When the word ‘rose’ comes up, most people picture a red flower. But did you know that roses also exist in purple?
This article provides a complete guide to purple rose meaning and symbolism.
Generally, a purple rose is a symbol of elegance, sophistication, rarity, respect, and deep affection. Roses with a lighter shade of purple are more associated with feelings of peace, tranquility, love at first sight, and spirituality. Darker shades of purple roses often represent royalty, nobility, mystery, success, and eternal love.
Do Purple Roses Exist in Nature?
The rose plant belongs to a genus called ‘Rosa’ of the family ‘Rosaceae’. Flowers produced by this plant are widely known as roses; one of the most popular types of flowers worldwide.
Most rose species are native to Asia, but some have origins in Europe and North America. They make for gorgeous houseplants and their commercial value is beyond high.
Rose flowers exist in a wide range of brilliant colors in nature. Red, white, and pink are the most widespread shades, but what about purple?
Well, purple roses didn’t occur in nature until the 19th century. The color had to be triggered by humans via crossbreeding of the standard European rose with a Chinese variety of roses.
What Does a Purple Rose Mean?
Purple roses come in a variety of shades ranging from light lavender and lilac to dark violet and plum. Let’s take a look at the different meanings that these colors of roses stand for:
1. Royalty and Nobility
For as long as the color purple existed, it has always been a sign of royalty and nobility. The association of purple with a person or occasion having an elite status isn’t just because the color looks magnificent, but also because purple was quite difficult to come across.
You see, purple pigments and dyes were very rare back in the day due to the scarcity of the color in nature, so they were also extremely expensive.
As such, regular people couldn’t afford to buy merchandise featuring purple shades. Only individuals from royal and noble families were rich enough to obtain these colors, so many of them were seen flaunting purple capes and clothes as an indication of their fortune and wealth.
To this day, the link between purple -especially darker shades- and royalty or majesty is still going strong.
2. Peace and Tranquility
A purple rose can be a symbol of peace, tranquility, and stability. This is especially true in the case of lighter purple shades, for example, lilac and lavender.
The pale hues of such colors bring about a sense of serenity and calmness when you look at them.
They’re usually associated with relaxing and soothing effects, which is why many color experts recommend the use of light purple shades in bedrooms to ease the mind in preparation for a good night’s sleep.
3. Accomplishment and Success
One of the newer meanings associated with the purple rose is success and accomplishments.
The sense of significance that the color purple conveys, particularly darker shades such as deep plum or violet, can show your acknowledgment of a person’s achievements.
For this reason, congratulatory bouquets with dark purple flowers are an ideal choice to celebrate the success of a friend, boss, graduate, and so on.
4. Respect and Honor
The charm and prestige associated with a purple rose make it an excellent choice for a flower to display respect, whether it’s in a light or dark shade.
So if you’re trying to tell someone that you hold them in high regard, presenting them with purple roses will show your appreciation.
Besides respect, purple roses can also represent honor and gratitude. As such, you can use them to show someone how much of an honor it is to have them in your life.
5. Elegance and Sophistication
When it comes to elegant colors, purple is pretty much on top of the list.
It’s known for evoking feelings of regality and prestige, so it should come as no surprise that it’s closely associated with meanings of elegance and sophistication.
The rarity of the color back in the day also made purple roses a representation of luxury and wealth.
6. Eternal Love and Deep Affection
Purple is a color that symbolizes longevity in love, so a purple rose can be used to express eternal devotion to a loved one, even when they’re not with you.
A purple rose can represent everlasting passion and deep affection. A bouquet of these in light or dark shades conveys that your undying love will continue beyond life.
7. Love at First Sight
A purple rose in a light shade such as lavender and without thorns can represent first love. It captures the innocent and unsuspecting vibes of being infatuated with someone on the spot.
If you’ve recently started dating, these flowers make for a perfect gift. They’re also a symbol of romance and work great for Valentine’s Day and anniversaries.
8. Mystery and Magic
The color purple, especially when it’s a darker shade, is often associated with mystery and secrecy. This is probably due to the rarity of the color in nature, which caused people to link them to mysticism and magic.
9. Spirituality and Wisdom
Finally, a purple rose can be a symbol of wisdom, spirituality, harmony, and being in sync with your surroundings. This is due to the impact of the color on our feelings as it triggers sentiments of peace, stability, and calmness, particularly the lighter shades of purple.
10 Variants of Purple Roses
Now that you have a better idea of all the different meanings and symbolization a purple rose can hold, you’re probably wondering about the varieties of roses with purple petals that you can find out there.
I explained earlier that purple roses didn’t exist naturally. They’re the result of cross-breeding white, pink, and even red species of roses.
The following list will introduce you to some of the most beautiful purple roses that you can grow today to add a splash of unique color to your garden.
1. Bleu Magenta Rose
As you can probably tell from its name, the Bleu Magenta rose possesses beautiful color shades ranging from dark pink to mauve to purple to bright magenta. This hybrid multiflora plant is a climbing variety and can grow up to 18 feet tall.
The blooms are medium-sized, about 2 or 3 inches wide. They come in clusters in late spring or early summer, with each blossom featuring between 25 to 40 petals.
Bleu Magenta roses don’t produce a strong fragrance. They were first bred by Louis Benoit Van Houtte just before the start of the 20th century.
2. Rosa ‘William Shakespeare 2000’
The ‘William Shakespeare 2000’ rose is an English hybrid flower that made its debut back at the start of the millennium. The abundance of its petals and the sheer magnificence of their arrangement earned this rose its name after the legendary writer who’s known for his dramatic approach.
This plant blooms all year long and produces large fragrant flowers with smooth, bowl-shaped petals. Upon reaching maturity, they become a rich purple or crimson color.
The plant is quite sturdy and resistant to diseases, thriving in full sun with moderate watering on well-drained soil. ‘William Shakespeare 2000’ roses look great along borders and in flower beds.
3. Cardinal de Richelieu Rose
A small compact shrub, the Cardinal de Richelieu plant produces highly fragrant roses in summer. The flowers possess a stunning deep purple color with a rich wine hue that screams magical and majestic.
These plants also have dense dark green foliage that lasts through spring, summer, and fall. This is why it’s considered semi-evergreen.
Cardinal de Richelieu roses enjoy full sun conditions with moderate watering on well-drained soil. They can grow up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
These roses are a bit high maintenance if you’re thinking about planting some in your garden. But their beauty is so worth it!
4. Sissinghurst Castle Rose
This gorgeous purple rose was discovered at the Sissinghurst Castle in the United Kingdom, and so it was named after the location. The discovery was made by Vita Sackville-West during the first half of the 20th century.
Coupled with dense dark green foliage and golden stamens, these plants produce mesmerizing bowl-shaped roses in crimson and deep purple shades. The roses are mildly fragrant with a pleasant scent and are considered medium size as they reach about 3 inches in diameter.
Sissinghurst Castle roses bloom in spring or summer in USDA zones 4b to 8b. The plant itself can grow as tall as 5 feet and as wide as 3 feet.
5. Neptune Rose
The Neptune rose is one of the most beautiful purple roses you can come across. This hybrid tea flower shows off a gorgeous lavender color with hues of purple on the edge of the petals to create a show-stopping blend of shades.
This plant produces many light-colored blooms paired with broad, glossy foliage and a sweet fragrance. It’s hardy and very resistant to disease.
With a diameter of around 5 inches, the Neptune rose is on the larger side of the spectrum. Its plant can grow up to 5 feet high and 28 inches wide.
This purple rose was first introduced in 2005 by Tim Carruth who crossed (Blueberry Hill x Stephen’s Big Purple) with Rosa Blue Nile.
6. Rosa ‘Basye’s Purple Rose’
Basye’s Purple Rose is a medium-sized flower with a diameter between 2 and 3 inches. It got its name as a tribute to its breeder Robert Basye who introduced it to the world in 1968.
Fragrant and showy, this purple rose possesses a vibrant mauve to dark plum color. Each blossom has a single count of petals (up to 7) and is closer to a flat shape than a bowl shape.
The plant itself is medium to large, growing up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It thrives in full sun conditions and blooms in spring, summer, or fall.
7. Rose du Roi
The Rose du Roi plant is a medium-sized bush that can grow up to 4 tall and 3 feet wide. This perennial shrub is one of the hardiest varieties of purple roses with impressive repeated flowering.
It blooms in early spring, late summer, or early fall and produces medium-sized flowers of a diameter between 2 and 3 inches. The roses emerge in clusters, showing off a deep red-purple color that’s guaranteed to catch anyone’s attention.
The Rose du Roi is nearly thornless and generates an alluring, intense fragrance. They love exposure to full sun and thrive in USDA zones 4 to 9.
8. Rosa ‘Stephens’ Big Purple’
Named after its hybridizer Pat “Paddy” Stephens, the Rosa ‘Stephens’ Big Purple’ was first introduced to the world in 1985. Also known as Nuit d’Orient, this hybrid tea plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and reach a width of up to 4 feet.
One of the characteristics of this plant is the very large size of its roses, possessing a diameter of 6 inches or more. The produced blooms are showy and strongly fragrant with a high-centered shape.
This purple rose is also quite full, carrying at least 40 petals per head. It has a mauve or rich purple color, blossoming in spring, summer, and winter.
9. Rosa ‘Night Owl’
If you’re looking for a purple flower that’s easy to grow and maintain, you should probably consider the Rossa ‘Night Owl’. Like the Neptune Rose, this award-winning variety was bred in the United States by Tom Carruth in 2005.
This perennial woody plant produces large flowers of a diameter between 4 and 6 inches. Each rose can feature up to 20 petals, arranged in a saucer-like shape.
The Rosa ‘Night Owl’ is a showy, highly fragrant (smells like cloves) flower that blooms in spring, summer, and fall. It displays vibrant shades of a rich wine color, Burgundy, lavender, and deep purple that fades the closer we move towards the center
10. Lavender Lassie Rose
Last but not least, we’re looking at the Lavender Lassie rose. As delicate as this beautiful blossom looks, it’s quite sturdy and armed with plenty of thorns for maximum protection.
This perennial shrub enjoys full sun and partial shade, growing up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It produces medium-sized roses of a diameter between 2 and 3 inches.
The Lavender Lassie rose comes in elegant shades of mauve, lilac, and lavender, effectively adding a soft, glowy vibe to your garden. They’re also strongly fragrant, which makes them good friends with bees.
Wrap Up On Purple Rose Meaning
There you have it, a complete guide on purple rose meanings, origin, and varieties. Generally, a purple rose represents elegance, sophistication, rarity, respect, and deep affection.
Roses with a lighter shade of purple are more associated with feelings of peace, tranquility, love at first sight, and spirituality. Darker shades of purple roses are often a symbol of royalty, nobility, mystery, success, and eternal love.
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