Black roses are among the world's most beautiful, interesting, and curious flowers to see, given their very deep and meaningful 'rare' color you don't really see on a daily basis. Since black has long been linked with death, negativity, melancholy, and mourning, it seems amazing that a living plant can, at some point, be altered to have a dark blackish color and turn the meaning around to be where life comes together with death. So, do black roses naturally exist? Keep reading to know more!
Black Roses - Everything You Need to Know About Their Existence
It is precisely this mystery that turns black roses into highly popular flowers. But, the real question comes to be: do they really exist in nature or are they the work of human beings? The answer leans completely towards the side of the work of human beings, meaning black roses are actually tinted, not natural.
Photo: @regeci of Unsplash
Black roses seem like they should be part of nature’s offerings, but the truth is, they don’t exist naturally. There are no flowers that are completely black in the wild. Roses that look black are dyed or bred in special ways to achieve the dark color.
While the idea of a naturally black rose is appealing, nature doesn’t produce roses with black petals. Most roses have shades of red, white, yellow, pink, or even purple, but a true black rose hasn’t been found in the wild. So, if you’re hoping for a completely natural black rose, unfortunately, they don't exist, but tinted black roses will be your best alternative if you're more into creating dark-toned arrangements, or even for celebrations such as Halloween and others, black tinted roses are popularly used.
The Truth Behind Black Roses
Although roses can appear to be black, they are actually dark shades of other colors, like deep red or purple. The closest thing to a natural black rose is Rose Black Baccara. This rose has petals that look very dark red or near black. It is often considered the closest flower to a black rose, but it is still a dark red color, not truly black. The Black Baccara rose has a unique color that comes from a mixture of pigments, but it's not naturally black. This said, then how are black roses actually created?
Tinted or Dyed Black Roses
With the unfortunate news that black roses cannot be found naturally, the good thing is that the flower industry is so innovative with techniques that it will always have something prepared, in this case, the process of tinted roses. Have you noticed that dyed flowers have become a popular trend globally? In this common 'dyeing' process, white roses are placed in water with black dye. The petals then soak up the color and turn dark. This process can be done quickly and creates roses that appear black but are really just dyed. These roses are popular for special occasions like weddings, and Halloween, or for people who want something different. They give a bold and dark look, but they are not truly black.
Photo: @genie.floral
They can give a touch of extra romance and elegance to any occasion, giving things a dark yet feminine tone! Another possibility is to put the flowers in black wax, as seen in the picture below.
Preserved Black Roses
Preserved or 'stabilized' roses are roses that are preserved thanks to a special glycerin process. The glycerine replaces the water molecules, so the roses can no longer dry out. What’s unique about these preserved roses is that they not only look fresh but also feel fresh. In this way, the roses retain their real charm, but the lifespan is extended by several months or – depending on the circumstances – even years.
Preserved black roses are often made from regular roses that are dyed or treated to look black. The preserved roses keep their fresh look for a long time, making them a good option for people who want to keep them as a decoration or gift. These roses look like fresh flowers, even though they have been preserved to last.
Black roses are ideal for someone who isn't too concerned with the traditional romantic gesture of red roses and look wonderful when combined with lovely dry flowers too. Although they are dark, they do give a mystical and mysterious look to everything, if that's what you're looking for.
The Meaning Behind Black Roses
Black roses have a strong meaning in many cultures and are often linked with deep emotions like death, change, and mystery. The meaning of black roses can vary depending on the situation and how they are used.
Photo: @angelinas_box_flowers
Death and Mourning
The most common meaning of black roses is related to death and mourning. The color black has been associated with funerals and sadness for a long time. Black roses are sometimes used in funeral arrangements to symbolize the end of life. They represent loss and the unknown.
In tarot, the 'Death' card often features a white rose, symbolizing the idea of change and new beginnings after death. But black roses represent a final end, with no hope for return. They are a way of showing that something has ended completely.
New Beginnings
While black roses are often linked to death, they can also symbolize new beginnings. This may seem surprising, but black roses are sometimes used to represent a fresh start or a major change in life. Just as the end of one chapter can lead to a new beginning, black roses can symbolize the hope and excitement that come with transformation.
Therefore, black roses can be used as a gift for someone starting a new chapter in their life or used in literature to foreshadow a change for a character.They can represent the idea of leaving the past behind and stepping into something new.
Love and Passion
In some cases, black roses can be used to express love and passion, although this is less common. Their dark, deep color can represent intense emotions or an unconventional form of love. For people who enjoy gothic or alternative styles, black roses can be a unique way to show affection or love differently.
Photo: @kwiatywujkajanka
Color Manipulation
Scientifically, black pigmentation in plants is extremely rare, if not impossible. In fact, this only exists in horticultural plant cultivars. You can see some naturally black flowers and plants in this article: 'The 15 Best Black Flowers'. Black roses can only be produced by subjecting certain rose plants to breeding programs and propagation techniques but this does not even guarantee a perfectly-colored black rose. Another method that can be employed is applying a black dye to the rose flowers or plants.
The Closest to a 'Black Rose' - Black Baccara
There's one rose, that is closest to 'black' if you want to look at it that way because technically it is just a very deep red, burgundy rose. Introduced in 2000, Rose Black Baccara is truly unique and still in production as a cut flower by some growers and available as a shrub for your garden. Rose Black Baccara is a hybrid tea rose that resulted from crossing Rose Celica and Rose Fuego Negro. It has velvety dark red flowers, the closest to black rose flowers can get. The inner side of the flower’s petals is red due to the pigment, pelargonidin, and the outer petals are dark because of the blue pigment, cyanine. You can find more info through breeder Meilland.
Photo: @ladyflores.la
Although black roses are not in high demand in the floriculture industry, they can very much serve as statements in floral bouquets and arrangements, both for weddings and any other unique piece you want to make stand out. As you may see in previous bouquets and arrangements, they add a curious and mysterious touch to them and they look stunning.
What is your next rose color addition going to be? We suggest going all black. Striking, making quite an appearance, and seemingly spectacular.
