On arrival

The roses used to create David Austin's bouquets have been lovingly grown in the USA. They are guaranteed for five days. For longest life, please follow our full care instructions which are given below. When your bouquet arrives, the roses will be at the open bud stage, with the many petals in the center visible. Over the next few days they will gradually open up, the color changing with time. When fully open, they reveal the glorious many-petalled cupped or rosette forms which distinguish these luxury garden-style roses from other cut roses. Our cut roses have beautiful outer guard petals that help to protect the delicately-furled inner petals. These larger, thicker petals gradually become hidden as the flower opens to reveal its old rose shape. In some varieties, the backs of these guard petals have a very distinctive, natural green color. This is characteristic of Miranda. More about guard petals

Extended care instructions: maximizing the vase life of your roses

Our luxury cut roses should last at least five days in the home. Here are some tips to help keep them looking beautiful for as long as possible. Good hygiene is the most important way to ensure maximum vase life, but cool room temperatures will also have a significant influence. 1. Please open your roses and attend to them as soon as they arrive as they will be in urgent need of water after their journey. They are likely to look a little dehydrated, but you will soon be able to refresh them. 2. Remove all the packaging from around the flowers. Take care to handle garden roses carefully, as the many folded petals are relatively soft compared to traditional cut roses and so can be damaged more easily. 3. If any of the outer guard petals have been damaged, they can easily be removed by firmly grasping the base of the petal. 4. Please make sure the vase or container that you use to display your roses is really clean, using bleach if necessary and rinsing out well. Cleanliness is a major factor in the life of any cut flowers. Glass, pottery or porcelain containers are ideal. Avoid metal containers which may shorten vase life. 5. Dissolve the flower feed in lukewarm water according to the manufacturer's instructions. 6. Remove the bottom 1 inch of the stem, making a slanted cut. Always use a clean, sharp, non-serrated blade or pair of scissors. Please don't crush the stems. 7. Remove all foliage which will be below the level of the water in the vase. This will otherwise decay and contaminate the water. 8. You'll find that David Austin cut roses can quickly take up water, especially in warm conditions. Check the water level daily and keep it well topped up. 9. Every second day, or if you notice that the water in the vase is getting cloudy, rinse the stems clean and change the water. Re-cut the stems as above. 10. The shorter you cut the stems, the more quickly the blooms will open. Shorter stems also tend to maximise the size of the bloom. 11. Choose the perfect place for your vase of David Austin cut roses. The warmer the room, the shorter the vase life will be. For longest life, place the roses in a cool place, but away from strong drafts from air conditioning units. Avoid putting the roses close to sources of heat such as radiators or direct sunlight.

Events, weddings and garden parties

For special occasions or family events, you may want your roses to open up quickly and perfectly. Here is the way the professionals would do it: 1. Cut the stems as above and prepare the flower food mixture as above. 2. Place the roses in buckets or large containers in a warm, brightly-lit room. 3. Space each rose well apart, trying not to let it touch the next bloom. 4. A couple of times during the day, check how far your roses have opened and re-space them as needed. 5. The ones nearest the light will open most quickly. To get even, perfectly round blooms, move the more open blooms away from the light, replacing them with the most tightly closed blooms. 6. Allow 36-48 hours to open your blooms fully. 7. Once your roses have reached your desired stage, move them to to a cool, shaded place until you are ready to arrange them for the event. How to create a home-made flower food Dissolve half a teaspoon of sugar in a litre of water with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a few drops of bleach to create a home-made flower food.

Emergency rescue

David Austin cut roses may drink quite a surprising amount of water during their time in your home. Always take care to keep your vase clean and well topped up with water. If you discover that you have accidentally let your roses dry completely out, sadly this can be fatal. At the first sign of a drooping rose head, double check that there is plenty of clean water in the vase. Always check and re-cut the stem of a thirsty rose as it is possible for the stem to become blocked by bacteria in the water, which means that the rose will stop taking up water. Make a slanted cut with a clean, sharp pair of scissors or secateurs. If you notice that the stem is bent or broken, make a fresh cut about half an inch above the damaged place. Warm water may be used to revive a rose and will also encourage the blooms to open more quickly.