It can take seven years or more to bring a new hybrid rose to market. But it's almost impossible to predict what will sell. A grower has just rolled out a chocolate brown rose called 'Terra Nostra', but now the question is: do you want it? Would you buy this rose?
UPDATE: First of all, thanks to all the Modern Bride readers who have gotten in touch with me about Flower Confidential. You can order an advance copy online or from your local independent bookseller. It'll be in stores by February 9.
Wow, I guess you are ready for a brown rose! So many people have contacted me to ask where they can get this rose that I thought I'd better provide some more information. First, please remember that the hottest new varieties of flowers are not always available at your local florist. Florists can work magic, but they can't always perform miracles! Having said that, 'Terra Nostra' was bred by the French rose breeder NIRP International. Their website is under construction, but here is a link to their contact information and a list of distributors who may be able to get their products. Good luck!
ANOTHER UPDATE: Please check out this post for more information. Sorry, brides, this is all the help I can give you right now.
Would I ever send brown roses to someone or buy them for my own home? No way. But I could see them used for weddings where there's an earth toned color theme. I used Leonidas roses for my wedding, which can tend toward a cinnamon color on the inside of the petals. This reminds me of that a bit.
Posted by: Heather | July 04, 2006 at 06:23 PM
I think they're cool.
Posted by: Angela | July 04, 2006 at 06:26 PM
You know, when I saw the beginning of your post in Bloglines, I thought exactly as Heather did -- they would be great for a wedding where the colors were complementary. I think a bouquet of these tied with a cream ribbon would be gorgeous. Then again, what do I know...I'm no decorator.
I would buy them, I think, just because they're interesting -- much more so, I think, than the flower-shop-standard deep red rose. And I think they'd look really cool in a bouquet mixed with white and yellow roses, too.
All that being said, I almost never actually buy roses, and I've pretty much hammered into all the men in my life that I'd so much rather get a bouquet of tulips or gerberas than roses.
Genie
The Inadvertent Gardener
Posted by: Genie | July 04, 2006 at 06:29 PM
Ha! In the language of flowers, do we have to wonder what it means to give someone brown roses?
Posted by: Claire Splan | July 04, 2006 at 07:50 PM
I would definitely plant one of these babies in my garden. All my other roses are shades of pink - not because I like pink, but it just happened that way. These lovely chocolate roses would be a great complement.
Posted by: mac | July 05, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Interesting, but I'm more a dark chocolate kind of person. These look like milk chocolate. Now if they had a chocolate fragrance, as well. . . .
Posted by: Molly | July 05, 2006 at 11:10 AM
In a word, no.
I never understood green flowers -- isn't the point that the flowers are supposed to stand out from the leaves? -- and now I don't understand a flower that is the same color as soil.
Maybe I just have a crayon drawing in my head, but I like brown dirt, green leaves, and red, yellow, orange, white, and blue (especially blue!) flowers.
Posted by: Firefly | July 05, 2006 at 01:38 PM
Interesting. My initial reaction was that these roses look dead! Personally, I probably wouldn't buy them, but I can see the appeal they might have for weddings or chocolate-themed events.
Posted by: Christa | July 05, 2006 at 03:41 PM
Why am I suddenly craving a piece of chocolate?
Posted by: Carol | July 05, 2006 at 04:03 PM
I've seen chocolate-themed gardens. I even have a blog post about a chocolate garden in a can that was featured on Amazon. I know gardeners associate "brown" with "dead," having learned the association from hard experience, but brown comes in so many delicious shades that some brown flowers are coming into fashion. Well, think of Fritillaria meleagris, the good old Guinea hen flower. I grow a Pacific Northwest native cousin, Fritillaria affinis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritillaria_affinis), known sometimes as the checker lily and sometimes as the chocolate lily (though the latter really belongs to Fritillaria biflora).
What colors does one match chocolate-colored flowers with, though? Creamy white? Pale pink?
Posted by: Reading Dirt | July 05, 2006 at 05:42 PM
"Wow, crazy. They look like they're dead."
That was my husbands comment on walking into the room and seeing the brown roses on the screen.
Would I buy them? No. Would he? I hope not.
Posted by: Laurie | July 05, 2006 at 08:42 PM
That pic looks like it's been tinted - like the crazy-coloured "bright blue" rose pictures you used to get in garden catalogues in the early eighties - they were never really that colour, rather a muddy lilac. I love my chocolate cosmos but I am not sure about a chocolate rose ...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | July 06, 2006 at 02:45 PM
They don't look brown to me.....more a deep dusky pink....a very old rose colour. Absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: lilymarlene | July 08, 2006 at 03:42 PM
Yep, I'd try them, if I lived somewhere tea roses would grow. I think the color is great.
Posted by: Pam/Digging | July 09, 2006 at 05:50 PM
my husband is the rose guy - so I asked him - and he said "possibly" he is not fond of hybrid roses, but this one is intriguing and he would want to know more about how susceptible it is to disease and such -
but this is the same guy who wants the almost black rose from the International Rose Test Gardens in Portland . . . .
and he will probably next ask for one in dark chocolate . . .
Posted by: Kel | July 12, 2006 at 07:56 PM
I most definately would have one in my garden!!!! Very cool!!!!
Posted by: jslehmer | July 13, 2006 at 09:55 AM
I would love to buy them, they would be perfect for my wedding because my colors are chocolate and teal. If anyone can give me any information on where I can find them I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Posted by: Mara Tolbert | July 15, 2006 at 10:34 AM
I would love to buy them, they would be perfect for my wedding because my colors are chocolate and teal. If anyone can give me any information on how I can get them I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Posted by: Mara Tolbert | July 15, 2006 at 10:35 AM
i am a floral designer for a very large florist. i do many large weddings and corporate events. these roses are fantastic!
especially for fall themed events. i have a bride who has been wanting hasting roses , but they're virtually non-existent now. these are a good alternative. the leonidas are hit and miss as to how to how they open, which is key when designing a bridal bouquet. i believe when these are widely available in the market, they will be a huge hit. i have already contacted the two south american growers to inquire about purchasing some for an event in november. wtg! for an excellent find.
Posted by: judy prater | September 11, 2006 at 07:42 PM
I've been a brown rose hunter for almost ten years now, ever since I saw my very first one. Absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: lindsay martin | September 15, 2006 at 12:16 PM
I am looking for these for my wedding on October 15th, can someone tell me where i can find them? i live in the USA in Massachusetts.
Posted by: Melissa Hirsh | September 21, 2006 at 05:11 AM
I absolutely love this rose! Brown is one of my favorite colors. I am using dark brown and aqua for my upcoming wedding. I haven't found anything that I'm totally crazy about but these would definitely work! Is there a florist in Southern CA that can get these??? I would also love to plant some in my yard so I could always have some.
Posted by: Missy Watson | October 28, 2006 at 01:06 AM
Hi - love to see these up close. Any idea where I can find them in the metro NY or lower CT area? Any idea on availability and/or pricing? Thxb
Posted by: Brigitte Milian | November 15, 2006 at 09:38 AM
Has there been any current avalibility information about these roses in the US? I would like them for my wedding in April but it has been difficult to locate information about them.
Posted by: Jillian | December 01, 2006 at 02:29 PM
I love these roses! I think they're fantastic and would work perfectly with my wedding theme. I have also had difficulty finding information on them - but would love to get my hands on them for my wedding in July!
Posted by: Stacie | December 14, 2006 at 05:13 PM
These would be fantastic for our wedding next October. Our color scheme is chocolate & creme. I have tried to contact the company and anyone else who could get me these flowers but to no avail. If anyone, especially any florist in CHICAGOLAND area, can get there hands on these..YOU'RE HIRED!! Please shoot me an email if so..terrah_78@yahoo.com
Posted by: Terra | December 16, 2006 at 02:09 PM
They are absolutely perfect for my chocolate themed wedding. Only the closed-minded would say they look dead! They're unique! I definitely wouldn't give them to someone as a valentine's gift or anything, but for a theme, they're perfect.
Posted by: Kara Marie B. | January 06, 2007 at 03:31 PM
I love these roses and want some so very badly! However, the link at the top of the page doesn't work and from reading above, no one really mentions anywhere to get them...??? I live in Ohio, any ideas????
Posted by: Heather | January 14, 2007 at 07:57 AM
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN GETTIN THESE ROSES FOR MY WEDDING...MY COLOR ARE GREEN ORANGE AND BROWN..FALL COLORS..WHERE IS THE INFO? WHERE CAN I GET THEM?
Posted by: JESSICA | January 14, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Help. I'm a florist in Missouri, I'm trying to find the terra nostra roses. Can anyone help. Debbie at layk@netins.net
Posted by: Debbie | January 21, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Roses are my favorite. I love the darker color roses and this is one of my new favorites.
Posted by: Rhonda | January 22, 2007 at 11:23 PM
I was so thrilled when I read about this rose in Modern Bride. Brown is one of my favorite colors and I've been searching for a way to incorporate it into my wedding. Hopefully these will be more readily available closer to my wedding in 2008.
Posted by: Kelly | January 27, 2007 at 11:18 AM
I am so excited about this find. I think that the flowers are beautiful and that is just what i am looking for. My sister is getting maddied and her colors are chocolate brown and blue. My friend tols me about these roses and i didn't believe her, but now i am amazed. I would also buy these roses to put with pink roses for a pretty bouquet. Love it, Love it.
Posted by: Meghan | January 30, 2007 at 03:49 PM
I'm trying to find a local retailer of these beautiful brown roses. My daughter's bridesmaid dresses are "espresso" and I think these would be wonderful. If anyone knows a web site or where I might find these in NJ, I appreciate the help.
Posted by: elaine yunker | January 31, 2007 at 05:47 PM
I love them.
I live in Johannesburg South Africa and would love to know where I could purchase some of these Terra Nostra Brown Roses for my wedding day.
Would I be able to get them in South Africa - If not would I be able to import them? Mad I know - but they are truly unique and stunning
Posted by: Jodi Blackstone | February 05, 2007 at 07:58 AM
I love these roses! I have been looking for these everywhere. My wedding colors are brown and yellow and I would love to have the roses in my wedding. If somebody has information about how I can get them please let me know.
Thanks
Posted by: Erin Day | February 05, 2007 at 06:09 PM
I first saw this rose in my hair stylists office, given by a customer....now moved out of town...two of them were intermingled with a dark red rose and an orange (tropicana), I've been trying unsuccessfully to find a bush to plant...please help!
Posted by: Ruth Anderson | February 14, 2007 at 01:13 PM
I first saw this rose in my hair stylists office, given by a customer....now moved out of town...two of them were intermingled with a dark red rose and an orange (tropicana), I've been trying unsuccessfully to find a bush to plant...please help!
This should have been posted to my name...
Posted by: Ruth Anderson | February 15, 2007 at 10:01 AM
I think the roses are beautiful and would love to have them in my wedding. HOW CAN I ORDER THEM??
Posted by: Tameika | February 17, 2007 at 05:39 PM
I too would love these roses. I started to ask around local florists and none have even heard of them. I live in Michigan, so if anyone has any clues, I would love to know!! I am sure they will be expensive, but they will be unique. So I really want them!!!
Posted by: Brittany Pettit | February 22, 2007 at 05:06 PM
I would love to know how to get my hands on them! I have weddings out the wazoo asking for chocolate colored roses!
Posted by: Jade Smith | March 08, 2007 at 03:25 PM
My wedding is in November of this year and my colors are pink and brown. I am using pink roses and brown roses - I am so excited because it looks so beautiful and it's exactly what I want!
Posted by: Leigh Ann | March 22, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Please anyone that can tell me or direct me to where i can get this brown rose help! Its so vintage and it would be absoulty beautiful for my fall wedding. I would appreciate any help.
Thank you,
vickie
Posted by: Vickie | April 05, 2007 at 06:03 PM
I want one of these. Where can I get them?
Posted by: Barbara Arnold | April 25, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Hey, I recently added a news widget from http://www.widgetmate.com to my blog. It shows the latest news, and just took a copy and paste to implement. Might interest you too.
Posted by: Mark Vane | June 21, 2007 at 04:37 AM
I just talked with a florist that tracked down the brown rose Terra Nostra for me....she tells me that they will not be commercially available until This fall (07). But if you are fortunate enough to live in New York or Los Angeles you can get them locally now!
Posted by: Jill | June 26, 2007 at 01:06 AM
Oh please, if anyone finds out where I can buy these as a bush/bare root for planting, please let me know, I would absolutely love to add them to my garden. They are soooo beautiful and unique. my email - koukla_Liz@hotmail.com
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 02, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Yes I'd plant this rose it's a great color!
Posted by: Rita | July 24, 2007 at 04:51 AM
i would love to order some of these. they fit perfectly in my colors. i'm getting married dec 22nd, how would i be able to get a hold of some of these?
Posted by: katie | July 26, 2007 at 01:50 PM
I AM GETTING MARRIED ON DECEMBER 1,O7 AND MY COLOR ARE PINK AND MOCHA. HOW CAN I ORDER SOME OF THESE FLOWERS??? PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET SOME. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
Posted by: MICHELLE | July 29, 2007 at 12:58 PM