The Rose: from week 5 to 8 on the Flower Agenda

Weeks 5 to 8 are devoted to the Queen of Flowers: the rose. This majestic flower derives its  title from its worldwide popularity as the prettiest girl in the class. Consumers can read and discover lots about this flower, which is welcome everywhere at any time, in the Flower Agenda on Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk. Show your customers the rose’s many possibilities.

Origin of the rose
The Greeks, Romans and Egyptians discovered the beauty of the romantic rose many thousands of years ago; we had to wait until the 16th century. Luckily it was worth waiting for!

The rose’s colours and shapes
Red, white, yellow, pink, purple, orange and green. Bicoloured or multicoloured. Big, small, short stem, long stem. When you’re feeling especially romantic, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer choice of roses on offer and every year there are dozens of new varieties added to the range. On some, the rose’s heart is even green; this ‘grass heart’ is actually the base of the flower growing up through the head.  

Care tips for customers
Tips for customers to ensure that they can enjoy their roses for a long time:
• Give roses a clean vase with clean water.
• Add cut flower food to the water for a longer vase life.
• Cut or trim 3 to 5 cm off the stems diagonally with a sharp and clean knife or secateurs.
• Make sure there are no leaves dangling in the water.
• Where possible leave the thorns on the stems.
• Regularly top the vase up with tap water
• Don’t place roses in a draught, in full sunlight or near a source of heat.
• Don’t place roses near the fruit bowl. Fruit emits ethylene gas which will cause the flowers to age rapidly.

A spectacular bouquet with roses
The rose is perfect for a classic bouquet, but there are also other possibilities. Combine different coloured roses with other colours and types of flower to make a  bouquet that is surprisingly playful and cheerful, but always stylish. Lilacs add even more subtle love to the bouquet, while stock and gerberas create a gorgeous, effortless display. As you can see in the photo, the choice of vase also has a major impact on the overall look.

The rose’s symbolism
The heart-shaped leaves represent love and trust, and the thorns indicate that love is not always a bed of roses. Red roses in particular are inextricably linked to love, but did you know that every colour has its own meaning?

• Red: love and respect.
• White: true love, purity, dignity, chastity.
• Pink: happiness, gratitude, virtue.
• Orange: longing, appreciation, sympathy.
• Yellow: intimate friendship, solidarity.

Inspiration and information
Inspirational images have been produced for all the flowers in the Flower Agenda in keeping with the Horticulture Sector Trends 2016. These trends are a translation of the latest consumer trends focused specifically on the horticulture sector both indoors and outdoors.
If you would like to find out more about the Flower Agenda click here.