It makes sense to think pink for Valentines Day. When you’re deeply in love and your mind is on the clouds, you must then give a pink rose to someone you care about. We all know that Cloud Nine is pink, right? Here are nine pretty pink roses from breeder De Ruiter that would make a great Valentine’s Day gift.
The pink rose is the oldest of rose colors. It has been depicted in art longer than any other color. This is usually because the color pink in a rose stands for two basic emotions: love and gratitude. A great choice for the people you care about most, like family and friends, or for people you look up to. Pink roses are also a sign of femininity and class, which makes them perfect for girly events like proms, engagement parties, and baby showers.
Picture this – a gorgeous pink rose in full bloom, with distinctly green tips on the outermost petals. This striking color combination is found naturally in certain rose varieties and can also occur when conditions bring out unexpected hues. If you’ve seen these bicolored beauties and want to know more about growing and caring for pink roses with green tips, read on!
What Causes Green Tips on Pink Roses?
There are a few key factors that can lead pink roses to develop green along the edges of their petals
Genetics
Some pink rose cultivars are bred to exhibit green tips as part of their natural coloration. The pigmentation results from crossbreeding and careful selection over multiple generations. Popular pink-and-green varieties include ‘Green Ice,’ ‘Pink Promise,’ and ‘Miranda.’
Cool Temperatures
Temperature affects color production in roses. Cool weather tends to result in darker anthocyanin pigments. When nights dip lower while days remain warm, the cooler outer petals may develop darker green pigments.
Light Levels
Roses need full sun, at least 6 hours daily to produce their richest colors. Insufficient sunlight exposure can cause the shaded parts of the plant to lose pink tones and become greener. Inner blooms may stay pink while outer ones green up.
Soil pH
Roses prefer slightly acidic soil in the 6.0-6.5 pH range. Overly alkaline soils above 7.0 can interfere with the plant’s uptake of pink-hued pigments from the soil. Tips may green but inner petals hold color.
Nutrient Issues
Insufficient potassium, phosphorus, or magnesium can all impact color. Manganese deficiency specifically leads to greening. Have soil tested and amend accordingly if nutrients are lacking.
Pigment Distribution
The amount of pink or red anthocyanin pigments present naturally varies across different parts of each petal. Tips often contain less, so green chlorophyll shows through more in those areas.
Green-Tipped Varieties of Pink Roses
Many beautiful pink roses naturally exhibit green tips. Here are some of the most popular varieties:
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Pink Promise – Abundant, nostalgic-shaped blooms. Light pink with vivid green edges. Intense fruity fragrance.
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Green Ice – Double blooms start creamy and blush pink. Matures to light pink with dark green tips. Spicy scent.
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Miranda – Medium pink petals with mint green edges. Bushy grower with excellent reblooming. Slight spicy aroma.
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Europeana – Large, cupped flowers in silvery pink with dark green tips. Light apple scent. Stands out in arrangements.
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Tournament of Roses – Medium pink blooms lighten toward green edges. Bushy upright growth. Mild tea rose fragrance.
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Pink Martini – Prolific bloomer with clustered medium pink and green flowers. Strong fruity perfume.
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Pink Meidiland – Silvery light pink blooms take on green tips when cool. Tea rose scent. Thrives in heat.
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Daybreaker – Double blooms fade from deep pink centers to light green edges. Bushy habit. Intense fragrance.
Caring for Green-Tipped Pink Rose Varieties
Green-tipped pink roses thrive with:
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Full sun – At least 6 hours of direct sun daily encourages blooming and vivid coloration. Morning sun is essential.
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Fertile, well-draining soil – Loamy soil amended with compost provides nutrients. Good drainage prevents diseases.
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Moderate watering – Soak thoroughly when dry 2-3 inches deep. Avoid overhead watering.
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Annual pruning – In early spring, remove all dead, damaged and crossing canes to improve shape and bloom production.
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Fertilizing – Use balanced rose fertilizer or compost tea monthly during the growing season for lush growth.
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Pest monitoring – Watch for aphids, Japanese beetles and other pests. Treat promptly and organically when found.
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Winter protection – In cold climates, mound soil or mulch around the base to insulate roots. Prune back tall varieties.
Encouraging More Green Coloration
If your favorite pink roses aren’t showing as much green as you’d like, you can encourage more color variation:
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Plant roses where they’ll receive morning sun but afternoon shade. The temperature difference tends to increase color variations.
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Choose a site with clay-based, more alkaline soil. Avoid amending with acidic materials like pine needles or sulfur.
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Allow outer blooms more exposure to cool nighttime temperatures. Inner blooms will remain unaffected.
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Hold off on nitrogen fertilizer which promotes green growth. Focus more on phosphorus and potassium applications.
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Reduce trimming and deadheading to allow spent blooms to remain on the bush longer before new flushes emerge.
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Don’t overprune in fall to keep more dormant leaf and flower bud eyes intact through winter.
With attention to light and soil conditions, you can maximize the natural green tinting in your pink-blooming roses.
Troubleshooting Green Tips on Pink Roses
Sometimes green tips appear on pink rose bushes where they’re not expected. Here’s how to troubleshoot:
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Rule out natural varietal coloration first. Only certain cultivars exhibit green tips when happy.
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Check possible nutrient deficiencies by having soil tested and amending as needed. Target manganese.
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Evaluate sunlight exposure and move roses if they’re not getting at least 6 hours of sun daily.
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Determine if soil pH is too high (over 7.0) and lower with elemental sulfur applications.
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Assess watering habits. Too much moisture can leach iron and magnesium, causing greening.
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Examine plants for early aphid infestations. Aphid feeding causes leaves to curl and twist, affecting coloration.
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Monitor for diseases like powdery mildew that can restrict nutrient absorption and impact hues.
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Consider spraying flowers with an antitranspirant that reduces moisture loss through petals, minimizing burning.
By methodically eliminating environmental causes, unwanted green edges can be reduced to restore the desired pink blooms.
Special Care Tips for Green-Edged Pink Roses
Caring for pink roses that naturally display green edges requires paying special attention to:
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Soil pH – Test regularly and amend to keep pH between 6.0-6.5. Avoid letting it climb over 7.0.
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Watering – Allow soil to dry out between waterings to concentrate anthocyanin pigments in cells.
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Deadheading – Remove spent blooms promptly to encourage continuous flushes of new flowers.
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Thinning inner branches – Keep center open to light by selectively removing some old inner canes each year.
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Air circulation – Space plants appropriately and thin inner branches to prevent fungal diseases.
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Mulching – Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch to insulate soil and rose roots through cold periods.
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Cold protection – In very cold climates, mound extra soil around the base going into winter.
Paying attention to these specific needs will keep your green-tipped pink rose bushes happy and flowering beautifully.
Enhancing and Preserving the Green Coloration
To really make those green edges sparkle, focus on:
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Planting site – Choose a partly shaded location, ideally with morning sun and afternoon shade.
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Limiting nitrogen – Excess nitrogen stimulates green growth rather than desired pigments. Go easy on high-nitrogen feeds.
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Allowing cool exposure – Don’t deadhead too promptly. Leave some spent blooms longer to allow the edges to chill.
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Regulating water – Avoid overwatering. Allow more drying between soakings to intensify pigments.
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Pruning lightly – Remove only necessary growth in fall to keep as many color-producing bud eyes as possible.
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Monitoring soil pH – Test regularly and use sulfur products to maintain ideal slightly acidic conditions.
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Using antitranspirants – Apply these protective film sprays on flowers to reduce moisture loss and burning.
With extra TLC, the charming green edges can become even more pronounced on your prized pink rose varieties.
Common Questions About Green-Tipped Pink Roses
What causes the green tips on pink roses?
Genetics determine green tips in some varieties. Cool temperatures, sunlight levels, soil pH, and nutrient issues like manganese deficiency can also induce green shading, especially on outer petals.
What varieties of pink roses have green tips?
Popular green-tipped choices include Pink Promise, Green Ice, Miranda, Europeana, Tournament of Roses, Pink Martini, Pink Meidiland, and Daybreaker.
Care and Handling for These Pink Roses
- When you get your rose stems, you should cut them and water them again. For the first four hours, you should leave the farm sleeve and protective cardboard insert on. All buckets, vases, and tools that are used to cut and rehydrate roses need to be germ-free and clean.
- Roses should be hydrated using cool or room-temperature water.
- It is important to use water that has been treated with the right amount of floral preservative. These solutions raise the pH level of regular tap water to the right level (3 7 to 4. 3), stop the growth of bacteria, give the flowers nutrients they need, and make it much easier for them to take in water.
- Another good idea is to use a pre-treatment solution that adds water, like Quick Dip, to lower the risk of stem blockage. That is, taking good care of your roses will make them work better and last longer!
- Both Floralife and Chrysal now have new and improved flower preservatives made just for roses. Tests have shown that these make roses last longer.
De Ruiter’s Pinks for a Perfect Valentine
Lets see what to look for this years Valentine. De Ruiter Innovations, a top breeder, has a lot of options from the best growers in Europe, Africa, and South America.
This beautiful pink flower is a real star and deserves to be the center of attention on your flower arrangement. It’s a pretty pink blend, but the pink inside Rose Celeb is pretty strong. It gets softer around the edges.
Daydreaming is a light pink rose with a tall bloom of up to 5 cm. This makes the flower rather high than wide at first sight. But when it opens up, you will experience a nicely wide romantic pink flower.
Lorraine has a marvelous color, a soft green tone down into a delicate and elegant soft peach-pink color. Is the perfect choice for special gifting and events like weddings. This pale pink rose conveys grace, gentleness, joy, and happiness.
This pink rose is soft and bright all at once. Its both soft and creamy and bright at the same time with a velvety texture. Rose Opala has a large head size and attractive shape. A beautiful and versatile pink rose.
Rose Wham is a true rose for ladies. This pink stunner expresses happiness, gracefulness, and gentleness. All these can be said to be traits of a truly elegant lady. Wham is already famous in floristry for many years.
It’s quite uncommon that specific rose varieties last for many decades. If you talk to florists who are over fifty years old, they can tell you about all the roses they used to work with but no longer do because other types have come out. Most names from back then are gone. The Sweet Unique rose is the outlier, as this variety is in fashion for over two decades now. And still going strong!.
A Frutteto is an orchard in Italian, a lush and romantic place. No wonder especially Italians adore this Rose Frutteto and share their compliments widely on Instagram. Look at this rose! It’s so delicately soft pink that it will melt anyone’s heart if they get it for Valentine’s Day or any other holiday.
Its a medium-pink bloom that opens generously into a perfect rose. Its blush-pink center and bright green petals give it a special glow, and when it’s open, the tips show the slightest curl. Frutteto’s undeniable allure stems from its unassuming beauty and elegance. It is a highly versatile rose that works well with a wide array of tones.
You will love this beautiful new rose from Kenya because its petals are soft pink to green and make it look like a dream. The colors stay, also when the flower opens itself to you.
Pomarosa is a soft, powdered-pink rose that is delicate, romantic, and adaptable, which means it can be used for a wide range of events. This variety has strong stems, a stunning pale pink color, and no scent. But the Pomarosa rose is great for adding extra depth to flower arrangements by folding or bending it. Alina Neacsa shows us the beauty of these flexed roses.