More roses are sold in the few days before St. Valentine's Day than in any other similar timespan in the year. Until not so long ago, people were mindful of the significance of the colours of roses (I am pretty sure that it did not concern other flowers too).

For instance, it would have been a serious faux pas to give a young teenage girl a red rose, but not a pink or a yellow one. All the colours had a meaning. However, it is a bit like reading Tarot cards, not everyone agrees on those significances.

Anyhow, out of interest and to keep the tradition going, I will give you the generally accepted significance of the colours of roses below.

'My love is like a red, red rose,' so goes the poem and when most people think of a rose, the first colour that in all probability comes to mind is red and, in fact, the word ?rose? comes from the Latin word ?rosa?, which means red.

It is also true that red roses are the most common and the most bought colour, but there are so many other colours that there is an entire lexicon of significance that can be said with them.

Here are some colours and their meaning:

Red - Love, romance, attraction, obsession, yearning and respect

Burgundy - Unconscious beauty

Red but withered - Our love is over

White - Purity, youth, pure love and virginal innocence

Pink - Happiness, appreciation, thankfulness and charm

Dark Pink - Gratitude or thank you

Yellow - Happiness, gladness, companionship, pleasure or platonic love

Yellow with Red Tip - Falling in Love

Orange - Fascination, yearning, or enthusiasm

Red and White - (a bouquet of roses of two colours) - Passionate wholesomeness or unity

Peach - Sincerity, gratitude, indebtedness, modesty, admiration, or sympathy

Lavender - Love at first sight or enchantment

Black - Death or our love is over

Blue - Unfeasible, unattainable or mystery

Red Rosebud - Sign of purity and beauty

White Rosebud - Girlhood or youth

Thornless Rose - "Love at First Sight"

Single Rose - Straightforwardness

Two Roses - An engagement or impending marriage

Rose Leaves - Symbol of hope

Roses - Sent every month - loveliness ever renewed

Unfortunately, there no true black or blue roses in nature, as the pigment structures in the rose do not allow these colours to be bred, although it has not stopped gardeners trying for hundreds of years. However, there are some very dark purple roses, which are used instead of black roses. There are also some very pale lavender roses that seem to be blue, but have a shade of pink in them. Traditionally, blue roses are usually white roses dyed.

No matter what you want to say with your flowers, a bouquet of roses can convey your feelings. So next time you give a bunch of roses, why not try to express what you want to say by selecting the colours carefully. The recipient almost certainly will not understand these day, but you could send them a copy of this article or have fun explaining the meaning to them over a bottle of wine.