Unquestionably, roses are the quintessential symbol of love. The red rose has long been a symbol of beauty, passion, desire, and everlasting affection dating back centuries. History is steeped in stories, myths and legends of the symbolic red rose from ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, Persia, Egypt, China, and the Victorian era.
One story from ancient Greek mythology is that -Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, discovered the death of her first love, Adonis. While running to him she pricked herself passing a rose bush, and her blood dropped onto a white rose, and the first red rose was born.
“Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a bouquet of vibrant red roses.”
In today’s contemporary world, the red rose remains a symbol of passion and everlasting love in our culture, literature, art, films and music. Who hasn’t enjoyed films where stunning bunches of red roses are bestowed upon the female lead in romantic comedies, presented at the end of an orchestral concert or ballet and given on Valentine’s Day to a secret love?
According to NAB, in 2023, Australians spent $24 million at florists in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, and I’d only be guessing but a large portion would have been on red roses.
“The red rose whispers of passion, and the white rose breathes
John Boyle O’Reilly
of love; O, the red rose is a falcon,
and the white rose is a dove”
During the 17th and 18th Centuries, people would throw red roses to soldiers to honour their bravery and strength in battle. And today, the red rose is a modern symbol of remembrance, courage, and respect, as seen on Anzac Day when we remember the fallen with red roses laid on graves or worn on lapels.
“A red rose is not selfish because it wants to be a red rose. It would be terribly selfish
if it wanted the flowers in the garden to be all red and all roses.”
Bright red roses during the Victorian era were also a symbol of promise used to convey courtship and shared affection. Society held strict taboo’s on people displaying affection in public, so the rose became a symbol of shared love and commitment.
Floriography was popular during this era and was called, “The Language of Flowers”. Special meanings could be conveyed by sending bouquets with a hidden message. The bouquets would be made, and the selection of flowers created a code or secret message used to describe intricate, unspoken messages of love, commitment, rejection, courtship and friendship.
The shade of red roses was also important; burgundy, deep red, crimson, or purple held varied sentiments. Bright red roses symbolise true love, and the classic rose of romance. Dark Burgundy is often seen as beauty, elegance and deeper passion, Merlot red as beauty, and Dark rich red, enduring love, and rebirth or new beginnings. The red rosebuds; purity and loveliness.
“My love is like a red, red rose
Robert Burns 1788
That’s newly sprung in June:
Not only are colours and hues significant in the selection of roses for a loved one, but the number of roses chosen, still holds significance with florists today. From one to one hundred roses, all have subtle messages of love , forgiveness, commitment, admiration, forgiveness, or longing.
“Love and a red rose can’t be hid.”
Thomas Holcroft
The symbolism of red roses varies across different cultures as well. In Persia, red roses were a metaphor for divine love and longing. In Chinese culture, red roses mean happiness and prosperity. In Hindu culture, the red rose is linked to fertility and rebirth, whilst in South Korea, the red rose is given as a token of reaching maturity or adulthood. The Buddhist culture uses red roses to symbolise a willingness to sacrifice oneself for others.
In Western history and culture, red roses took on a more complex meaning. They were used as symbols of religious or political iconography, such as the Wars of the Roses—a 15th-century dynastic conflict in England between the House of Lancaster, red rose, and the House of York, white rose.
Apart from the romantic aspect of red roses the colour red commands attention as it is the boldest colour on the colour wheel. Red can easily be seen from afar by pollinators and gardeners alike and is a powerful design tool to draw the eye, and create focal points. The colour red is one of the first colours we see at first glance,
Red is the rose that yonder garden grows; Fair is the lily of the valley
The Bonnie Banks o’Loch Lomond, Scottish song
Growing and nurturing red roses speaks to far more than planting anything else in the garden, because of the red roses’ historical and cultural significance. Red in the landscape is full of emotion and sincerity, both powerful and exciting.
Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.
Katherine Lee Bates
In all my garden, there is no red rose. ………After a year of no red roses I am planting my first bright red rose called Grand Amore – great love. I have previously grown: As Good As It Gets, Dublin Bay Climbing, Fiona’s Wish, Kardinal and Homage to Barbara in the red range. And in the more burgundy or deep crimson/red roses we have Guy Savoy, In Appreciation, Knockout, Fur Elise, and Twilight Zone. already planted and growing well.
“Of all flowers, methinks a rose is best.”
William Shakespeare
Rosa Grand Amore is a Hybrid Tea rose from Kordes, bred in Germany in 2004 by Tim Hermann Kordes, in the Eleganza® Collection. It is a wide, bushy, compact and upright shrub with medium-sized well-formed roses on long single stems in classic red. Grand Amore is an exceptionally disease resistant rose rated 4/5 in the Treloar’s health rating.
There are many shades of red roses available from burgundy, deep crimson to bright, vivid, classic red, red stripes, and red with white or yellow undertones. The deep glossy leaves of the rose bushes are the perfect foil for the brilliance of red blooms. No matter what your garden colour scheme is, there will be a suitable red rose to complement the design.
A red, red rose, all wet with dew, With leaves of green by red shot through.
E Nesbit
Consider the red orange shades, of Rosa Ashram or La Jago. The deep red magenta in Guy Savoy and Knockout roses or the fiery red Le Rouge et le Noir a Flemington racecourse favourite. There are also the majestic red purples in Big Purple, Iceberg Burgundy, or Twilight Zone roses. A touch of brilliant red dispersed through the garden is enough unless there is ample space, as the colour is so striking, and can very easily over power.
Another reason to grow shades of red roses is that they are incredibly hardy and disease-resistant. They are beautiful from the start in almost black bud form unfolding to reveal the intensity of colour in the petals as seen in Dark Desire and Blackberry Nip roses. Both of these roses were spectacular last season. So bountiful, always creating huge, perfect roses throughout the season until winter.
I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Louis Armstrong
Don’t wait to for someone to send you a dozen red roses, grow them instead in the garden or a pot.
Content Di Baker July 2025
Images by Di Baker or as cited.
