Whether you’re a fan of February the 14th or not, it’s hard not to notice it’s coming, with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates lining the store shelves and bushels of roses for sale in every flower shop.

The Popularity of the Rose

But why are roses so popular when it comes to Valentine’s Day? During the conservative Victorian era when proper etiquette forbade the expression of intimate feelings in public, flowers were used by lovers to communicate their intentions in less obvious ways. Each flower had a special meaning, often derived from the history or mythology associated with that particular bloom. Roses were held to be sacred to many ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman goddesses of love, such as Isis, Aphrodite, and Venus. It’s easy to see how they became a favoured symbol of romance, isn’t it?

A Rose by Any Other Colour

The message of the rose comes not just from its ancient history. A specific meaning has also been assigned to each of the various colours over the years.

Common Colours:

Red
The most commonly gifted rose symbolizes love and admiration. No surprise that this one is most closely associated with Valentine’s Day.

Pink
Another favourite around February 14th, this one is divided into three shades.
Light Pink: Innocence and appreciation
Medium Pink: Congratulations or grieving
Dark Pink: Gratitude

Purple
Give this one to convey passion or infatuation.

Orange
A little less common, this one denotes fascination.

Green
This one brings good news and new beginnings.

Yellow
This beauty stands for the timeless gift of friendship.

Blue
If you want to be a little secretive with your crush, try a blue rose. It’s a symbol of mystery.

White
This beautiful rose indicates innocence, purity, and new love. This would be a good one for the first year of your new romance.

More Unusual Choices

Peach
There don’t seem to be a lot of these ones around, but maybe there should be. These denote thanks and gratitude.

Cream
This is a nice one, too. It symbolizes charm and thoughtfulness.

Black
I wouldn’t recommend this one as a Valentine’s Day gift. It symbolizes mourning.

Rainbow
This is a very interesting addition to the rose family. It symbolizes hope and pride

Some interesting rose facts       

• Apples, peaches, pears, and plums are all from the rose family. Ever enjoy a nice, refreshing glass of rose juice? Perhaps a slice of rose pie?
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest bouquet ever assembled was displayed in a mall in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in 2005 or 2006. It consisted of 156,940 roses.
• The Juliet Rose, a beautiful flower with a large head of pale pink and white pedals, cost its owner $3 million to develop. Then, in 2006, the Juliet Rose sold for $15.8 million. What a hobby!
• There’s a 1000-year-old rose living in a cathedral in Germany. This is believed to be the oldest rose on the planet. Perhaps it’s also the hardiest. The cathedral was bombed in World War II and the plant was found alive beneath the rubble.
• According to legend, Christopher Columbus and his crew realized they were close to land when they found a rose branch floating on the water. And sure enough, shortly thereafter, they landed in Central America.
• Black and blue roses don’t exist naturally. Black roses may be a very, very dark red, or either colour may be created with dye.

So, if you’re generous enough to give or lucky enough to get a lovely bouquet this Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoy it with a newfound appreciation for this amazing flower. But if you’re not, don’t worry. You won’t be left out. Mother Nature’s roses are a gift for all of us.