The Advantages of Roses

Roses are among the most popular flowers used for special occasions, floral decorating and as gifts. Nearly every florist sells roses and gardeners can grow them outdoors to naturally beautify their homes. When compared to other flowers, roses have some distinct, practical advantages that have contributed to their sustained popularity.

One of the key advantages of roses is their sheer variety of types and styles. Unlike flowers with more consistent colors and qualities, roses come in a wide range of varieties. Climbing roses grow on walls or fences up to 12 feet high, while hybrid tea roses feature long stems and large, fragrant blossoms. Rose colors range from pure white, reds, pinks and yellows to speckled or marbled patterns. This makes roses versatile for decorators who need to match an existing color palette and gardeners who want to add specific colors to their gardens.

Serious rose growers put in painstaking effort to achieve beautifully formed flowers, but casual gardeners can also grow roses with relatively little effort. Roses can be grown in many different types of soil as long as they receive adequate drainage. They don't require heavy fertilization and can tolerate several hours of direct sunlight each day. Too much sun may affect the flowers but won't necessarily kill the plant. Some roses, such as climbers, are repeat bloomers and produce new flowers on their own without the need for new planting or special attention.

For florists and commercial growers, roses represent a major source of income. Roses are traditionally used for such occasions as Valentine's Day, birthdays and weddings. The market price of roses fluctuates with the season and based on local supply and demand, as well as the quality and type of rose, but roses present a year-round opportunity for florists and their suppliers to make money.

Roses have modest water needs, which reduces their demands on the environment. Infrequent, thorough waterings are best, as they allow the plant to go without water for multiple days in arid regions. Homeowners who plant roses may not need to install automatic sprinklers and can instead rely on natural rainfall and occasional waterings to keep the roses healthy.

According to the California Invasive Plant Council, roses are not among the flowers that qualify as invasive threats to the ecosystem. This means that wild roses can grow alongside native plant species without depleting the soil's nutrients or consuming too much water.