Purple & white 12 roses in vaseLove, Gratitude, AppreciationPurple roses have a rich history that comes with being one of the longest existing roses known to us. When roses first began to be cultivated, the majority of them existed in various shades of purple, from the palest purple to the deepest crimson. Prior to that, pink roses were the dominant species among wild roses, and were likely among the earliest roses to evolve.