The short answer: red means romantic love, pink means gratitude and affection, white means purity and new beginnings, yellow means friendship and joy, purple means love at first sight, and blue means secret love. Mixed colours say that one colour is not enough. If you are not sure, choose the colour the person loves. No one has ever been upset by getting their favourite colour.
A quick guide to rose colours
- Red: love, romance, passion, respect and courage
- Pink: love, gratitude and appreciation
- White: innocence, purity, spirituality and marriage
- Yellow: friendship, joy and good health
- Lavender or purple: love at first sight and enchantment
- Blue: secret love
- Mixed or rainbow: for when a single colour is not enough to express your feelings
These meanings are tradition, not rules. They come down to us from the old language of flowers, and they shift a little from family to family and culture to culture. Think of them as a helpful starting point.
Red roses: love, and something more
Red is the colour most people picture when they think of roses, and it remains the classic for romance. A dozen red roses leaves very little room for misunderstanding, so it is best kept for a partner or someone you are courting. Red can also mean respect and courage, which is why you sometimes see red roses at a funeral, often chosen by a spouse or a close family member. See our red flowers and all of our roses.
Pink roses: the safe and lovely choice
Pink is the most versatile colour on this list. It says love without the intensity of red, so it works for a mother, a grandmother, a daughter or a friend, as well as a partner. Soft pink feels gentle and grateful, while hot pink feels playful and energetic. If you need one colour that suits almost any occasion, this is it. Our pink flowers include roses and mixed bouquets.
White roses: fresh starts and quiet respect
White roses are tied to weddings and new beginnings on one hand, and to sympathy and remembrance on the other. That is not a contradiction, because both moments call for something calm and sincere. White is a graceful choice for a new baby, a wedding or a funeral. Our white flowers include designs for each. If you are sending flowers to a funeral, our guide to what flowers to send to a funeral home can help.
Yellow roses: friendship and sunshine
Yellow is the friendship colour. It is cheerful without being romantic, so it suits a best friend, a co-worker, a get well wish or a congratulations. It also has a long tie to anniversaries: our guide to anniversary flowers by year lists yellow roses for the fiftieth. You may read that yellow once stood for jealousy in the old language of flowers. Very few people today will read it that way, so send them with confidence.
Purple and lavender roses: love at first sight
Lavender and purple roses feel a little unusual and a little magical, which fits their meaning. They suit a new romance, or someone who loves something different from the usual red. They are also a nice choice for a birthday, since they stand out on a table. Browse our purple flowers.
Blue roses: secret love
True blue roses do not grow in nature, which is part of why they came to stand for secret or impossible love. Today, they are mostly a striking and playful choice, and a good pick for someone whose favourite colour is blue or who likes a gift people will talk about. Pair them with a card that explains the meaning, because most people will not know it.
Mixed colours and combinations
A mixed bouquet lets you say more than one thing. Red and white together are a classic pair for an anniversary. Pink and white feel soft and suit a new mother. Yellow and orange feel bright and sunny, so they work well for a birthday or a thank you. A rainbow mix is cheerful and suits anyone who cannot choose. When in doubt, a mix is hard to get wrong, since no single meaning stands out.
Which colour for which occasion?
- Valentine's Day or an anniversary: red, or red and white. Read our guide to Valentine's Day flowers beyond red roses for other ideas.
- Mother's Day: pink, or whichever colour she loves most. See our guide to Mother's Day flowers.
- A friend's birthday: yellow, pink or mixed.
- A new baby: pink, white or yellow.
- Get well wishes: yellow or soft pink.
- Sympathy: white or soft pink, with red from close family.
- A thank you: pink or yellow.
Keeping roses looking their best
Whichever colour you choose, roses last longest in fresh water with freshly trimmed stems, away from heat and direct sun. Our guide on how to care for roses walks through it step by step.
Order roses from Mystic Flowers
Our roses are hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio, and we offer same-day delivery of fresh flowers across the GTA. Delivery is free on orders of $50 or more, and every order includes a free handwritten card, so you can add a line that explains why you chose that colour. Start with our roses or our best sellers, or call us at 905-677-9999 if you would like help choosing.