Buy roses: guides and recommended sources of supply

If you want to enjoy the beautiful flowers later, you should only buy healthy roses. We show you what to look for when buying roses. Especially in floristry, roses ( pink ) in a wide variety of colors and shapes are of great importance. And maybe you, too, have shown your love to someone with a bouquet of red roses. The memories remain, but the joy of cut flowers is usually short-lived.

If you want to have some of the beautiful flowers for longer, you should definitely plant roses in your own garden or a pot. However, your own money needs to be well invested. Therefore, it is best to pay attention to signs that indicate, for example, diseases or pest infestation when buying. In this way, nasty surprises can be avoided and you can enjoy your rose for a long time.

How do I actually recognize a healthy rose and where is the best place to buy it? We have summarized the answers to these questions for you below.

One should pay attention to this when buying roses

The selection of different types of roses is huge. It’s easy to lose track of things. We explain below what you should consider when buying and how you can distinguish healthy plants from diseased ones.

Buy only healthy roses

Only strong, healthy roses will grow well and reward you with abundant flowers in the long term. Unfortunately, however, some varieties of roses are extremely susceptible to fungal diseases. Black leaf spots that radiate towards the edge can, for example, indicate an infestation with star soot ( Diplocarpon rosae ). A whitish, mold-like coating on the upper parts of the plant is in turn an indication of powdery mildew infestation ( Erysiphaceae ).

If the leaves are covered with yellow-orange spots, the plant is probably suffering from rose rust ( Phragmidium mucronatum ). All these signs speak against a purchase because once these fungal diseases are in the garden, they spread very quickly and can also infect other plants. Fortunately, there are some resistant varieties of roses available these days. If you want to be on the safe side, it is best to buy roses with the recognized ADR seal of approval (General German Rose Novelty Examination).

But it is not just illnesses that can become a problem. When buying new roses, you should also pay attention to possible pest infestations. So-called window damage on the leaves can, for example, be an indication of the infestation with larvae of the rose wasp (Caliora aethiops ). And roses are also very popular with various types of aphids. The little animals like to sit on young shoots, leaves, and flower buds.

You can pay attention to the following quality features when buying roses:

• Labeling (type, location, size) and care instructions are available
• No damage to the shoots and the finishing point
• No stained or eaten leaves
• No pests
• Well developed main shoots
• Good root penetration
• No rotten smell

The right type and variety of roses

To find the right rose for your garden or balcony, you should think in advance about the purpose and location of the new plant. In addition to a small range of non-root roses, you will find primarily grafted plants in stores. Hybrid tea roses were refined with beautiful, large flowers on robust wild rose supports. When buying, make sure that it is intact.

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If you want to plant your rose in a pot, you should also be careful not to choose varieties that are too vigorous. The space in the planter is only limited, which is why smaller rose varieties with a compact growth are usually better suited for cultivation in pots. For planting outdoors, you should again make sure that the rose variety is sufficiently hardy.

There are several options for classifying roses. Most of the time, different types of roses are grouped according to their properties in so-called rose groups. Depending on the type of growth, a distinction is then made, for example, with bed roses, dwarf roses, ground cover roses, climbing roses, shrub roses, or high stem roses. Sometimes the name of the rose also gives an indication of its origin or its flowering properties. Don’t be afraid to get information from the nursery or garden center staff. They can usually give you good advice when deciding on the right variety.

Where are the best places to buy roses?

To date, more than 30,000 different rose varieties have been created through targeted rose breeding. Rose growers often put a lot of energy and work into developing new varieties. Cheap rose bushes are also available in the supermarket or the garden center, but the quality of these plants often leaves a lot to be desired.

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Modern roses of good quality that are healthy, robust, and long-lasting can sometimes cost a little more. In return, you will usually enjoy them for a longer period of time. You will find what you are looking for in well-stocked nurseries, rose or tree nurseries. These usually offer a larger selection of different varieties and can also provide you with competent advice.

Recommended sources of supply

If you are looking to buy a new rose or are just looking for inspiration, you might find it here:

• Rosenhof Schultheis: The oldest German rose school offers a wide range of both historical and modern varieties. If you are looking for rare specimens, this is the right place for you.
• Kordes Roses: The Kordes family’s rose school is now in its fifth generation. There is a large selection of different roses and rose accompanying plants in the best quality.
• Rosarium Gruber: The Gruber family purchases selected rose plants from Germany and cultivates them on their farm in Austria. Various tea hybrids, ground cover, shrub, climbing, rambler, cascade, and stem roses are offered for sale.