Roses have been revered for their beauty and fragrance for centuries. They are popular gifts to express love, friendship, sympathy, and more. While red roses represent romance and passionate love, roses come in a rainbow of other colors too. Multicolor roses allow you to convey a more nuanced symbolic meaning.
History of the Rose
The rose has a long and colorful history. Roses are woody perennials in the genus Rosa, belonging to the family Rosaceae. There are over 300 species and thousands of cultivars. Roses are native to Asia and spread to Europe, North America, and North Africa. Evidence of rose cultivation dates back 5,000 years to Chinese writings.
The ancient Greeks and Romans linked roses to their goddesses of love. Roses were used to symbolize confidentiality which is where the phrase “sub rosa” meaning under the rose comes from. Roses became popular adornments in ancient Persian and Roman gardens. By the late 18th century, cultivation of roses became an important industry. Roses were carefully bred to produce new colors and flower forms. This ushered in the era of old garden roses which gave way to the creation of modern hybrid tea roses in the 1900s.
Symbolism of Rose Colors
While red is the classic color for romantic love, each rose color has a different meaning. Here are common rose colors and their general associations:
| Rose Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Love, romance, desire |
| White | Purity, innocence, sympathy |
| Yellow | Friendship, joy, happiness |
| Orange | Passion, enthusiasm |
| Pink | Grace, admiration, sweetness |
| Lavender | Love at first sight, enchantment |
| Blue | Unattainable, imaginative |
| Black | Farewell, death |
Multicolor roses allow you to combine these symbolic meanings in creative ways.
Popular Multicolor Rose Varieties
There are many beautiful multicolor rose varieties to choose from. Here are some of the most popular:
| Multicolor Rose | Description |
|---|---|
| Double Delight | Creamy white petals edged in red |
| Ebb Tide | Deep purple fading to light lavender |
| Kaleidoscope | Yellow blooms streaked with red |
| Mood Swing | Yellow to pink ombre effect |
| Polar Joy | Creamy white streaked with red |
| Sunset Celebration | Yellow center with orange and pink outer petals |
| Tie Dye | Swirling stripes of yellow, orange, red, and pink |
| Twilight Zone | Purple blended with white |
These stunning roses offer dynamic color palettes to reflect the nuances of your emotions and symbolic meaning you wish to convey.
Meanings of Popular Multicolor Roses
Here are some symbolic meanings associated with popular multicolor rose varieties:
| Multicolor Rose | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Double Delight | Pure love with a hint of passion |
| Ebb Tide | Love at first sight |
| Kaleidoscope | Exciting, joyful friendship |
| Mood Swing | Hopeful romance |
| Polar Joy | Playful affection |
| Sunset Celebration | Enthusiastic admiration |
| Tie Dye | Whimsical, free-spirited love |
| Twilight Zone | Mysterious, mesmerizing attraction |
These associations showcase how multicolor roses can evoke a story through the interplay of colors. You can mix and match different rose hues and patterns to craft a symbolic bouquet.
When to Give Multicolor Roses
Multicolor roses are perfect for:
– Birthdays – Mix favorite colors for a fun arrangement
– Anniversaries – Choose ombre roses that blend meaning
– Prom-posals – Vibrant tie-dye roses to match the occasion
– Weddings – Soft coral and peach roses for the bouquet
– Valentine’s Day – Opt for two-toned roses to highlight devotion
– Just Because – Surprise with rainbow roses to brighten someone’s day
– Get Well Soon – Cheerful yellow and pink roses to uplift
– Sympathy – Subtle purple and white roses to comfort
Multicolor roses allow you to curate roses with meaningful hues suitable for the recipient and occasion. The interplay of colors helps convey the depth of your sentiments.
How to Make Roses Multicolor
There are a few methods for making single stem roses multicolor at home:
Ombre water effect
– Cut white roses and place stems in water mixed with food coloring
– Use darker shade at bottom grading lighter up the stem
– Color will diffuse up the stem, creating an ombre
Two-tone rose
– Cut a small notch halfway down the stem of a colored rose
– Place the bottom half in water dyed a contrasting color
– Lower half of stem will absorb different color than upper half
Painting
– Use floral paints or fabric dyes to hand-paint stripes or patterns on rose petals
– Let painted roses dry fully before arranging
Decoupage
– Cut out colored tissue paper shapes
– Apply decoupage glue to rose and attach paper cutouts
– Seal with additional layers of glue for durability
These simple techniques let you customize roses into stunning multicolor arrangements.
Care for Multicolor Roses
Multicolor roses have the same care needs as regular roses. Here are some tips:
– Cut stems at an angle and remove foliage below waterline before placing in clean vase
– Use floral preservative and change water every 2-3 days
– Display out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources like vents
– Roses prefer room temperature around 65-75°F
– Recut stems every few days to restore water flow if roses start to wilt
– For longevity, choose mature buds that have not fully opened yet
Proper care will extend the life of your multicolor roses so you can enjoy their beauty and symbolism for over a week or more.
Gifting Multicolor Rose Bouquets
Multicolor roses make an eye-catching gift. When ordering a bouquet, specify the colors and varieties you want included. Here are some stunning combinations:
| Occasion | Multicolor Bouquet Suggestions |
|---|---|
| Anniversary | Bouquet of coral Double Delights and peach Blushing Kisses |
| Birthday | Vibrant arrangement with yellow Kaleidoscopes, orange Sunset Celebrations, and pink Motrees |
| Sympathy | Soft pastel bouquet of lavender Vendelas, purple Twilight Zones, and white Polar Joys |
| Apology | Red and white Double Delights paired with light pink Sweet Akitos |
| Love and romance | Red Grand Prix roses with a few stems of purple and white Mood Swings |
| Just because | Surprise rainbow tie-dye roses |
A florist can help translate your desired color palette and emotional message into a stunning multicolor rose arrangement.
Conclusion
Multicolor roses provide an expanded floral vocabulary to help convey the breadth and nuance of your sentiments. By intermixing rose hues, you can create a floral masterpiece that symbolizes a multifaceted relationship dynamic or emotional state. With their variety of color patterns and sophisticated blended meanings, multicolor roses offer an intriguing new way to gift roses for any occasion.
