When giving cut roses as Valentine gifts, you should adhere to a time-honored formula that takes into account rose color meanings.

The formula matches a rose’s color to its intended meaning as a gift. Valentine’s Day is primarily a lovers’ holiday, and red roses are traditionally for lovers. “Valentine roses” and “red roses” go hand in hand, even though other colors have their place for the holiday as well.

Close family members may also be treated to red roses for Valentine’s Day, but avoid giving roses of this color to friends on Valentine’s Day -- that would simply convey the wrong meaning.

The following are the meanings traditionally attached tothe most popular roses, according to colors; use this list as a guide when selecting Valentine roses:

Red roses mean romantic love; they’re the “Valentine roses,” par excellence.

Purple, coral and orange challenge red as the color for Valentine roses. The rose color meanings for these three are as follows:

The specific purpose of purple roses is to signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight.

Meanwhile, coral and orange roses signal desire.

The meaning of yellow roses is joy and friendship.

Most express their gratitude and appreciation with pink roses.... While feelings of admiration and sympathy find words with roses that are light pink in color.

Peach is more ambiguous, as it can signify either sympathy or gratitude.

And last but surely not least is the pure nature of the white rose with the meaning of reverence and humility.