Urban Legends | Growing Roses From Seed | Don’t Buy It

On the whole, I average 25-75 emails per week from folks asking rose related questions. About 25% of those are questions related to how to grow roses from seed. Growing roses from seeds can be done. It takes patience. To produce a mature rose shrub from a seed is a multi year process and is not for the faint of heart.

the ‘Osiria Rose’ – is actually a rose but is not sold in the U.S. 

Many times people who write to me have already purchased seeds. Sometimes, they send along  an exotic photo of an unusually colored rose supposedly grown in some far off land. They always tell me that they spent $$$ (+ Shipping & Handling) and are very disappointed with the results. Either the seeds failed to germinate or they produced a totally different bloom than what was advertised. Or, the shrub is spindly, sickly and rarely produces any blooms at all. Not quite living up to the hype that the Pinterest or Facebook post promised.

 

Black Roses DO NOT EXIST – No color combination in the genus rosa will produce a black rose of any kind.

With each message, I can just feel the sense of frustration of the writer.

As someone who has been growing roses for many years, the roses advertised on these websites do not exist in commerce in the United States for a reason and some do not exist at all.

MYTHS:

• There are no naturally grown black roses.
  • No matter what you read, they do not exist. When you see a black rose, it has been dipped or artificially colored or photoshopped. Don’t buy it.
• The multicolored rose you see pictured below is a figment of someones imagination.
  • This rose is not grown in any garden anywhere.

Check out the feedback of folks who have made seeds purchases on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Flower-Seeds-Pieces-Rainbow/dp/B00MLOFT72

 

This rose is a total fake. Don’t buy claims that it’s rare and only grown in a village by mute monks. It ain’t happening. Don’t waste your time and money. 

For a beautifully grown multicolored rose, take a look at what’s real and readily available in commerce in the U.S. Try  Mardi Gras or Cotton Candy Cocktail on for size.

Stick to your local rose society and other rose growers who can show you what’s really involved in growing roses from seeds. It takes a lot of time and patience. I know a lot of folks who grow roses all around the world and none of them, except for a few professional hybrizers are growing roses from seedlings.

Nearly ALL roses today are grown from cuttings or grafted onto rootstock. I always suggest  folks invest time into learning how to root roses from cuttings rather than growing from seeds. Many old rose varieties are very easy to root. Try Old Blush & Mutabilis, are a few that come to mind.

In my mind, these urban legends are a big reasons why people get frustrated growing roses. They feel let down after trying in vain to do something that typically only professional hybridizers do. Don’t buy into the legend.

For the back yard gardener who’s just looking for pretty roses for their garden, don’t be taken in by the hype. Stick to reputable nurseries that will provide you with quality roses that you’ll be happy with.

Keep those emails coming.