Blue rose

Blue roses created by artificially colouring white roses.

A blue rose is a flower of the genus Rosa (family Rosaceae) that presents blue-to-violet pigmentation instead of the more common red, white, or yellow, through use of artificial means such as dyes. Blue roses are often used to symbolize mystery or the unattainable,[1] since they do not exist in nature because of genetic limitations. In 2002, researchers used genetic modification to create roses that contain the naturally occurring (in other plants) blue pigment delphinidin. In 2004, this was then announced to the world.

So-called "blue roses" have been bred by conventional hybridization methods, but the results, such as "Blue Moon", are more accurately described as lilac in color.

  1. ^ "Meaning of Flowers".