Garden rose

What the garden rose means

In the Victorian language of flowers the rose carried more messages than almost any other bloom, and color mattered: red for passionate love, pink for gratitude and admiration, yellow for friendship (though some older dictionaries read it as jealousy), and white for innocence. Roses were linked to Aphrodite and Venus in classical myth, and "sub rosa," under the rose, came to mean in confidence. Garden roses, with their full, cupped heads and strong scent, recall the older varieties grown before the long-stemmed florist rose. As with all flower meanings, these vary by era and culture.

Flower meanings come mostly from Victorian floriography, and they vary between books, eras, and cultures.

Often sent for

• Valentine's Day
• Anniversary
• Birthday
• Mother's Day

By colour

• Red Traditionally, romantic love and respect.
• Blush Often given for gratitude, admiration, and gentleness.
• Ivory Traditionally, innocence and new beginnings; a wedding favorite.
• Peach Often read as sincerity and warm thanks.
• Yellow Associated with friendship and joy in modern use.