A Picture of Purple Roses

Ah, Mignonne, in how few hours,

The petals of her purple flowers

All have faded, fallen, died…

Pierre de Ronsard, The Rose

When the French poet Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585) penned his sobering verse (above) he was likely mourning a rose from the Gallica class. The early varieties of these roses are known for their fleeting but very beautiful spring flowering. With some, as the petals age they change from crimson to violet and smokey-purples. The colour purple has a history of association with royalty but also with mourning and loss. Ronsard, who was a great lover of roses and knew their nature well, used his poetry to express this connection between purple and the fleeting impermanence of life.

The Meaning of Purple Roses

Interestingly, the modern meaning of purple roses is still one of impermanence but the undertones of mourning have been replaced with another kind of impermanence; enchantment. Romantically, a purple rose conveys love at first sight – even though it may not last forever it will always be remembered.

Who hasn’t admired a beautiful, yet shorted-lived rose flower and felt that?!

Click on each purple rose picture (at left) to find out more about the rose.