Garden roses, also called peony-shaped or English roses, are rose varieties with a full, ruffled bloom that opens wide like a peony, often with a scent. At Rīgas Ziedi we buy them from growers in Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya and the Netherlands: Country Peonia, Princess Crown, Kahala, Free Spirit, Vuvuzela, Lincoln Park, Kensington Gardens and the peony spray rose Mansfield Park. All bouquets and boxes with them are in peony roses. They last 5 to 10 days in a vase, less than standard roses, but look like real peonies all year round. We are a local florist in Riga with our own shop at Tallinas iela 83 and deliver within 2 hours.
How a garden rose differs from a standard rose
- Petal count and shape: a standard cut rose has 30 to 45 petals and a high, conical centre; a garden variety has 80 to 150 petals arranged in a rosette or in four quarters (the English rose style) and opens wide, up to 10 to 12 cm.
- Scent: many garden roses are strongly scented; standard cut varieties lost their scent in breeding for durability.
- Vase life: 5 to 10 days against 10 to 14 for standard roses; scented varieties open faster. That is the price of the look.
- Price: 1.5 to 2 times more per stem, because the bush yields fewer flowers and they are harder to ship.
- When to choose them: for a bouquet that is given and admired now rather than kept for two weeks: a birthday, a mother, a romantic surprise, a photo shoot.
Where garden roses come from
Peony-shaped varieties are bred by the same big breeders as standard roses, but fewer farms grow them because they are more demanding. The English rose style, a four-quartered full bloom with scent, was made famous by David Austin with Juliet, Patience and Keira, grown in Colombia and Kenya. Ecuadorian farms (Rosaprima, EQR, Hoja Verde and others) offer their own peony-shaped varieties with bigger heads and longer stems: Princess Crown in pink and peach, Kahala in caramel from the Ecuadorian breeder Brown Breeding, Free Spirit in coral from Rosaprima. Dutch breeding gives Vuvuzela, Golden Vuvuzela and White Vuvuzela with ruffled petals and Country Peonia with a peony-like shape. Peony spray roses (Mansfield Park, Mansfield Pink Park) are a separate group: 3 to 5 full blooms on one stem, so the bouquet looks dense for less money.
The varieties we buy: photos from the growers'' boxes
Eight batches of garden roses we photographed at the wholesale market in paper sleeves; suppliers do not always print the variety name on the sleeve, so we describe them by colour and shape. All are 50 to 60 cm, 10 to 25 stems per sleeve.
Peach and apricot tones, a quartered cup with hundreds of small petals: the classic English rose shape most often requested for photo shoots.
Cream with a yellowish centre, rosette form; suits white and pastel bouquets and goes well with eucalyptus.
Soft pink with an apricot centre and visible stamens; opens fully like a peony and is at its best fully open.
Light pink with greenish outer petals, a compact full bloom that holds its shape for a long time.
Pink and peach tones, a densely filled bloom with a warm centre; a single-headed rose that looks generous in a bouquet.
Golden yellow with ruffled petals, the rarest colour among garden roses; good for sunny autumn bouquets.
White with a cream centre, densely full; an alternative to standard white roses in formal bouquets.
Salmon and coral pink, a medium-sized full bloom; right for birthday bouquets and flowers for a mother.
Our bouquets with garden roses
| Product | What is in it |
|---|---|
| Peony spray roses, pink and purple mix | 9 stems, price on the product page |
| Peony spray roses | 9 stems, price on the product page |
| Flower bouquet with peony roses | mixed bouquet, price on the product page |
| Peony roses in a heart-shaped box | arrangement in a box, price on the product page |
All bouquets and boxes with garden roses: peony roses. A specific variety (Princess Crown or Kahala, for example) we order from the price list within 2 to 4 days: write it in the order notes or on WhatsApp +371 22022229.
How to make garden roses last
They drink more than standard roses: a deep vase, fresh water every day, stems recut at an angle with a sharp knife, a spot away from sun and radiators. Do not remove the outer "guard petals" unless damaged: they hold the bloom together. A fully open garden rose is at its most beautiful, so it is worth giving the bouquet a day before the occasion. Standard rose varieties: rose varieties with photos.
Frequently asked questions
Are peony roses peonies?
No, they are roses with a full, peony-like bloom. Real peonies are available from May to July, garden roses all year round.
How long do garden roses last in a vase?
5 to 10 days, scented varieties open faster. Standard cut roses last 10 to 14 days.
Why are garden roses more expensive?
The bush yields fewer flowers, there are 2 to 3 times more petals, and the full blooms are more fragile in transport; per stem they cost 1.5 to 2 times more than standard roses.
Can I order a specific garden rose variety in Riga?
Yes, peony spray roses are in the shop all the time; large-headed garden varieties we order from the price list within 2 to 4 days. Write on WhatsApp +371 22022229.