You’ve received a blue rose as a gift and you’re curious about the meaning behind it? Are you wondering how this unique color is achieved?
I will answer your questions.
As a florist, I am increasingly sought after by my clients to create original arrangements, especially with blue roses. Whether it’s fresh dyed roses or everlasting roses, these creations often carry a significant symbolic value.
In addition, the unusual color of the roses sparks wonder. Today, I will explain the meaning of the blue rose and how it is created, so you can be well-informed on the topic!
The enigmatic color of the blue rose gives it a powerful symbolism: it represents mystery and the unattainable. Choosing to give one signifies that the recipient is someone truly exceptional. In stories and works of fiction, the blue rose is always associated with romance and true love. There are several ways to obtain a blue rose: through genetic modification in a scientific lab or by dyeing a white rose with methyl blue. You can even try this technique at home! If you’re looking for a blue rose that will last for years, there are beautiful eternal roses and teddy bears made of blue roses available.
Want to learn more? Read this article to find out:
- The meaning of the blue rose
- Special works where this flower is mentioned
- Details about the methods used to create the blue rose
- The difference between dye-treated fresh roses and everlasting blue roses
What is the hidden meaning associated with the Blue Rose?
Regarded for centuries as the queen of flowers, the Rose is a captivating bloom.
Artists’ Museum, it is an endless source of creative inspiration for many artists.
Today, we know thousands of varieties of roses, and the number keeps growing, as breeders introduce new and increasingly remarkable ones every year.
Among these flowers, one rose certainly stands out. It’s the Blue Rose: this striking color intrigues many people, who wonder how to attain it and what it symbolizes.
Giving a blue rose is indeed a gift that stands out. But do you know the message behind this unique flower?
What does this color signify?
Blue roses are associated with mystery, the impossible, and the unattainable. In the language of flowers, giving someone a blue rose signifies that they are extraordinary and unique in our eyes. These flowers make a perfect gift for a strong and independent woman.
Several types of floral arrangements can be considered:
- A unique blue rose. Its symbolic value is highlighted.
- A bouquet of blue roses, with no other flowers. In this case, it’s a lavish gift meant for someone special to convey a strong message.
- A bouquet of blue roses combined with other flowers:
- White calla lilies:
These will beautifully contrast with the blue roses and add a dimension of purity and elegance to your gift. - Deep purple callas (like Midnight Plum) to add depth to your floral arrangement.
These flowers will bring intensity to your composition. - A floral accessory featuring a rose or any other blue flower. Fleur Union recommends the online shop Atelier Passiflore, which offers beautiful, handcrafted jewelry made from locally grown flowers near Bordeaux!
- White calla lilies:
The Blue Rose in Popular Culture
A symbol of mystery, this flower with its surprising color has inspired numerous works of fiction.
In the following lines, I’ll share a few of them with you…
In Tales and Legends 👸📘
A Chinese tale tells the story of a princess who did not want to marry. One day, she told her father that she would accept as her husband the man who could bring her a blue rose.
Very quickly, the news spread across the country, and suitors rushed to try to win the princess’s hand in marriage.
Three of them stood out in particular: the first dyed a white rose blue with ink, while the second offered her a finely cut sapphire shaped like a rose. Finally, the third presented her with a painting of a blue rose. Unimpressed, the young woman rejected all three of them.
One day, a poet came to serenade the princess, and she fell hopelessly in love with him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t marry him because of a condition she had set earlier.
But one day, this young man showed up at the palace with a cream-colored rose. Everyone thought he was joking, but the young girl immediately agreed to marry him! In fact, both she and the young man, through the power of their love, saw the rose as blue as the sea.
Very popular in China, this tale tells a romantic story, making the blue rose the symbol of true and pure love.
In the Books and the Game of Thrones Series 📚📺
This series of novels, recently adapted into a television series, has achieved tremendous success.
The story takes place in a fantasy medieval universe where blue roses actually exist. They are called winter roses, and it’s said that they are the color of frost.
In the novels and the series, this flower is associated with the deep love that connects Prince Rhaegar Targaryen to Lyanna Stark. After winning a tournament, he gives her a crown of blue roses. This causes a scandal because he is not married to her, but to another woman, Elia Martell.
In this story, the winter rose symbolizes the romance and sincerity of the love that binds the two characters together. These tales can serve as inspiration for you to give an extraordinary gift…
Do Blue Roses Really Exist in Nature?
Creating a blue rose has been a challenge that has captivated rose breeders for centuries.
As early as the 15th century, a bluish-green rose was created using a variety from China. However, it wasn’t until 2004, less than twenty years ago, that the Florigène-Suntory laboratory successfully developed true blue roses.
These scientists used a gene from another flower, which is blue, the Delphinium.
They have created a blue rose, which is a genetically modified organism that could not have existed without human intervention.
How Do You Get Blue Roses?
The genetically modified rose I just mentioned is very hard to come by.
However, you can easily have blue roses at home. You can try to make them yourself or purchase freshly dyed blue roses, or even a preserved blue rose.
To help you make your choice, I will detail the various options available to you for obtaining a beautiful rose in the color of the ocean.
How to Make a Blue Rose at Home?
To achieve this, simply purchase white roses and add a few drops of a dye, which you can find at a pharmacy: methylene blue. The more concentrated the dye is in the water, the darker the color of your roses will be.
Before placing the roses in the vase, to help with the absorption of the methylene blue, make sure to cut the stems at an angle by about one or two centimeters.
If possible, cut the stems with a clean, sharp knife directly under water. This will prevent air bubbles from forming in the flower stem: since the dye is absorbed via capillary action, it will make the process easier.
👉 The shorter the stems of the roses are cut, the faster they will absorb the dye.
What is the process used to create the blue roses that we buy?
If the result of the process described above doesn’t meet your expectations, or if you don’t have the time to color your roses yourself, you can purchase them directly from stores. Here are the options available to you.
The Fresh Tinted Rose
You’ll typically find it at florists. That said, I recommend ordering it from your local florist a few days in advance, as it’s quite a rare flower and may not always be available in stock.
The blue dye of this rose is achieved through dyeing: white roses are submerged in methylene blue, which will give them their final color. These are fresh, natural roses that can last a few days in a bouquet.
➡️ The dyeing process tends to shorten the lifespan of the rose. If you’re looking for a flower that can be kept for a long time, I recommend choosing a preserved rose instead.
The Eternal Blue Rose
These flowers, known as preserved flowers, make a gift that can be cherished for years to come.
Their exceptional preservation is due to a chemical process known as freeze-drying. It begins with beautiful white roses, from which all moisture is removed by exposing them to extremely low temperatures.
This treatment will preserve them: then, simply add a natural stabilizer in the lab: glycerin. To achieve the blue hue, glycerin is mixed with a blue dye.
Everlasting roses 🌹 should be kept away from moisture. If you’d like to protect them from dust, you might consider a blue rose under glass. We also offer luminous models that will add a touch of light to your home decor.
If you’re looking to give a gift filled with sweetness, consider gifting a blue eternal rose bear 🧸. In our online store, you can choose between the romantic model featuring 350 real eternal roses and the luxury model with 550 roses.
The mysterious blue rose no longer holds any secrets for you… now it’s up to you to decide whether to give it fresh or everlasting…!