Behind the Bloom: Roses
As you may have noticed while perusing our Collections, we have an affinity for roses here at The Flower Lab! (Just look at our logo!) Since the rose is our favorite bloom, I thought it would be fun to take a little dive into the history and symbolism behind the world’s most well known flower!
“Of all flowers, methinks rose is best.” - William Shakespeare
Roses Throughout History
Roses have been a symbol of love, beauty and even war for thousands of years. The flower has inspired countless pomes, songs, works of art, fashion and decor. Ancient Romans revered the flower, using it as confetti at celebrations, for perfume, and even medicinal purposes. Large public rose gardens were grown, and some peasants event grew roses instead of farming.
In the fifteenth century, the rose was a symbol of the factions fighting to control England. The white rose symbolized York, and the red rose symbolized Lancaster; as a result the conflict became known as the "War of the Roses." The Tudor Rose is a combination of the two, representing the joining of the two houses and was used widely by Henry VIII. (For the book nerds out there, I recommend “The War of the Roses” series by historical fiction author Philippa Gregory!)
In the seventeenth century, Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine, became an avid rose collector; her garden included some 250 different varieties from around the world! In more recent history, the rose has remained a popular symbol, used everywhere from flags to sports teams to corporate logos. Here in the United States, Georgia, Iowa, New York and North Dakota all have various types of roses as their state flowers.
Rose Symbolism
Roses have carried different meanings throughout history, but in the Victoria era floriography became widely popular. In addition to the Bible, most Victorian homes also had a guidebook for deciphering flower language! Flowers were used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken out loud, often used as a form of flirtation or to express other strong emotions. Sending the wrong flower could be highly insulting! Many of the Victorian meanings are still relevant today, while others have changed with modern times.
“There is a language, little known,
Lovers claim it as their own.
Its symbols smile upon the land,
Wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;
And in their silent beauty speak,
Of life and joy, to those who seek
For Love Divine and sunny hours
In the language of the flowers.”
Modern Meanings
• White Roses are often associated with weddings, purity and innocence, but in Victorian times they they meant “a heart unacquainted with love”! We’re certainly glad the meaning has changed!
• Ivory Roses (though really no different from white in florist terms) symbolize charm and thoughtfulness.
• Light Pink Roses symbolize grace and elegance, while bolder pink blooms show gratitude and appreciation.
• Peach Roses signify modesty, sincerity and gratitude.
• Coral Roses represent desire.
• Orange Roses represent enthusiasm and energy.
• Yellow Roses symbolize friendship and joy - much better than the Victorian symbol of jealousy!
• Red Roses represent love, passion and romance.
• Burgundy Roses today mean unconscious beauty.
• Lavender Roses stand for love at first sight, while their darker counterparts represent royalty.
Rose Collection
While color meanings are fun and interesting to read about, we think you should pick whatever color speak to you no matter what the meaning! Our Rose Collection features classic roses and spray roses and offers everything you need for your big day - from timeless bouquets to boutonnieres to centerpieces! You can select from ivory, light pink, hot pink, peach, red, yellow or lavender, so no matter what your wedding palette we’ve got you covered.
And because roses are THE quintessential wedding flower (what do flower girls always throw?! ROSE PETALS… hey, we don’t make the rules), we also offer bunches of roses that you can add on to any of our collections! So whether you need petals for tossing or loose stems to tuck into garlands, we’ve got your back.
Blog Sources: fiftyflowers.com | thesmellofroses.com | extension.illinois.edu | chicagobotanic.org | almanac.com | wikipedia.org
Post by Kimberly Wallner