When a breeder creates a brand-new rose, one of the most exciting parts is giving it a name. Naming a rose is like naming a new baby or even a new invention. It takes thought, creativity, and sometimes even a little history. Some roses are named after people, like familyContinue Reading
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 aContinue Reading
Breeding roses is a careful, hands-on process. It starts when the breeder picks two parent roses—one to give pollen (the father) and one to grow the seed (the mother). The breeder removes the petals from a mother rose so the center is easy to reach. Next, the breeder takes pollenContinue Reading
Picking the right rose parents is one of the most important parts of rose breeding. Not every rose makes a good parent. Some roses may look pretty but pass along weak or tricky traits. Others might be strong but don’t share their best features easily. A great parent rose hasContinue Reading
Genetics is the science of how living things pass traits to their children. Roses, like people, get their looks, scent, and strength from their parents. These traits come from tiny parts inside the plant called genes. Genes tell each part of the rose how to grow. Genes are found inContinue Reading
Have you ever wished for a true blue rose? Roses come in red, pink, yellow, white, and even orange—but there’s one color they just don’t grow in naturally, and that’s blue. For hundreds of years, people have tried to create a real blue rose, but it’s one of the trickiestContinue Reading
December is a great month to stay cozy indoors with a good book—and that includes learning more about roses! Even though your garden is quiet outside, you can still enjoy roses by reading about them. Books are a fun way to explore new rose ideas and get ready for nextContinue Reading
In the wintertime, your roses look like they’re doing nothing. The leaves are gone, the flowers have faded, and all that’s left are bare stems. But even though your roses seem quiet, they are doing something very important—they are resting. This time of rest is called dormancy. Dormancy is likeContinue Reading
Winter is here, and your roses need a little extra care to stay safe through the cold months. Just like people put on jackets and scarves, roses need protection when the temperature drops. Taking the time to winterize your rose garden helps your plants come back strong in the spring.Continue Reading
Have you ever wondered why roses have thorns? They’re beautiful flowers, but sometimes you have to be careful not to get poked! Those little spikes are actually called “prickles,” and they serve an important purpose. In nature, roses grow in the wild where animals like deer or rabbits might tryContinue Reading