Meaning of Purple Roses: History and Symbolism

Unique and captivating, purple roses are the epitome of luxury. Purple has long been associated with royalty and wealth. This is because long ago it was only Kings, Queens and the aristocracy who could afford purple possessions (purple dye was very expensive!)

Purple roses are sometimes called “blue” or “black.” They share many symbolic meanings with blue roses, such as their ties to mystery, enchantment, and mysticism. But purple roses stand on their own, as well. Whether you choose a lavender color, or dark and velvety, they are perfect for expressing love.

Purple is the rose that says, “I always knew you were the one”. It doesn’t get more romantic than that!

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Purple Roses Meaning

Purple roses symbolize royalty, grandeur, splendor, luxury, and the recognition of high honor, success, and achievement.

They symbolize two different loves – love at first sight and a mature romance or deep passion. Purple roses also convey admiration, fascination and adoration.

The purple rose shares symbolism with the blue rose, like mystery, charm, wonder, and enchantment. A sense of intrigue comes with these flowers. They convey the unknown and a desire to unravel mysterious secrets.

Read more on the meaning of each rose color in our dedicated article.

Light Purple Roses Meaning

Lavender-colored roses symbolize wonder, impossibility, and mystical love. A thornless lavender rose represents love at first sight. Some lavender roses are used as blue roses, these beauties also convey a sense of magic.

Dark Purple Roses Meaning

Dark purple roses symbolize royalty, luxury, sophistication and elegance.

Deep purple roses signify long-term romance, lasting love, adoration, admiration and respect.

Top 10 Meanings of Purple Roses

• Royalty
• Luxury
• Elegance
• Mystery
• Enchantment
• Honor
• Success
• Wealth
• Transformation
• Sophistication

Read more on the top 10 meanings of each rose color in our dedicated article.

Purple Roses Spiritual Meaning

Known as the “mystical rose,” the purple rose is an enchanting and majestic flower that means spiritual love and growth, transformation, rebirth, spirit messages, and the journey toward higher consciousness. The purple hue is a mix of the stabilizing calm of blue and the fiery red spirit, creating spiritual growth and wisdom. 

Purple roses also symbolize a spiritual sense of nobility, enchantment, healing, harmony, wisdom, knowledge, serenity, peace, enlightenment, mysticism, spirituality, creativity, inspiration, sacredness, gratitude, and appreciation. They stand for compassion and the journey of self-discovery.

Read more on the spiritual meanings of each rose color in our dedicated article.

Purple Roses History

According to records, purple roses were first bred in Asia in the 16th century. They didn’t catch on immediately; it took another 200-300 years before the Dutch started growing them. 

Hybridists wanted to produce different colors of roses and they achieved shades of purple, most likely by crossbreeding European roses with those found in China. In the hybridization and selective breeding process, the natural red, pink, orange, and yellow pigments created purple.

The “Cardinal de Richelieu” was one of the earliest purple roses, produced in the mid-1600s France, and is still grown today. It has dark purple petals and a light fragrance. 

Lilac, plum, and lavender shades would come later as interest grew.

The delicate, sweetly-fragranced purple roses were so popular that they spread by travel and trade worldwide. There are now about 40 varieties, from light lavender to dark violet, some so dark they are almost black.

Read more on the history of each rose color in our dedicated article.

Purple Roses Other Cultures and Countries

In Buddhism, purple roses represent the inner journey, mystic discovery, transformation, and creativity. 

In Western cultures, purple roses are often associated with enchantment, opulence, and majesty. They can symbolize love at first sight or convey a sense of wonder and awe. Additionally, they can represent a sense of grandeur, elegance, and regality.

In some Eastern cultures, purple roses are associated with spirituality, wisdom, and enlightenment. They can represent a deep connection to the divine or convey a sense of mystical beauty. Purple is also seen as a color of prosperity and abundance in some Eastern traditions.

In ancient Rome, purple was a color associated with royalty and power. Purple roses would symbolize wealth, influence, and dignity. They were often reserved for esteemed individuals or used as a status symbol.

During the Victorian era, purple roses conveyed enchantment and love at first sight. They were often given to express a sense of fascination or fascination with someone.

Today, purple roses are associated with uniqueness, creativity, and individuality. They may represent a person’s unique qualities or acknowledge their originality.

Read more on the the meaning of each rose color in different cultures in our dedicated article.

Purple Roses as a Gift

You can gift purple roses to a crush, to someone you are grateful for, to someone you adore, to someone you want to celebrate, or to someone you look up to. Gifting someone a bouquet of purple roses conveys that you want to give them the world!

If you want to encourage an artist in your life to pursue their dreams, a gift of purple roses says it all.

An exquisite bouquet of these purple blooms also says, “Congrats on a new beginning!” for someone making a difficult change in life, like moving to a new state.

Read more about each rose color as gifts in our dedicated article.

Purple Roses in Relationships

In a relationship, purple roses mean admiration, attention, adoration, fascination, and love at first sight. When you give someone purple roses in a relationship, you show they hold a special place in your heart.

Events or Occasions for Purple Roses

Purple roses are great for Mother’s Day, a milestone anniversary, a milestone birthday, Valentine’s Day, or any other romantic occasion. An arrangement of dark purple roses is a perfect way to congratulate a couple on their 25th wedding anniversary.

Purple Roses in Friendships

In friendships, purple roses signify your deep appreciation, loyalty, trust, and admiration for your friends. Giving these lovely flowers to a friend says that you value their company and you celebrate the lifelong companionship and trust you have with them.

Read more about roses in friendships.

Purple Roses at Weddings

Purple roses are a popular choice year-round for weddings. Purple roses signify royalty, and couples want to feel extra special on their wedding day. What better way to show regality on your wedding day than carrying a bouquet of exquisite purple roses?

Purple Roses at Funerals

Purple roses are perfect for funerals. They represent support, understanding, remembrance, comfort, soul transcendence, eternity, immortality, and a spiritual connection. They remind us that even though we cannot see our loved one who has passed away, their spirit endures, transcending this physical world and existing beyond.

Are Purple Roses More Expensive Than Other Rose Colors?

Purple roses can be more expensive because florists have to pay more since they are specialty bred. Sometimes white roses have been dyed purple to achieve a vibrant hue. This also increases the price.

Purple roses are often cheaper than red roses on Valentine’s Day, due to the lower demand. 

Purple Roses Mean When Combined With Other Colors 

Lavender-purple roses and white roses create peace, tranquility, purity, and grace. This lovely color combo is excellent for weddings or for acknowledging a new beginning. 

Purple Rose Tattoos

Purple rose tattoos represent the unknown, mystical, enchantment, mystery, intrigue, and fascination. 

They also represent transformation, growth, a spiritual journey, strength, resilience, and a blossoming of one’s inner beauty. A purple rose signifies acceptance and self-love. It also may refer to the higher realms of consciousness and convey a deeper understanding of the universe and oneself.

Since it means eternal true love, a purple rose tattoo is often a memorial for a spouse that has passed away.

A tattoo featuring both a purple rose and a blue rose means a mix of immortal love and the possibility of moving on.

Purple Rose Varieties

Twilight Zone is an exquisite amethyst rose with deep purple petals. The large, double-petalled, old-fashioned bloom has a clove and lemon-citrus fragrance, making a lovely cut flower.

The Heirloom Rose is not actually an heirloom, but a modern rose. The gorgeous, deep lilac-lavender flower has magenta edges and a lovely fragrance of apple, wine, and ripe raspberries.

Ebb Tide has dark, smoky purple, double-bloom, old-fashioned flowers that appear nearly black depending on the lighting. They have a strong clove and citrus blossom scent.

Life’s Little Pleasures is a miniature rose with double lavender blooms and a light scent. It’s a beautiful cut flower that starts as a lavender-pink color and ages to pure lavender.

The Lavender Veranda Rose is a petite Floribunda Rose, bred in northern Germany, with clusters of pointed, densely petalled blossoms. Its color is a purple ombre, starting with dusky lilac and fading to pastel lavender. 

Conclusion

If you want to tell someone you appreciate, admire, and respect them, purple roses are the perfect way to say it. Purple roses tell your lover that you see them as royalty, or they can say, “I knew I loved you the moment I first saw you.” Dark purple roses represent long-term love and commitment, so your spouse will appreciate them after decades of marriage.

Purple roses reflect wonder, impossibility, spirituality, sacredness, harmony, nobility, wisdom, knowledge, creativity, and inspiration. With such multi-faceted symbolism, they are the perfect gift to honor your special someone.

Frequently Asked Questions – Meaning of Purple Roses

What do purple roses symbolize?

Purple roses symbolize royalty, grandeur, splendor, luxury, and the recognition of high honor, success, and achievement. They also symbolize two different loves – love at first sight and a mature romance or deep passion. Furthermore, purple roses convey admiration, fascination, adoration, mystery, charm, mysticism, wonder, and enchantment.

What is the meaning of light purple roses?

Light purple or lavender-colored roses symbolize wonder, impossibility, and mystical love. A thornless lavender rose represents love at first sight.

What is the meaning of dark purple roses?

Dark purple roses symbolize royalty, luxury, sophistication, and elegance. Deep purple roses signify long-term romance, lasting love, adoration, admiration, and respect.

What is the spiritual meaning of purple roses?

Known as the “mystical rose,” the purple rose means spiritual love and growth, transformation, rebirth, spirit messages, and the journey toward higher consciousness. They also symbolize a spiritual sense of nobility, enchantment, healing, harmony, wisdom, knowledge, serenity, peace, enlightenment, mysticism, spirituality, creativity, inspiration, sacredness, gratitude, and appreciation.

What is the history of purple roses?

Purple roses were first bred in Asia in the 16th century. They were produced by crossbreeding European roses with those found in China. The “Cardinal de Richelieu” was one of the earliest purple roses, produced in the mid-1600s France. There are now about 40 varieties of purple roses, from light lavender to dark violet.

What do purple roses mean in different cultures?

In Buddhism, purple roses represent the inner journey, mystic discovery, transformation, and creativity. In Western cultures, they are often associated with enchantment, opulence, and majesty. In some Eastern cultures, they are associated with spirituality, wisdom, and enlightenment. In ancient Rome, purple was a color associated with royalty and power.

When should I give purple roses as a gift?

Purple roses can be given to a crush, to someone you are grateful for, to someone you adore, to someone you want to celebrate, or to someone you look up to. They can also be given to encourage an artist in your life to pursue their dreams, or to congratulate someone on a new beginning.

What do purple roses mean in relationships?

In a relationship, purple roses mean admiration, attention, adoration, fascination, and love at first sight. When you give someone purple roses in a relationship, you show they hold a special place in your heart.

Are purple roses more expensive than other rose colors?

Purple roses can be more expensive because they are specialty bred. Sometimes white roses have been dyed purple to achieve a vibrant hue, which also increases the price. However, they are often cheaper than red roses on Valentine’s Day, due to the lower demand.

What do purple roses mean when combined with other colors?

When combined with white roses, lavender-purple roses create a sense of peace, tranquility, purity, and grace.

What is the significance of purple rose tattoos?

Purple rose tattoos represent the unknown, mystical, enchantment, mystery, intrigue, and fascination. They also represent transformation, growth, a spiritual journey, strength, resilience, and a blossoming of one’s inner beauty. A purple rose signifies acceptance and self-love. It also may refer to the higher realms of consciousness and convey a deeper understanding of the universe and oneself.