Selecting beautiful fragrant roses is an artform. Whether picking roses for a special bouquet to decorate your home, or to plant in your garden, choosing the freshest, highest quality blooms is essential. Follow this comprehensive guide to identify and pick roses at their peak for maximum enjoyment.
Examine the Buds
When evaluating roses the first thing to look at is the unopened buds. Optimal buds will be mostly closed with just the outermost petals beginning to unfurl. Buds like this are on the cusp of blooming into a glorious open flower. Completely closed tight buds are a little too young, while buds that are already open wide often mean the rose was picked too late and will have a shorter vase life.
Check the Petals
Gently touch and visually inspect the rose petals. Soft, velvety petals with good substance indicate a fresher rose. Petals that feel thin or papery with edges browning or discolored signal an older bloom past its prime. The petals should also appear crisp, not droopy or wilted.
Look for Vibrant, Luminous Color
The deepest, brightest rose colors mean that the flowers were just picked and are bursting with the best amount of water and life. Roses lose their bright depth of color over time after being cut, giving them a paler, faded look. To get the best roses, always choose ones with deeply saturated colors that range from soft pastels to deep reds.
Inspect the Foliage
Roses that have just been picked will usually have bright green leaves that sometimes turn white or yellow near where they attach to the stem. As the rose bloom ages and dries out, the leaves tend to turn a darker green, yellow, or even brown. Leaves should appear healthy, without blemishes or shriveling. Damaged leaves will make the rose look less beautiful and make it last less long.
Check the Stems
A fresh, recently cut rose stem should be strong but flexible. Gently bend the stem and see that it is firm yet resilient without splitting or breaking. Old woody stems that snap easily when bent indicate an aged bloom well past its ideal picking stage. Healthy rose stems will be sturdy enough to provide good support for the flower head without drooping over.
Inspect for Imperfections
Take a close look at each rose to make sure it doesn’t have any cuts, bruises, holes, or other damage. Even small tears in the petals or leaves will get worse quickly in water. If you can see any flaws or imperfections in the rose early on, it will last less time in the vase and look less beautiful. Always select only completely pristine roses.
Smell the Rose Fragrance
A rose’s scent is a clear giveaway to its freshness. Bury your nose inside a few different blooms and deeply inhale their fragrance. The strongest, sweetest rose perfume denotes freshly harvested flowers full of vitality. Old neglected roses that were cut some time ago will have very faint, barely detectable scents.
Buy Locally Grown Roses
Locally grown roses that didn’t travel far from harvest to retailer tend to provide better quality blooms. Imported roses are often picked early and spend days in dark boxes during transit, vastly shortening their vase life by the time they make it to the consumer. Know where your roses originate from and choose local whenever possible.
Learn the Florist’s Storage Method
Understand how the florist cared for the roses before purchase. The best situation is roses that were kept hydrated in water under refrigeration immediately after arrival. Dry storage in a hot back room hastens deterioration. Inquire about their rose handling procedures and select stores that prioritize freshness.
Plan Ahead and Use Roses Quickly
Get roses as close to the event date as you can, preferably one to two days before. They will probably be faded or wilted by the time your event comes around if you buy them much earlier. Give your florist the date you need them to make sure the roses you order arrive at their peak on time.
Follow These Tips for Rose Perfection
Using the steps above to thoroughly evaluate roses will equip you to recognize and choose only the freshest blooms filled with beauty and vibrancy. Taking the time to properly inspect and select roses pays dividends in their ideal colors, fragrance, and longevity when enjoyed in arrangements or in the garden. With knowledge and practice, you’ll be an expert rose picker in no time!
Cut 12-18 Inch Stems
This is the ideal length to fit in your buckets. It also gives the plant plenty of leaves and stem remaining to grow more roses. We try to leave the bush’s stronger branches below so that it can grow more and bloom all summer.
Cut Roses when They are Starting to Open
The outermost rose petals are a bit different and called sepals. When the sepals unfold, that’s the most perfect time to cut. If you cut a bud that is too tightly sealed still, it will not ever open and unfurl. You can also cut blooms that are more open, developed and fragrant. When the outer petals turn a different color or fall off, it’s too late for the flower to last long in a vase.
Growing Roses, A Complete Beginner’s Guide
FAQ
How do you pick a rose?
Pay attention to the sepals and bud stage instead of the bloom that will tell you when it’s time to harvest. Harvest when at least three-quarters of the sepals are reflexed and the rose is in tight bud-to-marshmallow stage beginning to unfold.
How to pick good roses?
To choose fresh, healthy roses, focus on the bud, petals, stem, and leaves. The bud should be firm and slightly open, not too tight or too loose. Petals should be vibrant and without browning or bruising.
How to pick a good rose?
How to choose a good rosé wineLook at the colour. A rosé wine can range in colour from lighter to darker, from pale pink to reddish or purplish. Pay attention to the vintage. It is not true that every wine improves with time. Look at the alcohol volume. Check where it was made.
How to tell if roses are good quality?
Want to know how to tell if a rose is fresh? Just give the rose heads a light squeeze. If they’re firm to the tough, they’re fresh. If they’re soft and squishy, they’re older. This can help you choose the perfect flowers for your event.