Do the roses in your bouquet have a few darker or slightly crinkled outer petals? That's completely normal. They're called guard petals and are a natural part of the rose.
What guard petals are
Guard petals sit on the outside of the bud and are often darker, thicker or duller than the petals inside – sometimes with a brownish edge.
Growers and florists deliberately leave them on. They protect the delicate inner petals during growing and transport, so the rose is in good condition when you get it.
How to remove them
If you'd like the roses to look more open, you can easily remove the guard petals:
- Hold the flower gently at the base
- Pinch or pull off the outermost, darker petals
- Take only the outer layers – leave the lighter petals in place
The rose's inner petals will then show and the bouquet will look fuller.
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