Rose (heraldry)

The Rose is a popular symbol in English heraldry. It is a flower with five symmetrical lobes alternating with barbs and a circular seed. The rose was the symbol of the English Tudor dynasty and is associated with England, just as the thistle is associated with Scotland. Rose is also the charge in the arms of princely House of Lippe. Another well known heraldic charge is the Luther rose.

Appearance

The traditional appearance of the heraldic rose is a five-petaled rose, mimicking the look of a wild rose on a hedgegrow. Later introduced into heraldry was the ten-petaled rose to appease the warring houses of Lancaster and York. It is shown singly and full-faced with yellow seeds in the center and five green barbs as backing and is then referred to as being barbed and seeded proper. The seeds and barbs can also be the colour of the rose, in which case it a rose barbed and seeded of that colour.

If the rose has a stalk and leaves, it may also be referred to as a damask rose, stalked and leaved.

A white rose sometimes appears surrounded by rays, which makes it a rose-en-soleil. (Rose in the sun, French)

Cadency

In cadency the rose is used to differentiate the seventh son and is thus borne on top of the father's coat of arms.

Colour

As in all heraldry, the colour of a rose is important to its meaning. A red rose is symbol of martyrdom, a white rose expresses faith, and a yellow rose is a symbol of achievement. Roses can be found in all natural colours, in addition to black, green, and blue.

Red roses also signify the house of Lancaster while white roses signify the house of York. The combination of their two roses created the Tudor rose: white on red if on a field of gold or silver, red on white if on a field of any other colour.