Roses Are Red - The Symbolism Behind Your Beloved Roses

Roses are red, some are blue. Each have their own meanings, here; we will show you!

When asked to think of flowers for any occasion, the rose likely comes to mind. It’s an earned thought! Roses can work as birthday flowers, or as an anniversary gift. A bouquet of roses is considered the quintessential romantic gesture, and adorning pillars with roses are a commonplace feature at both weddings, and funerals.

While roses come in a variety of colours, not all of them carry the same meaning and symbolism. Even the number of roses one is gifted holds meaning! To make sure that you are using the right roses for the right occasion, allow us to take you on a deep dive into the flower we all know and love to get to know it a little bit better!

Rose Colours

It’s important to consider the colour of roses when gifting them, as the colour can convey a specific meaning or sentiment. Different colours of roses can have different symbolic meanings and choosing the right colour can help to convey the intended message more effectively.

For example, if you want to express romantic interest to someone, giving them red roses would be a more appropriate choice than giving them yellow roses, which are typically associated with friendship. Similarly, if you want to congratulate someone on a new job or a new baby, bright, yellow roses would be a more fitting choice than red roses.

In some cultures and customs, certain color of roses have a special meaning, so it’s a good idea to look into it.

White Roses: Symbolising purity, innocence, and new beginnings, white roses are often used in weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. They can also represent secrecy, reverence, and humility.

Yellow Roses: Representing friendship, joy, and congratulations, yellow roses are a popular choice for graduates, newlyweds, or new parents. They can also symbolise the bonds of friendship and the joy of new beginnings.

Orange Roses: Symbolising enthusiasm, passion, and energy, orange roses are often used to express admiration and appreciation. They can also represent desire and excitement.

Red Roses: The most classic symbol of love and romance, red roses are often given as a gesture of love or as a romance. They can also represent respect, devotion, and courage.

Purple/Blue Roses: Sometimes known as ‘lavender roses,’ these dark roses symbolise mystery, enchantment, and wonder. Purple or blue roses are often given as a sign of admiration and appreciation. They can also represent the idea of the impossible or the unattainable.

Pink Roses: Symbolising grace, elegance, and appreciation, pink roses are often given as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation. They can also represent grace, gentility, and sweetness.

It's worth noting that some people may have personal preferences for certain colors of roses, so it's always a good idea to ask or consider the person's preferences. Ultimately, it's not mandatory to think about the color of roses when gifting, but it can add an extra layer of thoughtfulness and meaning to the gesture.

Meaning of The Number of Roses

Did you know that the number of roses you gift holds a specific meaning? While most know the meaning of 3 roses – I love you – we are clueless as to symbolic meaning of how many roses one gifts.

Here are a few examples:

• One rose: A single rose can symbolise love at first sight, or a gesture of love and appreciation.

• A dozen roses: A dozen roses is often associated with expressing gratitude, appreciation, or love. They also can represent perfection and completion.

• Two dozen roses: Two dozen roses can symbolise the desire to express the gift giver's feelings in a more profound way.

• Three dozen roses: Three dozen roses can symbolise the expression of love and devotion, in a grand and extravagant way.

It's worth noting that these meanings can vary in different cultures, and also that roses are not the only flower that has a meaning associated to it. Other flowers also have meanings associated to them, so it would be a good idea to look into it when gifting flowers.

Ultimately, the number of roses given as a gift is not as significant as the colour of the roses, but it can add an extra layer of thoughtfulness and meaning to the gesture.

If you’re looking to shop for a bouquet or arrangement of roses, our collection of timeless rose arrangements are here to satisfy your needs. Enjoy same-day flower delivery South of the River for orders made before the cut-off time of 10am. Lilypilly is your choice when it comes to handcrafted, rose bouquets.

The Story of May Gibbs

Over the last 50 - 60 years Lilypilly Florist has had some amazing customers - from beautiful brides to young men bringing corsages for their dates at formal. There is one incredibly famous South Perth local who we remember with great fondness, however - May Gibbs.

Most renowned as an author of the Australian classics, The Gumnut Babies, and The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, May Gibbs (Born Cecelia) was born in Kent, England, on January 17th in 1877. She, along with her parents at just aged 4, migrated to Australia first to South Australia and then to none other than South Perth. Her family home was The Dune, on the corner of Harper Terrace and what is now Mill Point Road - just 5 minutes away from where Angelo Street is today!

May started her career off writing and illustrating cheeky cartoon for the Western Mail. She went on to study art in England, before returning once more to Australia to write and draw for the Common Cause. May was an early feminist who used her art to draw attention to issues affecting women’s rights in the early days of Australia’s suffragette movement.

Her first book About Us, was published in 1912 – a children’s fantasy story about life among the chimney pots of London. She later went on to write and illustrate 10 more books, including the wildly popular children’s classic The Gumnut Babies.

May married the mining agent Bertram James Ossoli Kelly in 1919. In 1955 she was appointed Member of the British Empire, and throughout all the years in between, she worked an illustrator and writer. She was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2021 in recognition of the enormous cultural contributions she made to Australian society.

May Gibbs legacy lies beyond her children’s classics. She pursued a career in arts and literature during an era where women’s voices were rarely heart, and where a career could rarely be pursued outside of care-giving roles. Her contributions to the Australian suffragette movement through her author and illustrator position allowed her message to be reached to younger women and girls who otherwise may not have known what was going on. Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote, and May Gibbs played a large part in this.

May Gibbs legacy, art and writing are a fantastic insight into the mind of one of Australia’s most creative and beloved authors, and her belief in the power women have is something that should inspire generations to come.

Please join us in store at Lilypilly on January 17th to celebrate this beloved South Perth author’s 146th birthday. We will be hosting a beautiful shop front with her books and artifacts, and will have a sale on our dried, native flowers.

Lilypilly x