We have received many questions regarding the different sizes of roses that we offer and the characteristics of each size.  In an attempt to distinguish between the different sizes or grades of roses we have assembled the following information:

Why are many roses marked in terms of centimeters (cm)?  The majority of roses delivered in the United States are shipped from Colombia and Ecuador.  These countries are known world-wide for their stunning fresh cut flowers - especially roses.  Colombia and Ecuador both use the metric system for calculations.  When flowers are harvested they are sorted by size or stem length.  Below are the most common conversions for these flowers:

40cms = 16 inches
50cms = 20 inches
60cms = 24 inches
70cms = 28 inches

What does the stem length mean?  If you were to see roses that were classified as 40cm roses, the stem length of those roses would be 16 inches.  This length is not indicative of the overall length of the flower, but rather of the length of the stem itself.

Aside from the roses being offered in different lengths, are there any differences in the actual size of the rose?  The general rule of thumb for roses is: the longer the stem, the larger the rose head.  Many flower farms grade roses by first measuring the size of the rose head.  Based upon the rose head size the farm will cut the flower to the corresponding stem length.

Why are some roses larger/smaller than others?  Part of the difference in size is a direct result of the length of the stem (again… the longer the stem, the larger the rose head).  However, there are exceptions.  Rose head size does vary by variety.  Some varieties of roses tend to be larger/smaller than others.  Each rose variety has unique identifying characteristics.  These characteristics include color, bloom size, lengths available (not all roses are available in all lengths) and number of petals.

The Rose Petal Shop is your online source for premium varieties of wholesale flowers, wedding flowers and rose petals.  If you have any questions you would like answered, please send us an email or give us a call and we would be more than happy to assist you!

We frequently receive questions about the difference between fresh and freeze dried rose petals. To answer this frequently asked question we have pulled together the following information:

Freeze Dried Rose Petals: Freeze dried rose petals are fresh rose petals which have been put through a drying process. They are real rose petals which have been dried. When dried, these petals are in a preserved state and can last upwards of 2 years if cared for properly. Freeze dried rose petals will not wilt or stain. The freeze dried rose petals do tend to be smaller than the fresh rose petals and the colors are not as vibrant as the fresh rose petals. When the petals are put through the freeze drying process they do shrink a little bit and loose some of their color. Freeze dried rose petals can be ordered to arrive well in advance of your event and can be put out for decoration hours before your event begins.

Fresh Rose Petals: Fresh rose petals are a perishable product. The petals themselves tend to be larger in size than the freeze dried rose petals and their colors are more vibrant. Fresh rose petals should be scheduled to arrive 2 days prior to your event and should be kept refrigerated. We recommend customers save the fresh rose petals for the last decoration to be put out. Once out for display, the fresh rose petals will begin to loose their moisture. As the rose petals loose their moisture they will wrinkle and wilt. How long the fresh rose petals will last depends on the temperature and amount of direct light they are subject to. As a rule of thumb… the warmer the temperature and stronger the light, the sooner the fresh rose petals will begin to wilt.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our fresh rose petals or freeze dried rose petals.

Throughout the floral industry prices of fresh cut flowers and fresh rose petals rise sharply in the weeks prior to Valentine’s Day. This is NOT the case with freeze dried rose petals! Though we don’t fully understand why the price of freeze dried rose petals don’t increase around Valentine’s Day - we certainly aren’t compaining!

Take advantage of fantastic freeze dried rose petals shipped to your door.  These beautiful products are known for their longevity and will last beautifully for months… even years if cared for properly!  Order them for delivery well in advance of your wedding, event, or romantic getaway so that you have them on hand at precisely the right moment!

If you are ordering for Valentine’s Day, do place your order soon.  We do require all orders be placed at least 10 days prior to your desired delivery date!

The Rose Petal Shop gets asked many times why the price of fresh rose petals across the industry increases from December through February. The simple answer is because of what is known in the floral industry as ‘the pinch’.

Every year at the end of November flower farms really cut back the majority (if not all) of their rose bushes. They do this so that they can have 2 harvests in the days and weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. Rose prices during that time are at a premium, so the more the farms sell… the more they make.

So there you have it… the increase on the price of rose petals is a direct result of ‘the pinch’.

** One thing to remember is that freeze dried rose petals are NOT affected by ‘the pinch’. Freeze dried rose petals are harvested and preserved during the summer months from one of our fantastic flower farms here in the US! **