Valentine's Day Roses Pt 2
2) Why is there such a wide range of prices for roses?
Roses are available in many different sizes, styles, varieties and colours, and from a wide range of sources.
If you ask 5 different people what defines a Long Stem Rose, you will get 5 different answers. We define “long stem” as anything over 60cm, although our Reds typically stand over 70cm tall. When I see other retailers selling 40-50cm roses as long stemmed, I have to ask: “What are they using for short stems??”
At Valentine’s we will be stocking roses from 40cm to 90cm in length. Naturally, the price of the rose will vary with the length.
Variety or species of rose can also impact the price. High-demand, high-quality varieties like Freedom and Forever Young command a higher price, especially since their yield per square metre is lower than other varieties. The payoff is in the large head, high petal count and long vase life. Cheaper varieties like Rouge Baisier or Classy have lower petal counts and don’t open as nicely.
It’s no surprise, I’m sure, that red roses will be the most popular type of flower for Valentine’s week. As such, some other colours may be available at a lower price.
Consider the source: Roses can be sourced from growers around the world. Popular locations include Ecuador, Columbia, Mexico, Israel, Netherlands and Africa. Roses are also grown locally through Canada and the USA. While each country produces roses at various levels of quality, some broad statements can be made. Dutch roses are most costly, but are a very high quality flower. North American grown roses are smaller than imported roses since the climate is not as suitable. Columbian roses have a fairly large head but are of a lower grade and price than roses from Ecuador. Roses from a top grower in Ecuador are amongst the best available in the world, in value and quality. They are more costly than locally grown, but several times larger and longer lasting.
Part 3 Coming soon!
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