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Red Roses as Flowers: Meaning and Tips for Giving Them as Gifts
As cut flowers, red roses are a classic floral gift for romantic and personal occasions. Depending on the number, the occasion, and how they’re combined with other flowers, they can convey different messages. Here you’ll learn what red roses symbolize, when to give them as a gift, and how to keep them fresh in a vase for a long time.
Roses belong to the genus Rosa in the rose family, Rosaceae. There are numerous rose species and varieties that are cultivated as garden plants and cut flowers. This page focuses primarily on red roses as cut flowers and floral gifts.
If you’d like to give red roses as a floral gift, you can order them here.
As flowers, red roses primarily symbolize love, passion, and deep affection. You can give them as a romantic gesture of love, for Valentine’s Day, for an anniversary, or as a personal surprise with no special occasion. Depending on the relationship and situation, red roses can also express admiration, appreciation, and closeness.
The color red is often associated with feelings such as love, passion, and romance. The tradition of using red roses as a symbol of love dates back to ancient times and remains widespread to this day.
What occasions are red roses suitable for?
Red roses are perfect for many romantic and personal occasions. In the following sections, you'll learn when they're especially appropriate and what message you can convey with them.
Red Roses for Valentine's Day
Red roses are a classic floral gift for Valentine's Day. A single red rose or a bouquet can express love, passion, and deep affection. The right number depends on your personal message and your relationship with the recipient.
Red Roses for an Anniversary or Wedding Anniversary
For an anniversary or wedding anniversary, you can give red roses as a symbol of your shared love and bond. A personal message or a carefully chosen number of roses makes the floral gift even more special.
Red Roses for a Wedding
Red roses are perfect for a wedding if you want to express love, passion, and commitment. You can choose them as a gift for the bride and groom or as part of a festive floral arrangement.
Red Roses for a Marriage Proposal
Red roses can accompany a marriage proposal as a romantic floral gesture. They traditionally symbolize deep love and passion, thereby emphasizing the personal significance of the moment.
Red Roses for a Birthday
Red roses are a great choice for a birthday if you want to convey a romantic or especially personal message. A large bouquet of 25 red roses can be chosen as a generous birthday gift. However, this number does not have a fixed, universal meaning.
Red Roses for Mother’s Day
Red roses are also a great choice for Mother’s Day if you want to show your mother how much you appreciate her. For this occasion, you can combine red roses with other flowers if you want the floral arrangement to have a less romantic feel.
Red Roses as Funeral Flowers
Red roses can be appropriate as funeral flowers if they’re meant to express a personal connection to the deceased. This is the case, for example, if the deceased person liked red roses or if the flowers held a special shared meaning.
When making your selection, you should take into account the wishes of the bereaved as well as family and cultural customs. You can use red roses in funeral wreaths, funeral arrangements, or as part of a sympathy bouquet. A understated design and a heartfelt message are particularly fitting for this occasion.
Who do you give red roses to?
Red roses are best given to your partner or someone with whom you’d like to develop a romantic relationship. Red roses are also appropriate for birthdays or Mother’s Day if you want to convey a personal and heartfelt message. For friends, coworkers, or distant acquaintances, other rose colors or a combination of different flowers usually convey the message more clearly.
How many red roses should you give as a gift?
The right number of red roses depends on your message and the occasion. Three red roses are traditionally seen as a sign of “I love you,” and twelve roses are often chosen as a romantic declaration of love. These meanings are cultural interpretations and not set in stone.
Whether you give an even or odd number of red roses depends on your personal message and the customs of the recipient. In Germany, an odd number is traditionally considered the norm. In some countries, however, even numbers of flowers are associated with mourning. There is no hard-and-fast rule, though.
Number of red roses and their traditional meaning
The number of red roses can convey an additional message. What matters most is the occasion, your relationship with the recipient, and the personal gesture.
- 1 red rose: This is a sign of the deep love and affection you feel for someone.
- 2 red roses: This can be interpreted as an expression of loyalty and commitment.
- 3 red roses: Three red roses traditionally symbolize the words “I love you.” That’s why this number is a classic romantic gesture for a partner.
- 5 red roses: The 5 stands for perfection and thus expresses the perfection of the person.
- 6 red roses: This number of roses can be interpreted as a sign of deep affection and feelings of companionship and friendship.
- 7 red roses: With 7 red roses you express that you are head over heels in love.
- 9 red roses: This number of roses can be understood as an expression of true, eternal love and devotion.
- 10 red roses: This number of red roses also expresses the perfection of your favourite person.
- 12 red roses: Often interpreted as a declaration of love or as “Be mine”.
- 13 red roses: Traditionally symbolize friendship, but may also be perceived as unlucky because of the number 13.
- 15 red roses: In some interpretations, this is associated with an apology.
- 24 red roses: Can symbolize a love that is present all day long.
- 99 red roses: A traditional symbol of lifelong love.
- 100 red roses: 100 red roses symbolise a century of harmony.
- 108 red roses: In some traditions, this is associated with a marriage proposal.
Please note that these meanings are not necessarily universally valid and that the meaning of roses always depends on the context and personal relationships. There are no fixed rules as to when and how many roses should be given. The most important thing is that the gesture comes from the heart and that it has meaning for the recipient.
Where do red roses come from as flowers?
Red roses originate from the Mediterranean region and were already appreciated by the ancient Greeks and Romans. They are one of the oldest known flowers and have an important symbolic meaning in many cultures and societies. Today, red roses are one of the most widely cultivated ornamental flowers in the world and are commercially bred and grown in many parts of the world. There are hundreds of different varieties of red roses, which can vary in size, shape and colour shade.
Appearance and flowering time of red roses
Red roses are large, imposing flowers with numerous, velvety petals that can range in colour from light red to dark red. They have long, elegant stems and green foliage that can vary in shape and size.
Red roses usually bloom from May to October, depending on where they grow. In warmer climates, they can also bloom outside this season.
The Highness rose. It is grown on a Fairtrade-certified farm 2,865 metres above sea level, making it the highest farm in Kenya. The ideal growing conditions there ensure that the Highness roses reach a stem length of up to 90 centimetres and are characterised by their breathtaking head size and long shelf life. The Highness rose is only available from selected Fleurop speciality shops.
Red roses go well with beautiful accessories such as eucalyptus, ruscus, grasses, hare's ear, aspidistra leaf or even a delicate flower as an accompaniment such as gypsophila, limonium or germini.
If you're looking for a less romantic floral arrangement, you'll also find roses in other colors.
Yes, it is perfectly possible to dry red roses. It is a popular method to preserve the beauty of the flowers for a long time. There are several ways to dry red roses, and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. We have put together a few options for drying red roses.
Air drying: This is a simple method where you hang the roses in a dry, dark place and then allow them to air dry. This method takes longer than other methods, but it is easy and free.
Drying with paper: This method involves wrapping the roses in dry paper and storing them in a dark, dry place. This method is faster than air drying, but requires a little more work.
Drying with silica gel: This method involves covering the roses with silica gel (also known as silica gel) and storing them in a dark, dry place. Silica gel helps to absorb moisture and dry the flowers, making them last longer. This method is faster than air drying, but it can be more expensive. When drying red roses with silica gel, the shape of the flowers is usually better preserved than when air-drying them. However, you'll need more material and will have to completely cover the roses with the drying agent.
Note that drying roses usually causes the colours to fade. Nevertheless, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: dried roses are ideal as decorative elements or as a memento of a special occasion.
What varieties of red cut roses are there?
- Mr. Lincoln: This is a large, semi-double rose with deep red foliage and a sweet fragrance. It is perfect for romantic bouquets and gifts.
- Grand Gala: This is a large, imposing rose with deep red blooms and long, elegant stems. It is perfect for weddings and other festive occasions.
- Black Magic: This rose has almost black petals and is perfect for those looking for something unusual and exotic.
- Red Freedom: This rose has large, glossy petals in bright red and a sweet, delicate fragrance. It makes a perfect romantic gift.
- Red Naomi: This fully double rose has medium-sized petals in bright red and a sweet, delicate fragrance. It is perfect for everyday use and can be given as a gift in bouquets or as a single flower.
- Highness-Rose: This is a large-headed, intense red Fairtrade rose with a sturdy stem. It is often chosen for occasions such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day or to give someone a loving gift. It is characterised by its long shelf life and large head.
Highness is available exclusively in selected Fleurop speciality shops - please ask your local florist.
How do you care for red roses in a vase?
You can tell if cut roses are fresh by:
- sturdy stems,
- firm green leaves,
- and a bloom that is still slightly closed, depending on the variety.
The petals should look firm and should not have any brown edges or damp spots.
What steps can you take to keep red roses fresh in a vase?
- Make sure the vase is clean and sterile to prevent bacterial growth.
- Fill the vase with fresh, cold water and add some flower food.
- Remove any leaves that are below the water line as they will rot in the water and bacteria can grow.
- Place the vase in a cool, shady place to delay the flowers from fading.
- Repeat step 2 every 2 to 3 days to ensure the flowers have enough water and nutrients.
You can find more flower care tips in the Fleurop guide.
With proper care, red roses will last about a week or longer in a vase. The key is to keep the stems fresh, use clean water, add flower food, and place them in a cool spot out of direct sunlight.
To extend the life of red roses in a vase, be sure to follow our care instructions.
On the head: Mould can be caused by excessive moisture in the flower head - either from storage or because it has been exposed to water. Care should be taken to ensure that excessive moisture cannot develop during transport (temperature fluctuations, warm-cold or cold-warm). This can condense in the flower head and will only become visible after a few days in the form of mould.
In the vase: Depending on the type of flower, the stems in the vase will eventually start to rot because microorganisms break them down, resulting in smelly flower water. Change the water regularly, clean the vase, and trim the stems fresh. This will slow down bacterial growth and the decomposition of the stems.
Our ideas with red roses
Women's favorite flowers for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day gifts for men
„Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen” - the rose song
Hildegard Knef's song is an absolute evergreen! She wrote the chanson in 1968 shortly after the birth of her daughter. It is considered her best-known song and has been covered time and again by numerous artists.
Here are the full lyrics:
„Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen”
… Mit 16, sagte ich still, ich will
Will
groß sein, will siegen
Will froh sein, nie lügen
Mit 16, sagte ich still, ich will
Will alles oder nichts
… Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen
Mir sollten sämtliche Wunder begegnen
Die Welt sollte sich umgestalten
Und ihre Sorgen für sich behalten
… Und später, sagte ich noch, ich möcht
Verstehen, viel sehen, erfahren, bewahren
Und später, sagte ich noch, ich möcht
Nicht allein sein und doch frei sein
… Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen
Mir sollten sämtliche Wunder begegnen
Das Glück sollte sich sanft verhalten
Es soll mein Schicksal mit Liebe verwalten
… Und heute, sage ich still, ich sollt
Mich fügen, begnügen
Ich kann mich nicht fügen
Kann mich nicht begnügen
Will immer noch siegen
Will alles, oder nichts
… Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen
Mir sollten ganz neue Wunder begegnen
Mich fern vom alten neu entfalten
Von dem, was erwartet, das meiste halten
1968. Text: Hildegard Knef; Musik: Hans Hammerschmid