Unity; Romantic love  
  • Rose (rock) Popular favor  
  • Rose (thorn-less) Love at first sight; Ingratitude  
  • Rose (white) I am worthy of your love; Silence; Innocent love  
  • Rose (white, withered) I am in despair  
  • Rose (wild) Charming simplicity  
  • Rose (yellow) Decrease of Love; Jealousy; Try to Care; Let us forget; Love is waning; Friendship  
  • Rose (York and Lancaster) Conflict  
  • Rosebud Beauty; Youth; A heart innocent of Love  
  • Rosebud (red) Inclined to love; Pure and lovely  
  • Rosebud (white) Too young to love  
  • Rose-leaf You may hope 
 
Colors
  • red=true love & desire  
  • white=spiritual & true love  
  • white=I'm worthy of you  
  • black=farewell,death  
  • yellow=friendship  
  • yellow=jealousy  
  • pink\peach=sweetness ,please believe me ,Gratitude, Appreciation,Admiration or Sympathy  
  • Light Pink =Grace, Gladness, Joy  
  • Dark Pink =Thankfulness  
  • Lavender =Love At First Sight, Enchantment,uniqueness  
  • Orange =Fascination  
  • Coral= Desire  
  • white & red=unity  


Combinations of roses
  • A single rose -simplicity 
  • Two Roses Joined Together -Engagement 
  • A dozen- the ultimate declaration of love 
  • Red and White Roses Together - Unity 
  • Red and Yellow-Happy Feelings 
  • Red and yellow roses mixed together say "Congratulations!" 
  • Yellow and orange roses together imply passionate thoughts. 


  • Deep red rose - bashful shame 
  • Full red rose - beauty 
  • White rosebud - heart ignorant of love
  • Burgundy rose - unconscious beauty (hmm?) 
  • Unique rose - call me not beautiful
  • ROSE. - Love.
  • ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
  • ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
  • ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
  • Rosebud with leaves but no thorns "I fear no longer; I hope."
  • Rosebud with neither leaves nor thorns "There is nothing to hope or fear."
  • Full blown rose over two buds Secrecy
All roses symbolize love, but certain colors of roses can take on special meanings. Opinions vary on the many meanings of roses, but here are some of the more common: 
Red Love, Respect, Courage
Yellow Joy, Gladness, Freedom
Pink/Peach Gratitude, Appreciation, Admiration or Sympathy
White Reverence, Purity, Secrecy
Two Roses Joined Together Engagement
Red and White Roses Together Unity

The Language of Flowers

Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest shades of sentiment. If a flower is offered "reversed", its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite. A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays the sentiment, "I fear no longer; I hope." Stripped of leaves and thorns, it signifies, "There is nothing to hope or fear." A full-blown rose places over two buds, signifies "Secrecy." "Yes", is implied by touching the flower given to the lips; "No," by pinching off a petal and casting it away. "I am", is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet; "I have", "by an ivy leaf folded together; "I offer you", by a leaf of Virginia creeper. 


This whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque! (wish i could get my hands on an original French copy!!)