White Pink & Red Rose Meaning in a Relationship

So you’re thinking of getting roses...

...and you’ve just realised you don’t want to send the wrong message in your relationship by getting the rose's colour wrong.

Roses are tricky, aren’t they?!

Colours mean different things and even the number of roses can mean something.

Relax, we’re here to help....

Whether you’re getting roses for your other half, your girlfriend who you want to impress, for mum on Mother's Day, or a friend that you want to do something special for, then our list of rose meanings by colour, quantity and even symbolism is just the right place to start.

Jump straight to the information you need using our jump links below, or just browse down the page.

 

Red rose meaning | White rose meaning | Red and white roses together | Pink rose meaning | Orange rose meaning | Blue rose meaning | Rose symbolism | Single rose meaning | Single red rose meaning | 12 red roses meaning | Roses for different dates

 

Red rose meaning & Symbolism

A red rose is the universal symbol of love and deep affection. It represents strong feelings of love, be it romantic, platonic, or for family. Traditionally, giving a red rose is a way to say "I love you" without words.

Red roses are associated with beauty, passion, desire, and romantic love, making them a popular choice for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, and any occasion where you want to express deep love and devotion.

The red rose is also a symbol of respect and admiration, making it suitable for expressing sincere and heartfelt feelings. Its significance as a symbol of love dates back to ancient times and has been immortalised in literature, art, and culture throughout history, maintaining its status as the most iconic of all flowers used to convey messages of love.

Red roses can also be used symbolically with different numbers meaning different things. We go into that more below.

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White rose symbolism & meaning

A white rose symbolises purity, innocence, and youthfulness. It is often associated with new beginnings and is commonly used in weddings to represent the pure union of the couple. Beyond marital bliss, white roses also convey messages of respect, remembrance, and reverence, making them suitable for occasions such as funerals or memorial services to honour a departed soul.

In the language of flowers, a white rose can also signify a gesture of secrecy or silence, stemming from the tradition where a white rose was a symbol used to indicate confidentiality or a secret being kept. Additionally, giving a white rose can express admiration for someone's innocence or convey a message of true love, untainted by ulterior motives.

The white rose, with its elegant beauty and deep symbolism, serves as a versatile emblem for a wide array of sentiments and occasions.

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Red and white roses together

Red and white roses given together blend the individual meanings of each colour to create a new, unified symbolism. This combination traditionally signifies unity, togetherness, and harmony. It can convey a message of deep love (red roses) intertwined with purity and sincerity (white roses), making it a powerful symbol for conveying complex feelings in a relationship.

In some contexts, red and white roses together can also represent an enduring love that is both passionate and pure, or they can symbolise the bonding and unity between two people who bring together their distinct qualities to create a harmonious partnership.

Moreover, this combination has been used historically to convey messages of unity or reconciliation. In a broader sense, red and white roses together can symbolise unity or a bond that is both respectful and loving, making it an ideal choice for occasions that celebrate coming together, such as weddings, anniversaries, or even as a gesture to mend relationships.

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Pink rose meaning

A pink rose carries a range of meanings, largely centred around grace, admiration, and joy. The specific message conveyed by a pink rose can vary depending on its shade, from deep pink to pale pink, each tone offering a slightly different expression. Here are some general interpretations:

• Deep Pink roses: Convey gratitude and appreciation. Deep pink roses are often given as a thank you or to show recognition of someone's efforts, achievements, or influence in your life.
  
  

• Light roses: Represent gentleness, admiration, and sympathy. Light pink roses are suitable for expressing gentle emotions, offering sympathy, or showing admiration for someone's grace and poise.
  
  
  
  
• Medium Pink roses: Often used to express happiness, elegance, and sweetness. Medium pink roses can be a way to celebrate joyful occasions, convey affection, or offer congratulations.

Across all shades, pink roses are versatile flowers that can be given in various contexts, from romantic gestures to expressions of thanks or even as a means of showing support and encouragement. They embody an elegance and refinement that make them a popular choice for bouquets and floral arrangements meant to communicate admiration and affection.

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Orange rose meaning

Orange roses symbolise enthusiasm, desire, and fascination. They are a vibrant and fiery choice that conveys a message of intense emotion and passion, but with a focus that is slightly different from the deep love associated with red roses. Orange roses can signify a budding romance, a declaration of attraction, or an expression of excitement about a relationship.

The bright, energetic colour of orange roses makes them perfect for expressing a sense of adventure, warmth, and passionate affection. They can also be used to convey congratulations, best wishes, or a sense of pride in someone's achievements, making them suitable for celebratory occasions where you want to acknowledge someone's success or to encourage them.

Overall, orange roses are a bold and beautiful way to communicate a message of strong, passionate feelings, whether they're of romantic interest, admiration, or excitement about new beginnings.

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Blue rose meaning

Blue roses are a symbol of mystery and the unattainable because they do not naturally exist in nature. The quest for a true blue rose has been something of a Holy Grail for horticulturists.

Blue roses have been created through genetic modification or dyeing white roses. Because of their unique colour, they carry special meanings:

• Mystery: Blue roses symbolise mystery or the quest for the impossible, reflecting the elusive and secretive nature of their creation.
  
  
• Uniqueness: They also represent uniqueness or standing out from the crowd, due to their artificial creation and rarity.
  
  
• The Unattainable and the Impossible: Given their unnatural origins, blue roses symbolise the longing for the unattainable or the desire to achieve the impossible.
  
  
• Enchantment: Blue roses can convey a sense of fascination or a feeling of being deeply captivated by someone or something that feels unattainably perfect.

Despite their artificial origins, blue roses are admired for their striking appearance and the sense of wonder they evoke. They are often used in floral arrangements for occasions that call for something extraordinary and beyond the ordinary, symbolising deep admiration and the desire for the mysterious.

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Rose symbolism

Rose symbolism is rich and varied, deeply rooted in history and culture across the world. Each colour of the rose has its own unique meaning, making roses one of the most expressive flowers. Beyond individual colours, roses symbolise love, honour, faith, beauty, and balance.

The complexity of rose symbolism allows for nuanced expressions of emotion and sentiment. Here's an overview:

• Love and Romance: The most universal symbolism of roses is love. Red roses, in particular, are tied to deep love and affection, making them a staple for romantic gestures.
  
  
• Mystery and Secrecy: The phrase "sub rosa" (under the rose) dates back to ancient times, where a rose hung overhead signified confidentiality and secrecy. This tradition underscores the rose's symbolism of secrecy.
  
  
• Honour and Reverence: White roses often symbolise reverence and honour, making them suitable for funerals or memorials. They convey respect for the deceased and sympathy for the bereaved.
  
  
• Joy and Friendship: Yellow roses symbolise friendship, joy, and caring. They are often given to celebrate friendship, express joy, or wish well.
  
  
• Admiration and Gratitude: Pink roses are associated with grace, admiration, and gratitude. They are used to express appreciation and to acknowledge someone's contributions or achievements.
  
  
• Enthusiasm and Desire: Orange roses convey enthusiasm, desire, and fascination. They are given to express passionate feelings and admiration.
  
  
• Innocence and Purity: White roses also symbolise innocence and purity, often used in weddings to signify the pure intention of the bride.
  
  
• Healing and Hope: Green roses symbolise peace, spiritual renewal, and calm. They are often used to express wishes for recovery or peace.
  
  
• Mourning and Farewell: Black roses, although not naturally occurring and often dyed, symbolise mourning and farewell. They are sometimes used to signify the end of something or as a sign of rebirth or the beginning of new things.

The number of roses given can also carry symbolic meaning, from a single rose signifying love at first sight to a dozen roses symbolising a declaration of love. The symbolism of roses, with its diversity and depth, allows for a wide range of expressions suited to nearly every occasion and emotion.

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Single rose meaning

A single rose, regardless of its colour, carries a multitude of meanings, often determined by its hue. However, at its core, a single rose is a symbol of simplicity and purity in its message. Here are some general meanings associated with a single rose:

• Love and Affection: In a romantic context, giving a single rose of any colour can express love, affection, or deep interest. It's a straightforward yet profound way to convey feelings towards someone.
  
  
• Gratitude and Appreciation: A single rose can also be a gesture of thanks, showing appreciation for someone's help, support, or friendship.
  
  
• Simplicity and Elegance: The act of giving a single rose highlights the beauty and simplicity of the gesture, focusing on the thought behind it rather than the grandeur of the gift.

Different colours of a single rose further refine its message:

• Red: Deep love and respect, often romantic.
  
  
• White: Innocence, purity, or sympathy.
  
  
• Yellow: Friendship, joy, or wishing well.
  
  
• Pink: Gratitude, admiration, or happiness.
  
  
• Orange: Enthusiasm, fascination, or attraction.

 

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Single red rose meaning

A single red rose traditionally symbolises love and devotion. It is often used to convey deep emotion, such as love at first sight, or a gesture to say "I love you" in a simple, elegant way. The single red rose is also a symbol of respect and admiration, making it a versatile gift for various romantic occasions.

The simplicity of handing someone a single red rose, highlights the beauty and power of love, focusing on the depth of feeling rather than the quantity of the gift.

This makes a single red rose a powerful symbol in both budding and long-standing relationships, embodying a profound and passionate connection between individuals.

The context in which the rose is given and the relationship between the giver and the receiver play significant roles in interpreting its meaning. A single rose can be a powerful and versatile symbol, conveying a wide range of emotions and sentiments with simplicity and elegance.

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12 red roses meaning

Giving 12 red roses is a traditional and widely recognised gesture of romance and love. It symbolises a complete and perfect dozen, often used to convey "Be mine" or "I love you deeply."

This number of roses is classic for anniversaries, Valentine's Day, or any occasion where one wishes to make a significant romantic gesture. The act of giving 12 red roses is a powerful way to express unwavering love, devotion, and the desire for a relationship to flourish and continue. It's a timeless symbol of love and affection, representing the giver's commitment and deep feelings towards the recipient.

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Roses for different dates

There aren't specific dates universally recognised or associated with the different coloured roses in the sense of official holidays or observances. However, certain colours of roses are often chosen for specific occasions based on their symbolic meanings, which can align with certain events or celebrations. Here are some contexts in which different coloured roses might be particularly meaningful:

• Red Roses: Most popularly given on Valentine's Day (February 14th) to signify love and romance. They are also commonly used to celebrate anniversaries and to convey deep love on special occasions.
  
  
• White Roses: Often associated with weddings to symbolise purity, innocence, and new beginnings. They are also used in contexts requiring a gesture of remembrance or reverence, such as funerals or memorial services.
  
  
• Yellow Roses: Symbolising friendship and joy, these can be given on occasions like Friendships Day (first Sunday in August) or whenever you want to cheer someone up or celebrate a friendship.
  
  
• Pink Roses: Conveying admiration, gratitude, and joy, pink roses can be given on Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May in many countries) to express gratitude towards mothers and mother figures, or on any occasion where you want to express thanks or admiration.
  
  
• Orange Roses: Symbolising enthusiasm and desire, these could be given on any occasion where you want to express a passionate message, such as a significant personal achievement or during the early stages of a romantic relationship.
  
  
• Blue Roses: Since they symbolise the mysterious and unattainable, blue roses could be given on unique occasions where you want to convey a message of fascination or achieve the impossible, without a specific date associated.

Each coloured rose, with its unique symbolism, can be used to convey messages that are personal and meaningful to the giver and receiver, making any date significant for giving roses based on the intention behind the gesture rather than a universally recognised date.