What Do Different Rose Colors Mean?

William Shakespeare once wrote that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" and that may be true, but what about a rose of a different color? While both are undeniably lovely, do red roses and yellow roses mean the same thing? While everyone who has ever been given a Valentine's Day bouquet or even watched an episode of The Bachelor knows that red roses are the symbol of love and romance, roses come in a lot of other colors. Do you know what it means if someone brings peach-toned roses to a dinner party? What if there is a bouquet of light-pink flowers sent to your house?

According to the rose experts at Flower Moxie in Oklahoma City, the color of roses have many different meanings, many of which can be traced to Victorian culture. And, Amy McCord Jones, owner of Flower Moxie shares that the stronger the rose's color, the deeper its meaning. However, since the 19th century, the same colors have come to convey a range of messages, says McCord Jones. Because of this, a single rose can have a broad translation, she says, though some meanings have become more popularized over time than others.

Of course, a rose of any color can look good on a credenza or bedside table, and everyone has their favorite hue. If your loved one adores the color pink for anything and everything, then pink roses promise to be a hit regardless of their meaning. Still, if you're a stickler for tradition, here's a helpful guide to use the next time you're picking out a bouquet with a deeper meaning.