Everything You Need to Know About the Price of Roses
With Valentine's Day approaching, the price of roses skyrocket both at the grower level and at the florist’s. How can we explain these changes in the price of roses ? Variety, production methods, logistics… Sessile takes you behind the scenes of the rose market to help you better understand how it works!
How much does a rose cost?
The price of roses varies depending on the season
It goes without saying, but it’s still worth noting that flowers, just like fruits and vegetables, are seasonal. The price of roses therefore fluctuates depending on the season. Roses are a spring flower, so you’ll find them cheaper at your florist if you buy them during that time of year.
Outside of their blooming season, it's a safe bet that roses will cost you more! Indeed, if roses don't naturally find the ideal conditions for blooming, those conditions must be created artificially, which affects their price.
That’s why here at Sessile, we recommend that youbuy roses in the spring whenever possible, when they’re in natural bloom. That way, you’ll have a better chance of finding roses grown in France!
Energy-Hungry Flowers
One thing to know about roses—and what helps explain their price—is that they require a great deal of heat and energy; to thrive, roses need plenty of heat and light. Since they’re such a popular flower, we often tend to want to buy them year-round, without considering their seasonality.
The result of this demand is the globalization of rose production. Roses are grown in warm, sunny countries in Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia) and South America (Ecuador, Colombia) before being shipped to the Netherlands and then distributed throughout Europe. This affects the price of roses, particularly due to the complex logistics involved in their transport.
The second option is to grow them in greenhouses, primarily in the Netherlands, to recreate the optimal conditions for them to bloom. However, this production method comes at a cost, as it requires a large amount of electricity for the roses to bloom. Against the backdrop of a general rise in energy prices, the price of roses therefore tends to be affected by these higher energy rates. The war in Ukraine has also affected gas prices—which are essential for operating greenhouses—thereby automatically driving up the price of greenhouse-grown roses.
I find my bouquet of roses
The supply chain has a profound impact on the value of roses
Today, most of the roses sold in France come from abroad. According to French customs figures, 87% of them come from the Netherlands, 11% from Kenya, and 2.4% from Ecuador. However, these figures list the countries that shipped the roses, not the ones that produced them, since most of the distribution is centralized in the Netherlands.
By the time the roses arrive at your florist’s shop, they have passed through the hands of numerous middlemen who have taken a cut, which explains the prices listed in the store. Most of the price you pay is therefore due to the cost of shipping the flowers from the other side of the world.
We therefore recommend that you choose French varieties whenever possible. Florists go to greatlengths to ensure traceability, so don’t hesitate to ask them for roses that were grown in France.
Do roses cost more at a local florist?
The price of roses fluctuates based on supply and demand
The price of roses varies depending on the time of year you want to buy them. For example, around Valentine’s Day, red roses are in high demand, which tends to drive up their price. So, if you find roses are more expensive in stores, keep in mind that it’s not your local florist’s fault! They’re simply passing on the higher price they pay to their wholesaler.
In general, we recommend choosing seasonal flowers rather than buying roses year-round. Many winter flowers can convey a message of love, such as ranunculus or anemones. You can find them at lower prices than roses. Ranunculus, in particular, with its full, rounded shape, can easily replace roses and achieve a similar effect.
The best value for roses at your local florist
The price of a rose at your florist varies depending on the price the grower and wholesaler charge for it—so don’t assume your florist is artificially inflating their prices! As a general rule, florists try to maintain a consistent markup so you aren’t overcharged when you make your purchase.
The roses you’ll find at your florist’s may be a little more expensive than those you’ll find at a supermarket, but that higher price isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the varieties available in-store are often of much higher quality, so you’ll be able to enjoy your flowers for longer after you buy them. Your florist restocks 2 to 3 times a week, ensuring that your roses are always fresh.
Another reason for the price of roses at your florist: more and more artisan florists are choosing to carry roses grown in France. These roses cost a little more because they’re grown using less intensive farming methods than imported roses. Since they don’t have to travel across the globe to reach florists’ displays, they’ll brighten up your home for longer.
In addition, here at Sessile, we highly recommend that you make it a priority to visit your local florist to buy your flowers: not only will you find higher-quality flowers there, but you’ll also have the opportunity to combine roses with other seasonal flowers to create unique arrangements.
The florist's expertise makes all the difference
If bouquets of roses cost a little more at your local florist, it’s also because a bouquet is much more than just a collection of flowers—it’s a true artisanal expression of the florist’s creativity. We therefore recommend mixing things up a bit by combining roses with other types of flowers to create unique bouquets.
Why do red roses cost more as Valentine's Day approaches?
Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 all over the world
Valentine's Day is one of the few events in the world that takes place on the same date: February 14. The red rose has become the iconic flower of this day for lovers, which means that demand for red roses is very high on this specific day. Red roses are 10 times more in demand than on other days of the year!
Because red roses are in high demand, their price is rising
Demand for red roses skyrockets on Valentine's Day: it's estimated that florists sell about ten times as many as they do during the rest of the year. Because so many of you are asking for red roses at the same time, their price is higher than during the rest of the year.
Logistics automatically drive up the price of red roses
Since demand for red roses is too high for French production to meet, and since the rose blooming season occurs later in the year, they are imported from Kenya or Ecuador to meet the demand. Shipping these flowers from abroad obviously affects the price of roses.
The average price of a red rose on Valentine's Day
On average, it’s estimated that the price of a red rose can triple around Valentine’s Day! Depending on which varieties catch your eye, the price per stem can range from €4 to €8.
Choose less expensive seasonal flowers
While the red rose—the ultimate symbol of love—tends to steal the spotlight from other seasonal flowers on Valentine's Day, you can also choose seasonal flowers to express your love.
In February, for example, you might choose ranunculus, whose full, graceful blooms are perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day bouquet. Another option is anemones, which come in a wide range of colors and are also considered romantic because of their association with Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love. The icing on the cake: anemones are widely grown in France, particularly in the Var region, so you’ll likely have access to French-grown flowers. Finally, mimosa also blooms in February and is widely cultivated in France.
How is the price of a bouquet of roses determined?
The number of roses affects the price of the bouquet of roses
As you might expect, the price of your bouquet of roses will obviously depend on the number of roses you choose to include. So, needless to say, the price of a bouquet of 10 roses is not the same as the price of a bouquet of 100 roses! To find out how much your bouquet will cost, feel free to ask your florist for the price per rose.
The variety of roses affects the price of a bouquet
Another obvious factor: the variety of roses you choose affects the price of your bouquet. For example, you can find short-stemmed Red Calypso roses for less than the beautiful, full-bloomed Red Naomi roses, which have longer stems and fuller buds.
Similarly, the color of the roses you choose will also affect the price of your bouquet. White roses are often less expensive than red roses. So, for example, you could opt for white Avalanche roses to keep the cost of your bouquet down.
To find out how much a bouquet of roses costs, feel free to ask your florist for the price per rose, depending on the variety!
The Origin of Roses
The origin of roses has a definite impact on their price. Today, nearly 85% of the flowers sold in France are shipped from abroad. Domestic production is currently insufficient to meet the demand for roses, which means that rose production must be outsourced and roses must be imported from abroad.
As you might expect, flowers aren’t like other products! They’re delicate and require a great deal of care throughout the entire supply chain. Before they reach your store shelves, roses need to be kept at relatively low temperatures. This requires refrigerated delivery, which consumes a lot of energy and is more expensive—and that, in turn, drives up the price of the roses you might want to give as a gift.
On the other hand, 10% of roses are produced in France; while these are often of much higher quality, they tend to cost a little more because labor costs are higher in France. The largest rose-producing regions in France are the Var, Finistère, and Alpes-Maritimes.
How can I order roses at a discounted price?
Buy roses in the spring to get them at a better price
The best way to find roses at an affordable price without compromising on the quality of the flowers you buy is to purchase them in the spring, which is when they bloom. It’s worth noting that pink roses are often grown in France: if you’d like to get your hands on flowers grown in France, feel free to choose pink roses.
Choose in-store pickup
A good way to lower the price of your bouquet of roses is to pick up your order in-store rather than having it delivered: by saving on delivery fees, you should be able to lower the price of your bouquet of roses a little.
Create Your Own Bouquet
Another way to save money—though not necessarily the easiest— is to put together your own bouquet of roses after buying them by the stem. That way, you’ll be sure to have a one-of-a-kind bouquet! And you can even give it a second life by drying your roses.
The Price of Roses, Explained by Artisanal Florists
To learn everything there is to know about the price of roses, three artisan florists explain how the market works so you can buy your roses with full knowledge of the facts!
We hope you enjoyed this article! To find the most beautiful bouquets of roses near you, we invite you to search for the florist closest to your home.
Who are we?
Sessile champions the independence of artisan florists online. Founded in 2019 by six friends, Sessile brings together 500 florists committed to transforming the industry and enables flower delivery throughout France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. By breaking away from the traditional online catalog model, the network highlights each florist’s expertise and helps keep the art of floristry alive. Florists can pursue their passion and create more creative bouquets because they have greater freedom to offer seasonal flowers and, whenever possible, locally sourced flowers.