What Is the Difference Between Spray Roses and Roses?

Overview

There are many different varieties of roses, including single roses, spray roses and shrub roses. While some rose bushes produce one blossom per branch, others produce several roses per branch. While a spray rosebush won’t provide you with long-stemmed roses, depending upon your garden plans or decorative arrangements, spray or individual roses can work for your needs.

Rose Structure

Rose bushes of all types produce main stems, or peduncles. On a rosebush that produces a single flower, this peduncle grows into one rosebud. The peduncles on spray roses make multiple pedicels or smaller stems. Each pedicel then produces a single blossom. Spray roses can be singles, with four to eight petals; semi-doubles, with 12 to 25 petals; or doubles, with 25 to 45 petals.

Size

Spray roses are typically smaller than blossoms grown on other types of rosebushes, but not always. Floribunda roses grow in sprays, producing lush and abundant flowers. At the florist, spray roses are often sold as miniatures or sweetheart roses, or may be potted, like Proflowers’ Potted Red Roses.

Uses

Classic rose bouquets require roses with relatively long, sturdy stems. Spray roses have short individual stems on a single larger stem. Use miniature spray roses for wrist corsages, centerpieces and other small scale arrangements. You can combine spray roses with other flowers and greenery in bigger bouquets for a thick and lush appearance. For bouquets, cut the roses at the main stem to get the length you need, maintaining the structure of the rose spray.

Considerations

If you’d like to give roses as a gift, but would prefer a potted option, miniature spray roses are an ideal choice. These can be maintained in a container or transplanted into the ground in many environments. Small spray rose bouquets are a more affordable choice than long-stemmed roses and can be both pretty and fragrant. In the garden, spray roses, like floribundas, produce more blooms than many other rosebushes.