The Meaning of Roses
From the language of flowers
The ‘language of flowers’ is a coded language whereby flowers are the instruments of hidden meaning – each flower variety having a specific sentiment attached to it. Mostly they concern affairs of the heart, making the language of flowers part of a romantic tradition that is believed to have started in early 19th century France and to have reached its height of popularity in Victorian England. Many small, beautifully bound and illustrated books were published in Europe and later America, giving precise instructions on interpretation should you receive a gift of flowers. Meanings did vary from author to author, so knowing which book your admirer had consulted would have been advantageous!
When it came to the meaning of roses, the queen of flowers was given much consideration. The specific meaning of individual rose varieties, individual colours of rose and whether the rose was in bud, or full-blown, were all things to be considered before a gift of roses could be given.
Below is a compilation from the language of flowers. For more information on the meaning of roses check out the ‘roses by colour’ links in the left side-menu of this page.
Rose Meanings:
Austrian Rose…Thou Art All that Is Lovely
Black Rose…Death
Boule de Neige Rose…Just for Thee
Bridal Rose…Happy Love
Burgundy Rose… Unconscious Beauty
Cabbage Rose…Ambassador of Love
Carolina Rose…Love can be Dangerous
China Rose…Grace or Beauty, Ever Fresh
Cinnamon Rose…Without Pretension
Daily Rose [Old Blush] …I Aspire to Thy Smile
Damask Rose…Translucent Complexion, Persian Ambassador of Love
Dog Rose…Pleasure Mixed with Pain
Gloire de Dijon Rose…Messenger of Love
Hundred-leaved Rose…Pride
Inermis Rose…Ingratitude
Japanese Rose…Beauty is Your Sole Attraction
John Hopper Rose…Encouragement
La France Rose…Meet Me by Moonlight
Maiden Blush Rose…If You Love Me, You’ll Discover It
Moss Rose…Voluptuous Love, Superior Virtue
Moss Rosebud…Confessions of Love
Multiflora Rose…Grace
Mundi Rose…Variety
Musk Rose…Capricious Beauty
Musk Rose (cluster)…Charming
Nephitos Rose…Infatuation
Orange Rose…Fascination
Pompon Rose…Gentility
Purple or Lavender Rose…Mourning, Enchantment (modern meaning)
Perpetual Rose…Unfading Love
Pink Rose…Perfect Happiness, Sweetness, Indecision
Provence Rose…My Heart Is in Flames
Red Rose…I Love You, Respect, Beauty
Red Rose, Deep Red…Bashful Shame
Red Rosebud…Purity and Loveliness
Rose, Faded…Beauty is Fleeting
Rose, Full-Blown, Placed over Two Buds…Secrecy
Rose, Full-Blown…You are Beautiful, I Still Love You
Rose, Single…Simplicity
Rose, Striped…Warmth of Heart
Rose Bouquet, Full Blooms…Gratitude
Rose Leaf…Delicate Beauty, You May Hope
Rose Wreath…Reward of Virtue
Rosebud…Beauty and Youthfulness, A Heart Innocent of Love
Sweetbriar Rose…Sympathy
Tea Rose…I’ll Remember Always Your Loveliness
Thornless Rose…Early Attachment, Love at First Sight
Unique Rose [Unique Blanche]…Call Me Not Beautiful
White and Red Roses Together…Unity
White Rose…I am Worthy of You, Eternal Love, Innocence, Secrecy & Silence
White Rose, Dried…Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
White Rose, Wilted…You Made No Impression, Fleeting Beauty
White Rosebud...Too Young to Love, Girlhood
White Rosebuds, a Spray…Secrecy
Wild Rose…Poetry
Wreath or Garland of Roses…Beauty and Virtue Rewarded
Yellow Rose…Infidelity, Jealousy, Declining Love, Friendship & Joy (modern meaning)
York & Lancaster Rose…War
