Take Time to Smell the Roses

Reflecting On Roses in the Season of Love 

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, we thought it was the perfect time to take a moment and truly "smell the roses." Roses are a fundamental floral in the world of floristry. Many times we forget how often people outside of this realm don't know about this beautiful flower. Red roses are the global symbol for love. They are a standard ingredient for romance with a long history traditionally across many cultures as the epitome of beauty, passion, and eternal love.  We thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite rose varieties and their qualities with you during this season of love! 

The Classic Rose The #1 most classic rose of all time is the Freedom Rose. The Freedom Rose is the definition of iconic and a forever favorite in the hearts of florists and consumers alike. When hearing the word, "rose," a visual of a Freedom is typically what first comes to mind. These roses are the Valentine's Day staple and are so well bred they are a safe rose to buy year-round. These bright beauties have an awe-inspiring vivid red pop that will never go out of style. The USA is supplied with over 110 million roses for each Valentines Day! 

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Hannah's Top 3 Favorite Roses

Juliet Roses by David Austin are not only Hannah's favorite but a top Pinterest favorite as well! Their colors are so pure that they glow, making them an elegant addition to any piece. Juliet's are a very fancy and famous floral, and for good reason. Juliet's are not a camera-shy rose and will match the attention and style envisioned in any piece.  

Candlelight Roses are another divine rose that has a distinct cream white outer petal with a inner peach hue inside. These roses are also high in petal count and open to 100%, making them a great choice for showy arrangements. Hannah adores candlelight roses because they are really warm and blend well with other florals, while still radiating a soft glow. 

Pink or White O'Hara's are a gorgeous rose with the most beautiful  English garden rose scent. They remain as one of Hannah's favorites because of their high-petal count, very large head, and their ability to open fully to 100%. These showy beauties when gifted are a floral you'll never forget. ​

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Alina's Top 3 Favorite Roses

Beatrice Roses are one of Alina's favorites because of their undeniable frilly texture. Beatrice Roses exude a beautiful floral fragrance that fills up the room it accompanies. They're bright and command attention with inviting warm outer petals and an inside flourished with a coral hue. Beatrice roses are very unique and unexpectedly dainty. ​

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Patient Roses are gorgeous garden roses that obtain a rough texture and are compacted with silky petals. Alina adores their dreamy buttercream hue in their center and the sweet flowery smell they release. These roses are very high-end, and their price matches their status. Alina notes that "everyone needs a little patience in their life."

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Juliets win again as Alina can't help but be a big fan of these remarkable roses. Alina adores the colors of these roses expressing that they are "a warm yet cool color, with notes of thalo blue and vermilion undertones." 

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Brides Top 3 Favorite Roses

Heart Roses are many times a bride's favorite due to their garden rose style at a standard rose price. These big, beautiful blooms are so vivid and vibrant and exude romance and elegance. 

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Quicksand Roses are a very versatile and very on trend with their neutral color. These roses are loved by brides because they are both sophisticated and ro​mantic. 

Eskimo Roses are adored by brides because they complement many different colors but have their own elegant natural appearance as well. These roses are small enough in size to make good boutonnieres. 

Roses "How to"

​​How to Buy: 

• Go to your trusted florist and ask for the freshest roses in stock.
• Ask for the roses arrival dates if they are not labeled already.
• Because each rose varies, ask about opening characteristics and timelines.   

How to Keep Roses Nice: 

• Cut your stems at 45 degrees angle every other day and replace water often.
• Ask your florist for floral food and floral solutions.
• Remove any imperfect petals if they are to appear. ​

Your roses should last 5-7 days if not longer, while non-florist grade roses last a much shorter duration, likely only 2 days.  

Why Are Roses So Expensive?

• Extremely hard to grow- only select climates are suitable for growing roses and they are across the globe. 
• Supply and demand is very competitive in the industry as there is always a limited supply trying to meet a high demand.
• The cost of labor is also factored in, as cutting and packaging them is very costly.
• Shipping is costly due to transportation, which is via airplane, boat, or sometimes both.
• Labor for the florist is also costly, as each rose is cleaned, cut, and dethorned upon arrival.
• Roses are temperamental and have to be stored at a certain temperature.
• There is a short window for rose sales.

"You can get roses at any price, from many places, but not all roses are equal. They come from different parts of the world, range in variety, range in opening abilities, and in petal count... life is too short to not have the best." 
Hannah Tiffin