Roses are a common flower gifted to loved ones to express sympathy and condolences after a loss. The color of roses gifted can convey different meanings, with some colors being more appropriate than others for expressing sympathy. When selecting roses to gift someone who is grieving, it’s important to consider the meaning behind each color and choose appropriately.
Meaning of Rose Colors
Here are the most common rose color meanings:
| Color | Meaning |
| Red | Love, romance |
| White | Purity, innocence |
| Pink | Gratitude, appreciation |
| Yellow | Friendship, joy |
| Orange | Enthusiasm, passion |
| Purple | Enchantment, magnetism |
| Blue | Impossible, unattainable |
| Black | Death, farewell |
As you can see, different rose colors convey different sentiments. When selecting roses for someone grieving a loss, you’ll want to avoid colors with meanings tied to romance, joy, or passion. The most appropriate colors are white, pink, purple, and black roses.
White Roses for Sympathy
White roses are one of the best colors to select when gifting roses as a sympathy gesture. White conveys purity and innocence, which are comforting sentiments when expressing condolences. The white rose evokes remembrance and can symbolize that the departed loved one led a pure life. White roses for sympathy indicate that you respect the innocent life that was lost and want to offer gentle comfort in a time of grief.
Pink Roses for Sympathy
Pink roses are another appropriate choice for sympathy arrangements and condolence bouquets. With their meaning tied to gratitude and appreciation, pink roses are a thoughtful way to say “thank you” for the life of the deceased. Pink roses convey gentle affection, making them a warm, heartfelt way to show you care during a difficult time of loss. Light pink roses in particular evoke sweetness and empathy. Pink roses with their soft, delicate beauty can bring a comforting femininity and grace to funeral flower arrangements.
Purple Roses for Sympathy
Purple roses make for especially beautiful sympathy bouquets with their deep, rich color. The meaning associated with purple roses is enchantment and magnetism, which speaks to the enduring spirit and appeal of the deceased. Purple roses for sympathy arrangements symbolize the magical memories that will continue to surround the loved one who has passed away. Purple roses can evoke nostalgia and have a mystical, intriguing elegance that makes them ideal for adding depth to condolence flower arrangements.
Black Roses for Sympathy
Black roses are the flower most directly associated with grief, loss, and death. Their darker color conveys the somber emotions that come with mourning. Black roses acknowledge the sorrow and pain of the loss while also symbolizing farewell. Black roses recognize the finality of death and convey that you sympathize with the bereavement the family is experiencing. At the same time, black roses with their lush blooms still contain beauty in darkness. They symbolize that even in the shadow of death, there are elements of beauty, strength and continuity of life.
Mixed Color Rose Sympathy Bouquets
While single color rose arrangements in white, pink, purple or black make beautiful sympathy bouquets, mixed colors can also make thoughtful combinations. Some classic mixed rose bouquet color options include:
| White and Pink | Pink and Purple |
| White and Purple | White, Pink, and Purple |
White roses pair elegantly with either pink or purple roses. The purity of the white roses balances the femininity of pink or the mystique of purple. Pink and purple together convey gentle affection and enduring allure in one bouquet. For a mixed arrangement that incorporates all three most fitting rose colors, white, pink and purple roses offer a symphony of sympathies.
Avoid Red, Yellow, Orange Roses
When selecting rose colors for a sympathy bouquet, it’s best to avoid roses with brighter, warmer hues like red, yellow, and orange. These roses have meanings associated with romance, friendship, joy, and passion. Such sentiment are not fitting for memorial services, funerals, graveside tributes, or sending condolences to grieving families. Stick with white, pink, purple or black roses to convey respect, comfort, gratitude, and solace in times of bereavement.
Consider Rose Color Meaning and Receiver’s Preferences
The rose color meanings above provide helpful guidance on which hues are most appropriate for sympathy bouquets and funeral flowers. However, you should also take into account the personality and preferences of the recipient. Someone who loved bright, vibrant colors may appreciate a mixed bouquet with some pink or purple rather than only white roses. If their loved one had a favorite color, incorporating roses in that hue can make for a meaningful memorial tribute. While following the color guidelines, also consider what arrangement would touch the grieving heart of the individual receiving your condolence roses.
Choosing the Right Color Says You Care
Roses offer a beautiful, meaningful way to convey compassion and sympathy to those grieving a loss. By choosing roses in white, pink, purple or black, you select colors symbolizing comfort, grace, warmth and remembrance. Avoiding brighter roses shows respect and sensitivity. Putting thought into the rose color for sympathy bouquets shows the receiver you want to gift them something appropriate for somber occasions. Let the roses’ deep perpetual beauty remind the bereaved of the enduring spirit of their loved one. With roses of sympathy, show the ones in mourning that you stand with them in their time of loss.
Conclusion
When looking for roses to express sympathy for a loss, select white, pink, purple or black roses. These colors symbolize purity, gratitude, enchantment and remembrance. Avoid red, yellow and orange roses which connote brighter sentiments unfit for grieving occasions. Take care to choose arrangements in colors that will bring solace and comfort to the mourning. With roses of gentle beauty colored in white, pink, purple or black, your floral gift will convey an appropriate message of condolence and empathy.
