ROSE COLOR SYMBOLISM 
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The symbol of love, beauty, war & politics, roses have been one of the most important flowers of civilization for centuries. The Latin Rosa has over 150 species and, according to fossil evidence, is over 35 million years old, making it one of the planet's oldest living relics, along with the ginko biloba & redwood. The cultivation of roses is believed to have begun about 5,000 years ago. Since then they have been used as perfumes, medicinals, and celebratory confetti by the ancient Chinese, Romans, Egyptians and probably grew in the Gardens of Babylon. During the political struggle for control of England in the 15th century, the white rose was chosen to represent York and the red for Lancaster in what is now know as the "War of the Roses." Nearly two centuries later, Napoleon's wife Josephine established an extensive collection of cultivars at le Chateau de Malmaison just outside of Paris. In 1824 Pierre Joseph Redoute completed his botanitcal illustration book Les Rose, drawn and painted from this garden, & still a standard today. 

WHITE......................................Purity, Innocence, Spirituality, Secrecy

RED..................................................Love, I Love You

YELLOW.........................................Friendship, Joy, or  Jealousy

PINK..............................................Affection, Grace, Beauty, Femininity

PEACH, CORAL, SALMON..........Admiration, Charm, Enthusiasm

PURPLE, LAVENDER, "STERLING"........Enchantment, Desire

ORANGE...........................................Fascination, Passion, Excitement