Rose, Garden

SEASONALITY
➜ Available Year-Round

DESIGN TYPE
➜ Focal Flower

VASE LIFE
➜ Moderate

BLOOM SIZE
➜ 3–6in+

STEM LENGTH
➜ 40–70cm

➜ Garden roses should be processed as soon as possible after arrival, though they can generally remain dry-packed in the cooler overnight if necessary

➜ Recut stems at a sharp angle before conditioning in fresh, cool water

➜ Allow at least 6–8 hours of hydration before designing, especially if blooms arrive tight or particularly soft

➜ Condition in deep buckets with plenty of fresh water, keeping leaves above the water line

➜ Remove any foliage that will sit below the water line before conditioning to improve water quality

➜ Leave the protective guard petals in place during hydration, removing them only when you're ready to design

➜ Garden roses perform best in fresh water arrangements, though properly conditioned stems may also be used successfully in floral foam

➜ Handle blooms by the stem whenever possible—garden rose petals mark and bruise much more easily than standard roses

➜ If you'd like blooms to open more quickly, condition them at room temperature after they've fully hydrated

➜ For outdoor weddings or warm-weather events, keep garden roses refrigerated until the last practical moment and pack extra stems in a crash bucket

POSITIVES ➜
♡ Stunning bloom form
♡ Romantic appearance
♡ Exceptional fragrance in many varieties
♡ Premium event flower

NEGATIVES ➜
✗ Premium flowers come with premium pricing
✗ Some varieties open quickly
✗ Delicate compared to standard roses
✗ Fully aware of how beautiful they are

What's the difference between a garden rose and a standard rose?
➜ Garden roses generally feature larger blooms, significantly higher petal counts, and often stronger fragrance than standard roses

Why don't my garden roses look as full as the website photos?
➜ They're still waking up! Many times you’ll find garden roses are photographed at their peak, fully conditioned stage
➜ Many varieties continue opening dramatically over the first day or two after hydration, revealing the signature ruffled centers they're known for

What are guard petals, and should I remove them?
➜ Guard petals are the outermost petals that naturally protect the bloom during shipping—they may look bruised or discolored, but they're doing exactly what they're supposed to do
➜ Most florists remove them just before designing to reveal the fresh petals underneath

Are garden roses more delicate than standard roses?
➜ Yes—their heavily petaled blooms are softer and more prone to bruising, so they benefit from gentle handling throughout processing and design

Can I use garden roses in floral foam?
➜ Absolutely—they perform well in properly saturated floral foam, though fresh water arrangements generally provide the longest vase life

How do I encourage my garden roses to open?
➜ Start by giving them plenty of time to fully hydrate
➜ Once hydrated, moving them to a slightly warmer room will naturally encourage the blooms to continue opening

Why are some blooms much larger than others?
➜ Garden rose varieties differ dramatically in bloom size, petal count, and opening habit—even within the same variety, flowers continue expanding throughout their vase life

Are garden roses a good choice for summer weddings?
➜ Absolutely—with realistic expectations
➜ Garden roses are breathtaking, but they appreciate cool temperatures and careful handling—experienced florists keep them refrigerated until the last possible moment and always bring a few extra blooms for peace of mind

☆ One of the most beloved wedding flowers available
☆ Incredible bloom size and petal count
☆ Many varieties offer exceptional fragrance
☆ Instantly elevates arrangements
☆ Frequently becomes the first thing clients point at

☆ Ranunculus
☆ Sweet Pea
☆ Hydrangea
☆ Lisianthus
☆ Clematis
☆ Scabiosa
☆ Eucalyptus

☆ Garden roses are bred for their extraordinary fragrance, intricate petal count, and old-world appearance rather than the perfectly symmetrical shape of standard roses

☆ Many garden rose varieties nearly double in bloom size after conditioning, transforming from a tight cup into the lush, ruffled flowers they're famous for

☆ Their luxurious appearance comes with a tradeoff—garden roses require gentler handling than standard roses, but many florists consider them one of the most rewarding flowers to design with

☆ Many modern garden roses are bred specifically for cut flower production—some varieties can contain hundreds of petals