The Top Red Rose Varieties for Wedding Bouquet Designs

Are you comparing different red rose varieties for your next floral arrangement? Florists love red roses for wedding bouquet designs, so let’s explore their usage in weddings. Holidays are the most profitable days for retail and event florists. In this blog, we will discuss the floral industry’s most known and used red rose varieties, starting with three types of rose varieties to know for wedding design.

Red Rose Varieties Are Widely Used In All Types of Floral Arrangements, Not Just in Wedding Designs

All Roses Are Divided Into Three Types: Florist Use For Wedding Design

Standard Red Rose Varieties Used In Wedding Centerpieces, Bouquets, And Arch Installations:

Due to their hardiness and long-lasting nature, you will easily find standard roses in wedding and event work. Moreover, when using standard roses in floral recipes and arrangements, florists follow the design rules in the floral industry to maintain the aesthetics and design standards.

A Guideline for the Number of Stems to Place in Various Floral Arrangements

Floral designs in the floristry world are called the Form Linear, in which we apply flowers by using the 3:5:8 rule with 3 main focal groups listed below. However, Florists do not always follow the rules but still manage to make beautiful floral designs.

  • 3 = Sub-dominate Group/Placement
  • 5 = Contrasting Group/Placement
  • 8 = Dominate Group/Placement.

For a bridal Bouquet, you can add any of the following numbers of the stems: 3,5,8

For the Bride’s Maid Bouquet, you can add any of the following numbers of the stems: 3,5,8,11 though In a boutonniere, florists typically use only one standard rose alongside other filler flowers.

For short centerpieces, you can add any of the following stem numbers: 3, 5, 8, and 11. Then, follow the pattern with other flowers, such as hydrangeas, anemones, ranunculus, eucalyptus, and other filler flowers.

The number of stems will dictate your floral recipe’s price and floral design’s markup. Floral arrangement profitability will depend on the floral markup and other expenses.

Red Garden Roses Varieties Used Frequently In Bridal Bouquets, Short Centerpieces, ETC:

Garden Roses have earned renown for their fragrance, bloom size, and beauty, often featured in high-end floral arrangements and wedding decor. Spray Rose varieties also make their mark in all wedding floral designs, serving as accent or filler flowers and excelling in boutonnieres, corsages, crowns, and floral jewelry.

Typically, you will see 3, 5, 8, or more garden roses in the bridal bouquet as short centerpieces. However, you will most likely not see a boutonniere or buttonhole made from the garden rose.

Freedom Red Rose Variety Is Typically Found In Retail Florist Arrangements and Wedding Designs

The classic Freedom Red Rose has a large head with the standard cup-shaped bloom of bright red with dark, shiny leaves. Freedom Red Roses have gained recognition for their long-lasting vase life, making them the most recognized red roses suitable for all seasons and floral arrangements. They are easy to source and always reliable, and you can find them easily at your wholesaler’s cooler for walk-in orders. Moreover, substitutes for Freedom red rose varieties are Forever Young Red Roses, Sexy Red Roses, Night Fever Red Roses, Paris Red Roses, High and Surprise Red Roses, and Devotion Red Roses.

  • 25 stems are in a red rose (all standard roses) bunch
  • Bunch price ranges from $.85 to 2.00
  • Freedom Red Rose has a medium to high petal count.
  • Roses come in various stem length 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, 80cm.
  • Typically, Red rose stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • It has no fragrance.
  • Rose head sizes are medium to large.
  • When processing the flowers, you will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • You can easily flex the rose to open it to its fullest width.
  • Substitutes for Freedom red rose varieties are Roses Forever Young, Roses Sexy Red, Roses Night Fever, Roses Red Paris, Roses High and Surprise, and Roses Devotion.

The Explorer Red Rose Variety Is Used In Wedding Work Due To Its High Petal Count

The Explorer Red Rose is a standard rose with a deep burgundy color and a large head opening. Its petal count is higher, and it does not have a fragrance. Substitutes for Explorer Red Rose varieties include Rose Luna Rose and Roses Grande Class.

All the details of the Explorer Red Roses you want to know, On True Client Pro, Detailed florla software is loaded with all information in the floral library to help you create the floral recipes.

  • 25 stems are in an Explorer Red Rose (all standard roses) bunch
  • Explorer Red Rose bunch price ranges from $.85 to 2.00
  • Explorer Red Rose has a medium to high petal count.
  • Explorer Red Roses come in various stem lengths: 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, and 80cm.
  • Explorer Red Rose can open to 2.5 inches in diameter.
  • It has no fragrance.
  • Rose’s head size is large.
  • When processing the flowers, you will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • You can easily flex the rose to open it to its fullest width.
  • Substitutes for explorer red rose varieties can be Rose Luna Rose and Roses Grande Class.

Forever Young Red Rose Is Loved By Florist For Having No Thorns

Every florist, freelancer, and floral designer dreams of working with roses without thorns, but they don’t always get to work without them. Garden roses are pretty, but they have a massive amount of thrones.

  • 25 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $ .75 to 2.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length varies from 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, and 80cm.
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and it has no thorns.
  • Scent: Fragrance
  • Rose head size: Medium to Large
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • Substitutes for Red Paris Rose are Freedom roses.

Wedding Floral Designers Use Black Baccara Red Roses For Its Texture

The Black Baccara rose brings a deep, velvety texture to your floral design. Weddings and events incorporating either black or burgundy tones commonly use this popular rose, which is as close as you can get to a black rose. Its many dark petals contribute to its appeal. It features a rich, red center that fades into darker, almost black outer petals, sometimes called dead petals. With a mild fragrance, this dramatic rose stands out as one of a kind. The outer petal often appears to be dying, but that is due to the dark burgundy tone. Additionally, substitutes for Black Baccara red rose varieties are Roses. Black Magic, Roses Black Beauty, and Rose Black Pearl.

  • 25 stems in a bunch
  •   Price ranges from $.85 to 2.00
  •   Medium to high petal count
  •   Stem length 40cm, 50cm, 60cm
  •   Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  •   Scent: No fragrance
  •   Rose head size: Medium
  •   You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  •   You can easily flex the rose to open it to its fullest width.
  •  Substitutes for Black Baccara red rose varieties are Roses. Black Magic, Roses Black Beauty, and Rose Black Pearl.

Usage Of Red Hearts Roses known In All Wedding Designs

Red Hearts Roses are bright red with darker undertones. Garden roses have a distinctive center with ruffled petals spiraling out to large bloom, making them perfect for Valentine’s Day, short centerpieces, and bridal bouquets. When making floral recipes, consider the size of the bloom taking up space in the design and view it as a focal or face flower. Many will address the shape as a cup shape or disc shape. It is also known as Hearts. When including these roses in your floral recipes, check with your wholesaler beforehand to ensure you have enough blooms for your design.

  • 12 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $.85 to 2.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length 40cm, 50cm, 60cm
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • Scent: Mild to Medium fragrance
  • Rose head size: Large
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • You can easily flex the rose to open it to its fullest width.
  • David Austin’s Tess Rose and Alexandra Farm’s Garden Rose Tess are substitutes for Heart Garden deep red rose varieties.
Red Rose Varieties

Bridal Bouquets Feature High Usage Of Luxurious David Austin Red Tess Garden Rose Varieties

Piano Garden has darker shades of red at the heart of this rose, fading to lighter red at the edges, opening to a perfect medium-sized elegant bloom. Piano gardens are grown on Andy’s mountain. Additionally, Tess Garden Red Rose varieties are substitutes for Garden Rose Piano, Garden Rose Red Eye, and Garden Rose Wanted.

  • 12 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $2.00 to 3.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length Varies From 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, to 70cm.
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • Scent: Mild to Medium fragrance
  • Rose head size: Large
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • Piano garden roses naturally open to their fullest when properly conditioned.
  • Tess Garden Red Rose varieties are substitutes for Garden Rose Piano, Garden Rose Red Eye, and Garden Rose Wanted.

Red Paris Is an Ultra, Chic Popular Standard Red Rose Variety

The Red Rose Paris is a beautiful standard, bright red rose with deep, dark tones that make it appear almost black. Paris Red Rose is one of the best-selling red roses with rich, velvety petals perfect for Valentine’s Day and wedding bouquets. Additionally, substitutes for the Red Paris Rose are Freedom roses.

  • 25 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $2.00 to 3.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length varies from 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, 80cm, and 90cm.
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • Scent: Mild to Medium fragrance
  • Rose head size: Medium
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • Substitutes for Red Paris Rose are Freedom roses.

Mayra’s Red Roses are Perfect For Any Wedding Design

Mayra’s Red Rose is a traditional English rose with a deep merlot red tone. It opens wide with many ruffled petals similar to heart-red roses, adding a romantic feel for Valentine’s Day. Large ruffled petals with fragrance are perfect for the bridal bouquet, framing a gorgeous inner red center and bringing your attention to the rose. Additionally, substitutes for Mayra’s Garden Red Rose varieties are Garden Rose Piano, Garden Rose Red Eye, Tess Rose, and Garden Rose Wanted.

Red Garden Rose Varieties In Wedding Designs
  • 12 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $2.00 to 3.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length varies from 40cm, 50cm, and 60cm.
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • Scent: Strong fragrance
  • Rose head size: Large
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns.
  • Mayra’s Garden Red Rose varieties are substituted for Garden Rose Piano, Garden Rose Red Eye, Tess Rose, and Garden Rose Wanted.

‘Madam Red’ Red Roses for Wedding Design & Holidays

Madam Red Roses are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and the big reason is that they are thorn-free and have larger petals than any other variety of roses.

  • 25 stems in a bunch
  • Price ranges from $2.00 to 3.00
  • Medium to high petal count
  • Stem length varies from 40cm, 50cm, and 60cm.
  • Stem girth is not too thick, and hand ties are easy to manage.
  • Scent: Strong fragrance
  • Rose head size: Large
  • You will need to strip or snip thorns
  • Substitutes for Mayra’s Garden Red Rose varieties are Garden Rose Piano, Garden Rose Red Eye, Tess Rose, and Garden Rose Wanted

How do wholesalers package red rose varieties to protect them?

  • Every bunch of roses contains 25 stems. We pack each bunch in two layers to protect their heads during shipping. From the above, it may seem like each bundle only has 12 roses, but you will discover the remaining 13 roses upon opening the package. The white paper added between the rows of roses protects them, and the cardboard layers act as dividers for transportation and protection.
  • Most roses arrive soft and wilted. However, floral wholesalers and growers add this step to help ship the roses in the best condition. Upon the roses’ arrival at their final destination, the florist processes them with a fresh cut at an angle at the bottom of the stems and places them in water mixed with flower food. Once the roses hydrate, the blooms will perk up and open to their full size.
  • Growers and wholesalers pack all roses with “guard petals.” “Guard petals” are exactly what they sound like: they protect the rose’s head during travels, which may cause bruising or discoloration. Depending on the rose’s variety and the rose head’s petal count, you may need to remove up to 3 to 7 guard petals for each rose to reveal the healthy petals underneath.

Standard Roses’ Role in Wedding Floral Arrangements and Designs, How To Maximize Its Vase Life

Standard roses are hardy, long-lasting, and a staple of wedding and event work. For optimal results, remember to cut and hydrate the roses for 2 hours before removing the cardboard wrapping. This step ensures that they spread out fully to achieve their maximum potential.

Consider the following details when planning your flower design:

  • Flower Design Type: Whether they serve as a focal or a second focal flower.
  • Shape: Whether they exhibit a cup shape or a face flower appearance.

When receiving your flowers, note that standard roses are shipped in a cardboard wrap, meticulously packed with 25 stems per bunch for protection. As you inspect the packaged roses, remember that they are packed in layers. Initially, only the top layer with 12 roses is visible. However, there’s no need to fret; you will uncover 13 roses tucked inside upon unwrapping. Considering all four layers, the number of roses adds up to 25 stems.

How To Open Any Roses Faster And Not Just Red Roses:

  • Allow enough space for the roses to open.
  • Fill the bucket at least halfway in the water for the water to reach the head faster.
  • Set them outside but in direct sun to help them open faster.
  • Add warm water (not hot)
  • You can easily blow on the rose to help open it, but then you will need strong lungs to get through 100+ roses to open it. Many florists like to use the hairdryer on a cool setting at the low fan to help push the petals open.
  • You can also turn the stem upside down and spin the stem in your hand, forcing the bloom to open quickly.
  • Remove the unnecessary leaves to help water to reach the head faster.

How Does the Price Fluctuate On Red Rose Varieties for a Wedding

Pricing depends on many things for all types of flowers, including roses, when the florist orders flowers from the wholesalers. Here is the list of things to take into consideration.

  • Varieties Of The Roses
  • Color of the roses
  • Rose Type
  • Rose Stem Length
  • Rose petal count
  • Rose Availability
  • Quantity Of the order
  • When The Order Is Placed Ahead Of Time
  • Rarity Of The Rose

Order flowers at least 2-3 days ahead for wedding and event work to avoid headaches and stress while allowing them to open naturally. Additionally, for Valentine’s Day, many florists wait to order the flowers until they receive them, often missing out on discounts when ordering roses. By ordering in advance, florists can efficiently process the flowers ahead of time, effectively managing staffing and labor costs. All flowers, including rose varieties, will be placed in a deep cooler with cooler temperatures to prevent the roses from opening prematurely, yet allowing florists to design them in large quantities to meet the demand and maximize their profit.

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