Spray roses are the charming, smaller-bloomed cousins of standard roses, with multiple blooms per stem that create a naturally full, lush look. They bring all the beauty and romance of a classic rose in a more delicate, airy form, making them a favorite for wedding bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and any arrangement where you want a softer, more textural rose presence. Available in a wide range of colors, spray roses are one of the most versatile flowers you can work with.

Like all of our flowers, spray roses are not ready to display the moment they arrive. Give them a little time to hydrate and open up after their journey and they will look their best.

What You'll Need

• A clean vase or bucket
• Fresh, cool water
• Floral preservative (recommended)
• Sharp scissors or floral shears

Step-by-Step Care Instructions

1. Unpack promptly. Remove your spray roses from the outer packaging as soon as they arrive and let them breathe.
2. Trim the stems. Cut 1 to 2 inches off the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle to improve water uptake.
3. Keep the corrugated sleeve on during initial hydration. This is an important step for all roses. Leaving the corrugated sleeve around the blooms while they hydrate helps support the heads and encourages the stems to strengthen and stand upright. Leave it on for the first few hours of hydration, then remove it once the roses have had a chance to drink and firm up.
4. Remove lower foliage and guard petals. Strip any leaves that would sit below the waterline. You will also notice outer petals on each bloom that may look slightly different from the rest. These are guard petals, and they are there on purpose. They protect the bloom during shipping and handling. Once your roses have hydrated, you can gently peel them away to reveal the fresh, beautiful petals underneath. This is completely normal and not a sign of damage.
5. Fill your vase. Use clean, cool water with floral preservative to help the buds open and keep the stems fresh.
6. Change the water every 2 days. Re-trim the stems each time to keep them drinking well.
7. Keep in a cool spot. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources for the longest vase life.

Pro Tips

• Watch out for thorns: Spray rose varieties can vary when it comes to thorns. Some varieties have no thorns at all, while others have small ones that can pinch unexpectedly. Always handle with care and be mindful when working with stems, especially when stripping foliage.
• Multiple blooms per stem: Each spray rose stem has several blooms at different stages of opening, which means your arrangement will look beautiful and evolving over several days as the buds continue to open.
• Perfect for smaller designs: The individual blooms on spray rose stems can be cut apart and used separately for boutonnieres, corsages, hair flowers, and cake flowers, making them incredibly versatile and cost-effective.
• Great filler and focal flower: Spray roses work both as a filler flower and as a focal flower depending on the size of the arrangement, giving you a lot of flexibility in how you use them.

Florist Secret

To get the most blooms open at the same time for an event, place your spray roses in a warm room with fresh water a day before the event to encourage the buds to open. Then move them to a cooler spot to slow down the opening process and hold them at their peak. This gives you the fullest, most beautiful look right when you need it most!

How Long Will They Last?

With proper care, spray roses typically last around 7 days in a vase. Keeping the water fresh and the stems well-trimmed is the key to getting the most out of every stem.