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. Blue roses are often portrayed in literature and art as a symbol of love and prosperity to those who seek it, but as a result of genetic limitations do not exist in nature. White roses have been dyed blue. In 2004, researchers used genetic modification to create roses that contain the blue pigment delphinidin.
So-called “blue roses” have been bred by conventional hybridization methods, but the results, such as “Blue Moon”, are more accurately described as being lilac in color.