# Rose Colour Meanings: What Every Shade of Rose Says > What each rose colour means: red, white, pink, yellow, orange, peach, lavender, coral, burgundy and more, plus what the number of roses says and how to mix colours. Canonical: https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/rose-colour-meanings Last updated: 2026-10-27 Roses are the most popular flower in the world, and their colour carries a message of its own. Choose the wrong one and a thank-you can read as a declaration, or a friendly gesture as jealousy. This guide covers what every rose colour means, from the classic red to the dyed shades, what the number of roses says, and how to mix colours. For flowers beyond roses, our [flower colour meanings](https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/flower-colour-meanings) guide covers every bloom. ## Red rose meaning Red roses mean **romantic love, passion and respect**. They're the universal "I love you", the Valentine's Day standard and the anniversary classic. A deep red leans toward passion and commitment; a brighter red toward love and courage. Red roses are best kept for romance. Sending a dozen to a colleague or a friend's partner says more than you probably mean. Our [Red Rose Bouquet](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/the-red-rose-bouquet-e2-4305) is the classic, and [Three Dozen Red Roses](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/three-dozen-red-roses-f1-600) is the grand gesture. The full range is in our [red flowers](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/by-colour/red) collection. ## White rose meaning White roses mean **purity, new beginnings, reverence and remembrance**, which is why they appear at weddings and at funerals. In the Victorian language of flowers, a white rose said "I am worthy of you". Our [white rose meaning](https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/white-rose-meaning) guide goes deeper. ## Pink rose meaning Pink roses mean **gratitude, admiration, grace and joy**. Light pink is gentle and sweet; hot pink says thank you and appreciation. Pink is the safest rose colour to send almost anyone, from a mother to a coworker. See our [pink rose meaning](https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/pink-rose-meaning) guide for the shades. ## Yellow rose meaning Yellow roses mean **friendship, joy and warmth**. They're the right rose for a friend, a get-well wish or a congratulations, with no romance attached. In the Victorian language of flowers, yellow meant jealousy or fading love. Almost nobody reads it that way anymore, but if the recipient is a traditionalist, a red tip or a mix with other colours removes any doubt. Try [The Yellow Rose Bouquet](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/the-yellow-rose-bouquet-e7-4808) or browse [yellow flowers](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/by-colour/yellow). ## Orange, peach and coral rose meanings These are the warm in-between shades, and they're excellent when red is too much and pink isn't quite right: - **Orange:** enthusiasm, energy and desire. A bold choice for a new relationship that's moving past friendship. - **Peach:** gratitude, sincerity and modesty. A thank-you rose. [Fifteen Peach Roses](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/fifteen-peach-roses-f1-110) is a simple way to say it. - **Coral:** desire and excitement, sitting between orange and pink. ## Lavender and purple rose meaning Lavender roses mean **enchantment and love at first sight**. They're rarer than the other colours, which adds to the mystique, and they're a romantic alternative when red feels too obvious. Deeper purple roses mean majesty and adoration. See [The Lavender Rose Bouquet](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/the-lavender-rose-bouquet-e3-4811). ## Burgundy, cream, green, blue and black roses A few more shades round out the palette: - **Burgundy:** deep, mature passion, and sometimes "unconscious beauty". A rich choice for a long anniversary. - **Cream and ivory:** charm and thoughtfulness, a softer take on white that suits weddings. - **Green:** harmony, renewal and abundance. Uncommon, but natural greenish roses exist. - **Blue:** the impossible or the mysterious. There are no naturally blue roses; they're dyed. - **Black:** farewell, mourning or a bold ending. True black roses don't exist either; very dark red varieties or dyed roses fill the role. See our guide to [flowers that mean death](https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/flowers-that-mean-death). ## What the number of roses means Florists and gift-givers often attach meaning to the count too. The common readings: - **1 rose:** love at first sight, or a single sincere gesture. - **3 roses:** "I love you." - **6 roses:** "I want to be yours." - **12 roses:** the classic dozen: "be mine", or simply gratitude, depending on colour. - **24 roses:** "I'm yours" or "I think of you constantly." - **36 or more:** a grand romantic statement. ## Mixing rose colours Mixed bouquets combine meanings: red and white for unity, red and yellow for joy and celebration, pink and white for gentle gratitude, yellow and orange for warm enthusiasm. For an occasion-by-occasion shortlist, our [love and romance](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/love-romance) collection is mostly reds and pinks, and the full [roses](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/roses) collection covers every shade. ## Rose colours by occasion If you just need a quick answer: - **Anniversary or Valentine's Day:** red, burgundy or lavender. - **New relationship:** pink, coral or orange, which say interest without the full weight of red. - **Birthday:** pink, yellow, orange or a bright mix. See our [birthday flowers](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/birthday). - **Thank you:** peach, pink or yellow. - **Friendship or get well:** yellow. - **New baby:** pink, white or yellow. - **Sympathy:** white, cream, soft pink or, for deep respect, dark red. - **Wedding:** white, cream or blush, often with red for unity. ## Keeping roses fresh Whatever the colour, roses last longest when they're treated well from the minute they arrive. Recut the stems on an angle, strip any leaves that would sit underwater, use the flower food packet, and change the water every two days. Keep them out of direct sun and away from heat vents and fruit. If a rose head droops early, the stem has usually taken in an air bubble: recut it under water and let it stand in deep, cool water for an hour. Our [rose guide](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/learn/rose) has more care tips. ## Sending roses anywhere in Canada Flowers on Demand delivers across every province and territory through a network of local florists, who arrange and hand-deliver each order. Delivery is a flat $19.99. For same-day delivery, order before 1:00 PM in the recipient's time zone, Monday to Saturday; there's no Sunday delivery. Start with our [rose collection](https://flowersondemand.ca/flowers/roses), or find the town you're sending to on our [delivery cities](https://flowersondemand.ca/cities) page. Local florists occasionally swap a stem for one of similar style and value when a flower is short, so if one flower matters most, say so in the card or delivery note. ## Questions ### What do the different colours of roses mean? Red means romantic love, white means purity and new beginnings, pink means gratitude and admiration, yellow means friendship, orange means enthusiasm, peach means thanks, and lavender means love at first sight. ### What colour rose means friendship? Yellow. Yellow roses say friendship, joy and warmth without any romantic meaning. ### What colour rose should I give my mom? Pink, for gratitude and admiration, or a pink and white mix. Peach and yellow work well too. ### What colour rose means I miss you? There's no single traditional colour for missing someone. Pink or lavender roses with a card are the usual choice, or red if the relationship is romantic. ### Do blue and black roses exist? Not naturally. Blue roses are dyed, and black roses are either very dark red varieties or dyed blooms. ## Arrangements to send - [Fresh](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/fresh-faa-103): $84.95 CAD - [Red and White Bouquet](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/red-and-white-bouquet-faa-122): $94.95 CAD - [Splendid](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/splendid-faa-311): $84.95 CAD - [Lavish Surprise](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/lavish-surprise-faa-119): $94.95 CAD - [Sun Splash](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/sun-splash-faa-300): $149.95 CAD - [Dawn of Remembrance Basket](https://flowersondemand.ca/products/dawn-of-remembrance-basket-t236-2a): $149.95 CAD ## Related - [Flower Meanings](https://flowersondemand.ca/blog/category/flower-meanings)