Explorer tugs at our hearts like no other rose. We first worked with it nine years ago and it's only got better over time. Large rounded heads that open and develop to gigantic blooms, long strong stems and, best of all thornless so a joy to condition and with no risk of damage and infection to the stems. It's definitely in the upper price bracket but a bouquet of these with foliage is a true stunner.
Which rose are you and why size matters?
Florists know that not every rose is the same, but most customers don't have a clue. Which is why it's so important to show what people will get for their money to manage expectations, avoid disappointment, how luxurious the top roses are and why bespoke florists are the experts.
There are a zillion roses to choose from but we asked Jake Nicholson-Lailey, a member of the Good Florist Guide Council and owner of Abundiflora in Glastonbury to check out five very different roses for us, let us know which he thought was best for what and how best to showcase them in a way people can instantly see the difference.
A short, small headed 40cm rose. Very pretty but very small. This is the sort of rose most commonly sold in supermarkets and for online 100 red rose bouquets. Massed they look good and let's face it buying any flowers is great but this isn't a showstopper type and should never be marketed as such.
Freedom used to be called Bloody Mary before being re-named after the 9/11 atrocities and when it first came out over 25 years ago it was considered THE premier red rose of choice. Now it is much more massed produced and has been selected by many supermarkets and online players so not quite the luxury rose it was. Very bright and with a tulip shaped head, it's good and solid but these days is more a middle market rose at the £60ish price point rather than in a bespoke florists £75 plus luxury bouquet.
Naomi ... one of all time classics and with its high petal count and delicate fragrance, super luxurious and still very special. If you buy one of the Porta Nova varieties you can also use their sustainability messaging. Our one caveat is that it's a bit too traditional and classic and for a younger demographic may not have the street cred/modernity they want.
We love Red Panther just because it combines all the strength and size of a luxury rose but with a twist via the pink flecks and velvety petals. For the classic rose lovers this probably won't appeal and it's not a run of the mill middle price point rose but as an exclusive/special this one is great and you could have fun with the name too!
Hearts by name and hearts by nature. It's one of the darkest reds on the market which may not appeal to everyone but the furly curly petals are gorgeous and the fact that the middles really do look like little hearts are romance personified. It's a top end rose but we would be tempted to offer this as a limited edition design just because it is so different.
Try to show the difference
They say a camera never lies ... but it can mislead. Because on your social media feeds no one has a clue what size the rose is or how it compares to others. Jake shot all the roses against a pound coin as well as side by side to show how the varieties stacked up in head size and length.
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