Sandy, the criteria for selecting a florist rose varies greatly from that for general garden roses. They have to repeat faster, in lower light and heat; creating more regular stem length; bud and flower size and last longer when cut. They have to be much more durable, being able to be handled and processed as well as stand up to shipping to their destinations where they will be further handled and processed before storage, then endure the indignities of being handled and shipped further to the recipients and last a reasonable length of time once received. VERY few of our garden roses would meet those requirements.

We view them as viable garden plants, providing beauty, and hopefully, fragrance for reasonable periods with as little "fuss" as possible. Florists view them as "produce", required to produce sufficient crops of cut flowers to pay the enormous costs associated with their production. Because the conditions under which they have to be grown are much more conducive to pests and diseases than the average garden, they must realistically be sprayed against them regularly, so what we consider "disease resistance" is something quite different to what floral producers require. These are just a few of the reasons why many (if not most) "florist roses" produce such questionable garden plants.

Because what makes them good for floral production is very much what makes them good for exhibition use, quite a few of them are suitable for exhibitors, who are usually much more likely to spray their roses against problems than many "regular gardeners" are, particularly those in more benign climates. While they are 'roses', they have been bred and selected for far different conditions.