Ah, the rose! Is there any other flower that has captured our collective imaginations so fully and magically as the rose? I would vote "no"—roses have long-held connotations of classic romance as well as fairy-tale plot point status (without the enchanted rose at the story's heart, what would Beauty and the Beast be?). Sub rosa—a phrase borrowed from Latin—means "under the radar" or "in secret." Talk about mystery and suspense!
The Garden Rose, Defined
The garden rose, or rosa rubiginosa, is one of the most beautiful varieties of rose. Most garden roses are cultivated for their decorative value, but these multitasking wonders can also be used for ground cover, hedging, or to produce fruit, aka rose hips (fun fact: rose hips are used as an anti-inflammatory in herbal medicine)—by far one of the most famous (and timelessly lovely) uses for garden roses is as a Valentine's Day gift.
The Rose Rainbow
Garden roses can be grown in a variety of hues, and they will be sure to please even the pickiest Valentine's gift recipient. White or sand-colored garden roses project a modern, minimalist look, while yellow, orange, or peach garden roses have a fun, offbeat vibe. Garden roses are available in a range of pink tones, from dark fuchsia to pale ice pink. Pink or red roses are the perfect present for a Valentine with more traditional, classic tastes. Lavender garden roses have a unique appearance that would be right at home in a science fiction or fantasy novel or film—making them a terrific choice for the unique Valentine in your life who's one-of-kind.
Where To Source Your Valentine's Day Garden Rose Gifts
For some amazing garden rose Valentine's Day bouquets, look no further than PlantShed! This plant-and-flower-shop and café combo has four locations in NYC, so in-store pickup can be quite convenient if you're a city resident that never sleeps. PlantShed's delivery option can make it easy to obtain the perfect floral Valentine's Day gift if you live elsewhere in the tri-state area.
#Inspo
Here are some great PlantShed bouquet gifts to get your inspiration flowing (or get your Valentine's gifting accomplished with one-stop shopping!): for a classic look, check out our Red Garden Rose Bouquet. For a softer look, our Blush Garden Rose Bouquet fits the bill. Our White Garden Rose Bouquet feels unique and thoroughly 2023. If you'd like a bouquet-and-vase set, our Tess arrangement looks smashing, and our Juliet arrangement's got a fashion-forward yet romantic feel.
Care and Keeping
To keep gifted, cut garden roses looking fresh and vibrant, you'll need to follow some simple steps. Clean a vase or vase-like container thoroughly, and fill it two-thirds of the way full with lukewarm water. Now is a good time to add flower food to the water if your roses have come with any. Remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline to prevent your bouquet from taking on a messy look. Trim a couple of centimeters off the bottom of the garden roses' stems at a 45-degree angle. Place the flowers' stems in the water so the blooms face upward (not rocket science, we know!). Change the water in which they sit every 24 to 48 hours or when the water has a cloudy appearance. Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight to ensure the longest floral lifespan possible.
We Love Your Love for Our Roses!
If you post snapshots of your beautiful bouquet(s) to your Instagram feed or stories, don't forget to tag us at @plantshednyc. On our social media, we love to feature our customer community members' photos of the bouquets we've supplied them with!
