Yellow roses are the flowers of sunshine, joy and friendship. They were once surrounded by superstitions about parting, but today florists see a yellow bouquet as one of the most cheerful gifts. Here is what yellow roses really mean, where the myth of the colour of betrayal came from, which varieties are best, who to give them to and how to care for the bouquet.
Modern floristry reads yellow as joyful and friendly.
What yellow roses mean
Yellow is associated with the sun, warmth and energy, so yellow roses convey joy, optimism, sincere friendship, gratitude and wishes of success. They are given to lift someone's mood, celebrate an achievement, offer support or simply say I'm glad you're in my life.
Combined with other colours the meaning shifts: yellow with red says joy and falling in love, yellow with white harmony and peace, yellow-orange admiration and enthusiasm. More on yellow in floristry is in our article on yellow flowers in a bouquet.
Where the parting myth came from
In the Victorian language of flowers of the 19th century, the yellow rose was sometimes linked to jealousy or fading love. That reading later turned into a folk superstition, especially popular in post-Soviet countries. Yet in most cultures yellow is associated with the sun, prosperity and joy.
Another reason is the history of roses themselves: deep yellow varieties reached Europe late, only around the turn of the 20th century, and long seemed unusual. Today yellow roses are a full-fledged classic, and if the recipient is superstitious, simply add white or red flowers to the bouquet.
Popular yellow rose varieties
Among cut roses, Brighton is bright yellow with a dense bud, Tara is a deep yellow classic and Penny Lane is lighter and lemony. Yellow spray roses and peony roses also look great in bouquets, adding lightness and volume.
In the garden, the English rose Graham Thomas with fragrant cupped flowers, the hybrid tea Landora with a classic bud and the two-tone Peace with yellow petals and a pink edge are popular. How to choose and care for garden varieties is covered in our rose guide.
Who and when to give yellow roses to
Yellow roses are a perfect gift for friends, colleagues, a boss, a teacher, your mum or sister. They suit birthdays, milestones, graduations, a thesis defence, a business opening, a housewarming, or simply a gesture of support in hard times. You can give a yellow bouquet to a partner too, especially one who loves bright colours.
How to care for yellow roses
Care is the same as for any rose: trim the stems at an angle by 2–3 cm, strip leaves below the waterline, change the water every day or two and add cut-flower food. Yellow petals are sensitive to direct sun and can fade, so keep the vase somewhere bright but out of the sun. The bouquet will then last 7–10 days.
Yellow roses delivered in Kyiv
Give a piece of sunshine: our catalogue has yellow rose bouquets in every size, from a small compliment to a big festive arrangement, delivered across Kyiv.
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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