With their far-reaching popularity, roses are the queens of flowers. After buttercup, the roses are the second oldest variety of flowers on the planet. Biologists can trace roses back some 200 million years! Although there is a huge number of meanings and symbols associated with roses, the most common of course is love, which originated in Greek mythology. When Aphrodite cried about the death of her lover Adonis, she had red "Adonis Roses" grown with his blood, - thus red roses are the symbol of never-ending love. Important to mention are the roses’ thorns, of which we all probably have some painful memory. Symbolically, love can be painful and full of suffering when not treated carefully.

Common names: tea rose, sweetheart rose, spray rose
With almost 120 varieties available, roses are a classic favorite. Roses span the color spectrum with varieties available in all shades of reds, pinks, purples, oranges, corals, peaches and whites. Tea roses open 7 to 10 cm. Stems can be 30 — 75 cm. Spray roses can have several flowers on one stem. Depending on the variety, roses typically last 4 — 7 days.

Special care: Remove foliage that falls below the water line to reduce bacteria, which can cloud water and clog stems. Recut stems under water every two to three days.