There is nothing more romantic than giving your partner flowers on an anniversary. While each anniversary has a corresponding flower, nothing says “I Love You,” quite like a bouquet of roses. Which rose color should you pick for your relationship milestone? The right rose color for your anniversary by year is divulged with reasons for each selection.
1. Bright Yellow: First Anniversary Rose Color
Bright yellow roses are the perfect choice for your first wedding anniversary.
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A bouquet of bright yellow roses is an excellent choice when celebrating your first wedding anniversary. Bright yellow is a joyful color that expresses the fresh optimism you have for your solidifying long-term commitment.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Gospel or Super Sun
2. Dark Red: Second Anniversary Rose Color
Representing passion, dark red roses are a good choice for second wedding anniversaries.
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Dark red elicits strong emotions and speaks to how passion overcomes some of the growing pains that come with getting used to being with a new partner. The honeymoon period is over, but the passion that it takes to create depth is in full bloom. For a second anniversary, a dark red rose bouquet is a wonderful choice.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Grand Prix or Black Magic
3. White: Third Anniversary Rose Color
The purity of intentions signaled by white roses is appropriate for a third wedding anniversary.
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White for a third wedding anniversary symbolizes your purity of intentions in keeping your marital vows. Most marriages that are not meant to last dissolve within the first two years, but you and your partner have made it over this hurdle. Celebrating with a bouquet of white roses shows that you’re staying true to your intentions.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Playa Blanca or Polar Star
4. Light Blue: Fourth Anniversary Rose Color
Since light blue roses represent trust, they’re a great choice for a fourth wedding anniversary.
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Light blue roses stand for the peacefulness that comes with trust and reliability. Routines have been established by your fourth year of marriage, and interacting with your partner is becoming second nature. Because of these, a light blue rose bouquet is an appropriate choice for a fourth anniversary.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Dyed or Paper Roses
5. Pink: Fifth Anniversary Rose Color
Given as a symbol of flirty gratitude, a fifth anniversary deserves pink roses.
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In Western cultures, pink roses are associated with femininity and gentleness. They also symbolize the flirtatious side of romance and the gratitude that comes with having obtained the more subdued joys of a partnership. That’s why they’re the perfect color to celebrate half of a decade together.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Hot Lady or Ashley
6. Purple: Sixth Anniversary Rose Color
Treat your partner like royalty with purple roses as a sixth-anniversary gift.
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Purple is traditionally associated with royalty and luxury. A sixth anniversary shows the community that you’re now entering the kind of longevity that deserves respect. Because of this, purple roses are the perfect way to convey this status.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Minerva or Burgundy Iceberg
7. Ivory: Seventh Anniversary Rose Color
A seventh wedding anniversary calls for a bouquet of ivory roses.
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Ivory is a timeless color that reflects elegance and purity but with a vintage twist. Often, marriages fall apart around the seven-year mark, but yours hasn’t. You’ve stayed true to your purest intentions since the day you wed, and a bouquet of ivory roses is a great way to celebrate this.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Easy Spirit or Vendela
8. Burnt Orange: Eighth Anniversary Rose Color
The Rio Samba cultivar is a wonderful burnt orange rose for an eighth anniversary.
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Burnt orange roses represent comfort, warmth, and coziness. An eighth anniversary only happens if you’ve learned to find these qualities in your life partner. A sense of intimate familiarity is now the basis of the longevity of your relationship.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Rio Samba or Coffee Break
9. Terracotta: Ninth Anniversary Rose Color
Using terracotta roses for a ninth wedding anniversary is a meaningful choice.
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Terracotta is a color mostly associated with building materials, which is a correlation that translates well to a rose bouquet for a ninth wedding anniversary. A decade of marriage has almost been achieved, and the foundations for a lifetime together have been set intentionally. It’s time to revel in the accomplishments that come with building a home that will weather any storm.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Magical Matilda or Terracotta
10. Grey: Tenth Anniversary Rose Color
A greyed rose bouquet is perfect for a tenth wedding anniversary.
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The nice thing about focusing on the color grey for a tenth-anniversary rose bouquet is that every color that roses come in is kissed by the color grey. Grey represents calm, conformity, and order. This layered with a bright color like yellow or pink conveys a subdued excitement and the calm exhuberance of having lasted a decade together.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Earl Grey or Grawn Blue
11. Turquoise: Eleventh Anniversary Rose Color
Using a turquoise rose bouquet on an eleventh anniversary conveys protection.
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Turquoise represents good fortune, protection, and wisdom. As you enter your eleventh decade together, it’s important to celebrate how lucky you are to have this kind of dedication in your life. The invaluable bounty of wealth and the wisdom gained during so many years together cannot be understated.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Dyed or Silk Roses
12. Green Jade: Twelfth Anniversary Rose Color
As a symbol of good fortune, green jade roses are a good choice for a twelfth anniversary.
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Green jade represents balance and good fortune. More importantly, it represents perspective and protection. You and your partner are keeping your eyes on your goals, and you’re protecting the validity of your promises to each other.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Jade Green or Super Green
13. Pale Yellow: Thirteenth Anniversary Rose Color
Giving a pale yellow rose bouquet on a thirteenth anniversary is a nice choice.
Pale yellow roses are similar to the bright yellow roses appropriate for first wedding anniversaries, except they are more subdued. Their lighter color symbolizes familiarity, humbleness, and a sense of domesticity. In the thirteenth year of marriage, taking pleasure in the mundane is the root of a happy relationship.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Yokohama or Golden Tower
14. Rainbow: Fourteenth Anniversary Rose Color
Rainbow roses convey excitement on a fourteenth anniversary.
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Fourteen years of marriage shows a deep commitment to the dreams you shared when you took your vows. Using rainbows to celebrate this milestone shows that you’re still excited and hopeful about the continued evolution of yourself in the context of your partnership.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Dyed or Paper Roses
15. Candy Apple Red: Fifteenth Anniversary Rose Color
Fiery and flirtatious, candy apple red roses keep the spark alive at a fifteenth anniversary.
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Candy apple red is a fiery and flirtatious color that exudes boldness. After fifteen years of marriage, keeping the spark alive should be of major importance. That’s why it’s the perfect color for a rose bouquet at this important milestone.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Jal Beloved or Candy Apple
20. Emerald Green: Twentieth Anniversary Rose Color
Using emerald green roses on a twentieth anniversary symbolizes growth.
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Emerald green is a deep color that elicits good health and nature. For things to grow, there must be harmony and balance. This makes emerald green roses the perfect present for a twentieth anniversary.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Dyed by Food Coloring or Silk Flowers
25. Silver: Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Color
It’s precious to reach twenty-five years together, so silver roses are perfect for the occasion.
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Silver is a precious metal, and reaching a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary is a precious event. Having a relationship survive a quarter of a century is a rarity that’s worth a very special kind of rose. Because silver is valuable, giving silver roses expresses how glamorous and rich you feel, having been in a union for so long.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Spray Painted or Silk Flowers
30. Sage Green: Thirtieth Anniversary Rose Color
Greensleeves or Green Ice roses are the color of sage, which is great for 30th anniversaries.
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Sage green stands for wisdom and experience which is something you’ve gained after three decades together. A thirtieth wedding anniversary represents a large portion of your life, and the fact that you’ve spent it with your true love gives you the right to now call yourself an expert on marriage. Celebrate that with a beautiful bouquet in this subdued yet meaningful color.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Greensleeves or Green Ice
35. Coral: Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Rose Color
Acceptance and longevity are conveyed by coral roses on a thirty-fifth anniversary.
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Coral is a bright and warm color that symbolizes acceptance and longevity. After thirty-five years of marriage, it’s important to remind your partner that you’re still in it for the long haul and you think of them fondly.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Coral Xpression or Movie Star
40. Ruby Red: Fortieth Anniversary Rose Color
Ruby red roses are perfect for a fortieth wedding anniversary.
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Four decades of marriage is an amazing achievement. Such an intense accomplishment deserves roses that are passionate and bold. To stay married this long, you’ve survived fiery moments and bright experiences. Ruby red is a great choice that expresses the zeal of spending so much of your life with someone you love.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Ruby Red or Ruby Ruby Miniatures
50. Gold: Fiftieth Anniversary Rose Color
Because it’s such a precious metal, gold is appropriate for a fiftieth-anniversary celebration.
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Gold is a coveted precious metal that’s perfect for a huge milestone like a fiftieth wedding anniversary. Gold is a malleable conductor that is also durable and stands the test of time. Earning the privilege of growing old with your partner to the point that half a century is spent together is an amazing achievement.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: Gold Dipped or Spray Painted Flowers
60. Diamond White: Sixtieth Anniversary Rose Color
A sixtieth anniversary is rare, like diamonds, which makes diamond white roses a perfect choice.
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Diamond white is an almost pure white with just a kiss of yellow. It is symbolic of the glittering brilliance and beauty of one of the most coveted stones on the planet. A sizeable chunk of humans don’t make it to 60 years old, let alone 60 years of marriage. An occasion like this is exceedingly rare and precious, just like a diamond.
Appropriate Cultivar Suggestions: White Diamond or Diamond Days
Summary of the Right Rose Colors for Your Anniversary by Year
| Anniversary Year | Rose Color by Year | Rose Variety for Color | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Anniversary | Bright Yellow | Gospel or Super Sun |
| 2 | Second Anniversary | Dark Red | Grand Prix or Black Magic |
| 3 | Third Anniversary | White | Playa Blanca or Polar Star |
| 4 | Fourth Anniversary | Light Blue | Dyed or Paper Roses |
| 5 | Fifth Anniversary | Pink | Hot Lady or Ashley |
| 6 | Sixth Anniversary | Purple | Minerva or Burgundy Iceberg |
| 7 | Seventh Anniversary | Ivory | Easy Spirit or Vendela |
| 8 | Eighth Anniversary | Burnt Orange | Rio Samba or Coffee Break |
| 9 | Ninth Anniversary | Red Terracotta | Magical Matilda or Terracotta |
| 10 | Tenth Anniversary | Grey | Earl Grey or Grawn Blue |
| 11 | Eleventh Anniversary | Turquoise | Dyed or Silk Roses |
| 12 | Twelfth Anniversary | Green Jade | Jade Green or Super Green |
| 13 | Thirteenth Anniversary | Pale Yellow | Yokohama or Golden Tower |
| 14 | Fourteenth Anniversary | Rainbow | Dyed or Paper Roses |
| 15 | Fifteenth Anniversary | Candy Apple Red | Jal Beloved or Candy Apple |
| 20 | Twentieth Anniversary | Emerald Green | Dyed by Food Coloring or Silk |
| 25 | Twenty-Fifth Anniversary | Silver | Spray Painted or Silk Flowers |
| 30 | Thirtieth Anniversary | Sage Green | Greensleeves or Green Ice |
| 35 | Thirty-Fifth Anniversary | Coral | Coral Xpression or Movie Star |
| 40 | Fortieth Anniversary | Ruby Red | Ruby Red or Ruby Ruby |
| 50 | Fiftieth Anniversary | Gold | Gold Dipped or Spray Painted |
| 60 | Sixtieth Anniversary | Diamond White | White Diamond or Diamond Days |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Georgi Spirov/Shutterstock.com
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