rose

Roses Info

General Info

According to fossil evidence, the rose is 35 million years old. Roses were in such high demand during the seventeenth century that royalty considered roses as legal tender. The reason for popularity of the rose flower may be its wide variety of colors, sizes, and fragrances. They are multi-petal flowers native to China that are available all year round and are sold either as seeds or as cuttings. Combined with its cleansing properties, roses are an ideal ingredient in face washes and cleansers. Its calming properties can also help soothe eczema. Roses contain high amounts of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. This important vitamin can help protect skin cells from sun damage. Some evidence even suggests that rose water can help prevent sunburn.

Care and Handling

  • Rose stems should be cut and placed in water as soon as possible to maintain freshness.
  • All containers used to store your roses, (glass/ceramic vases, jars, etc.) as well as flower care tools (pruning clippers, knives) must be clean and bacteria free. Ideal cleaning agents such as Chrysal and/or Floralife are preferred over the traditional method of cleaning with bleach, however, using bleach is a fine alternative.
  • Once your roses are placed in a clean vase, fill with cool or room temperature water (60°-70°F).
  • To get the most of your roses, use a floral preservative (also known as flower/plant food) recommended by your florist. Be sure to follow the instructions from your florist or the instructions on the floral preservative packet. Improper dosage of flower preservative can cause damage to your roses.
  • Change your rose water regularly (once a day). Leaving your roses in stale water will cause the petals to wilt faster than normally.
  • Be sure to clip away any wilting leaves. If they happen to fall in the water solution, they can rot and be damaging to your roses.
  • (Optional) If you are leaving your roses for days at a time, you can opt to refrigerate your roses, just like professional florists.

Average Lifespan

  • The average vase life of fresh cut roses lasts anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks.
  • It never hurts to ask. When you place your order with your florist, try asking them for roses that have arrived most recently to ensure you are receiving the freshest buds.
  • In recent years, roses have been cultivated to have larger heads. Larger rose heads means more petals, and longer vase life than older varieties.

Seasonal Availability

roses

Quick Guide

Symbolism: Love, Beauty, Romance, Passion
Native Origin: Majority Asia, Smaller numbers in Europe, North America, North Africa
Blooming Season: Midspring to Fall
Average Life: 10 to 14 days