What Does a Purple Rose Mean?

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Discover the message behind the mystical purple rose

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Jason Zuk

Last Updated: May 8, 2024 Fact Checked

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Purple Rose Symbolism

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Spiritual Meaning

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History

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When to Give Purple Roses

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How Purple Roses Are Made

Magical, opulent, beautiful, purple roses represent royalty and majesty. They can also signify admiration, love, enchantment, and self-discovery. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about purple roses, including their symbolism, spiritual meaning, and history. Read on for a complete guide to the meaning of purple roses, including who to give them to and when.

Purple Rose Symbolism

Purple roses represent royalty and love at first sight, making them the perfect flowers to give to a long-term partner. If you have a crush on someone, give them light purple roses to reveal your romantic feelings. Or, send dark purple roses to a friend or colleague to convey your respect and admiration.

Section 1 of 5:

Purple Rose Symbolism

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Light purple or lavender roses evoke feelings of attraction and romance, so they’re a subtle way to admit that you have feelings for someone.^{[1]
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Research source} Surprise someone with a single purple rose to reveal you have a crush on them, or give them a huge bouquet to take your relationship to the next level.
Dark purple roses signify admiration, gratitude, and respect, so they’re a wonderful gift to present to a boss or colleague. If you want to tell someone that you look up to them, send a bouquet of violet or plum-colored blooms their way.

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Purple is considered a highly spiritual color, giving purple roses a mysterious allure. Because purple roses are not as common as pink or red roses, many people think they’re more magical. They complement other flowers in a bouquet and look stunning in arrangements, making them a popular choice for weddings.^{[2]
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Purple roses are most often associated with majesty, luxury, and opulence. In ancient times, purple dye was extremely expensive and difficult to produce, so only royals could afford it.^{[3]
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Research source} This symbolism makes purple roses the perfect gift for someone who deserves everything and more!

Section 2 of 5:

Purple Rose Spiritual Meaning

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Purple roses represent self-discovery and transformation in the East. They're believed to be connected to the crown chakra, which is linked to clarity and higher consciousness.^{[4]
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Research source} Meditating with a purple rose or scattering the petals in your meditation space may help you grow spiritually and raise your self-awareness.
- To meditate, sit in a comfortable position, place a purple rose over your crown chakra, and close your eyes. Concentrate on inhaling and exhaling, and allow your thoughts to come and go.

Section 3 of 5:

History of Purple Roses

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Purple roses first appeared in Asia during the 16th century. However, they weren’t widely cultivated until hundreds of years later. In the 18th century, Dutch hybridists wanted to create different colored roses, so they crossbred European roses with ones from China. The breeding process produced purple pigments in the flowers, which gained popularity in the 20th century.^{[5]
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- One of the earliest purple rose varieties is the “Cardinal de Richelieu,” which was created in France during the mid-19th century. It has deep purple petals and a light fragrance.^{[6]
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When to Give Purple Roses

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Send purple roses to your loved ones to celebrate special occasions. Purple roses are a unique option for weddings, graduations, and other milestone moments. They’re the perfect way to say “congratulations” and show someone that you care about them.
- Put your purple roses in an arrangement with other flowers, or present them in a vase.
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Give dark purple roses to your boss or colleague to show respect. Whether you’re trying to level up in your career or simply bring some joy into the office, present a bouquet of purple roses to someone you admire. It’s a thoughtful gesture to let them know that you value their opinions and enjoy working with them.
- Send purple roses when someone is about to achieve a major goal or have a work anniversary.
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Send light purple roses to your crush to express your romantic feelings. If you’ve had a crush on someone for a while, let it be known with a bouquet of lavender roses! It sends the message that you want to be more than friends and you’re waiting on them to make a move.
- Light purple roses give off a sweet and shy vibe, while deep purple roses communicate lust and passion.
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Give purple roses to someone who’s going through a major change. Do you know someone who just moved to a new city, landed a promotion, or got engaged? A bouquet of purple roses is the perfect gift to show support for their next chapter in life and let them know that you have their back through it all!
- If they live in another state, send flowers by scheduling a delivery from a nearby shop or placing an order online.

Section 5 of 5:

How Purple Roses Are Made

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Purple roses are created by cross-breeding red and blue roses. To breed purple roses, florists cross-pollinate two “parent” plants—they use a paintbrush to remove the pollen from a red rose and apply it to the stigma of a blue rose. If the process is successful, the two plants breed together and create a “hybrid” that has purple pigment.^{[7]
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- Alternatively, florists can dye a rose purple by placing a white rose in a container of water that has purple food coloring in it.^{[8]
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