Each rose parent gives half of its genes to its baby roses. These genes come in pairs, like socks. Some are dominant, which means they show up more often. Others are recessive, which means they only appear if both parents give the same gene.
For example, red is usually a dominant color in roses. If one parent has red petals and the other has white petals with no hidden red gene, the baby rose is likely to be red. But if both parents carry a hidden lavender gene, even if they don’t show it, the baby might turn out lavender!
Some traits are controlled by one gene, while others need many genes working together. That’s why a breeder can try the same cross many times and get slightly different results each time. Nature loves to surprise us!
Fragrance is a tricky trait. Sometimes roses that smell strong don’t pass that scent on very well. Other times, two lightly scented roses can make a baby with a powerful perfume! This is because scent comes from many different chemicals, and many genes control how much scent the flower makes.
Disease resistance is another important trait. Breeders choose parents that rarely get black spot or mildew. They hope those strong genes will help the babies stay healthy too, especially in places where roses usually struggle.
Learning which genes are dominant and how they interact helps breeders create roses that are strong, beautiful, and easy to grow. Each rose is like a tiny puzzle made from its parents’ traits, just waiting to bloom into something new.