Spray Roses, Garden Roses and Peony Roses: What's the Difference?

Spray roses carry several small blooms on one branching stem. Garden roses are full and many-petalled; peony roses are garden roses shaped like peonies.

The three names get used loosely, on flower sites and even between florists, so here is how we use them in our studio in Southwark (SE1), what each type looks like in a bouquet, and how to choose between them.

What are spray roses?

A spray rose is a rose variety that branches. Instead of one large head at the top of a long stem, each stem splits into several side shoots, and each shoot ends in a small flower or bud. One stem might carry five blooms at different stages: a couple fully open, a couple half-open, one still tight.

That is where their charm comes from. The heads are small, so they read as texture rather than as individual statements. They fill gaps, soften the outline of a bouquet and give it a movement that single-headed roses cannot. You will also hear them called multi-headed roses, or simply "sprays".

Spray roses are not a lesser rose. Many varieties are bred specifically for this form, in almost every colour roses come in, and some of the most romantic peony-style varieties are sprays too (more on that below).

How a spray roses bouquet differs from a standard rose bouquet

With standard roses you count heads: a dozen stems, a dozen flowers. With spray roses you count stems but get far more flowers. A bouquet of 15 spray rose stems, like our Powdered rose bouquet, looks fuller and looser than 15 single-headed roses, because every stem brings its own little cluster.

The effect is closer to an armful cut from a garden than a formal arrangement. Spray roses suit people who find long-stemmed red roses a bit stiff, and they work well for birthdays, thank-yous and new-baby flowers, where you want something generous but not showy.

Toning spray roses

"Toning" is a florist's word for colours from the same family that sit comfortably side by side: blush, powder pink and dusty rose, or peach, apricot and cream. A spray rose already carries buds and open flowers of slightly different depth on one stem, so a bouquet of toning spray roses gets that layered, tone-on-tone look almost by itself. When we mix two or three toning varieties, we keep one shade dominant and use the others to shade the edges.

What are garden roses?

"Garden rose" is a trade term rather than a botanical group. It describes roses bred to look like old-fashioned roses from an English garden: many more petals than a standard rose, a cupped, rosette or quartered shape once open, and often a real scent. Standard florist roses, by contrast, are bred for a single pointed bud on a long, straight stem that travels well and lasts.

The trade-off is that garden roses are softer. The petals bruise more easily, the stems are usually shorter and the flowers open faster once they are in water. That is part of why they cost more and why florists handle them with care. What you get in return is a flower that looks lush from the first day and keeps changing shape as it opens.

Blush garden roses and garden roses bouquets

Blush, the palest pink with a hint of warmth, is the colour most people picture when they think of garden roses, and it is the classic choice for weddings and soft, romantic bouquets. A garden roses bouquet needs less foliage and fewer supporting flowers than a standard rose bouquet, because the heads are full enough to carry it on their own. Our Pink garden elegance is a good example: blush pink garden roses with full, open blooms, hand-tied in our studio.

What are peony roses?

Peony roses are garden roses whose open bloom looks like a peony: round, very full, packed with petals and cupped rather than pointed. They are still roses, not peonies and not a cross between the two. "Peony rose" is a name for the shape, which is why you will also see "peony-style" or "peony-shaped" roses used for the same flowers. One of the best known is Juliet, the variety in our Juliett peony roses bouquet.

There are peony spray roses too. These are spray varieties whose small heads open into the same round, many-petalled shape, so one stem gives you several miniature "peonies". Soft power is 50 stems of peach peony spray roses, and it shows how different the effect is from a handful of large heads: dense, frothy and very full.

A peony rose bouquet or real peonies?

Real peonies (Paeonia) have a short season. British-grown peonies flower in late spring and early summer, and outside those weeks they are imported, scarce or simply not available. Peony roses can be found all year, so they are the practical choice if you want the peony look in October or February. They are also more predictable: a peony bud can take days to open, while a peony rose opens steadily in a warm room.

If your heart is set on real peonies and the timing is right, go for them. If not, a peony roses bouquet gives you the same round, romantic silhouette without depending on the calendar.

Spray, garden or peony roses: which should you choose?

• Spray roses for a loose, natural bouquet with lots of small flowers, for toning colour schemes and for generous volume.
• Garden roses for soft romance, scent and full blooms, especially in blush and cream, and for weddings and anniversaries.
• Peony roses when you love peonies but they are out of season, or when you want the fullest, roundest heads a rose can have.
• Standard roses when you want a classic, structured look and long stems.

You can see all of them side by side in our roses collection. If you have a colour or a mix in mind that you cannot find there, we can make a bouquet to order.

Caring for spray, garden and peony roses

All three want the same basics: cut a couple of centimetres off the stems at an angle, strip any leaves that would sit under water, use a clean vase and change the water every day or two. A few differences are worth knowing:

• Spray roses: as the first flowers fade, snip them off where they meet the stem. The younger buds on the same stem keep opening, so the bouquet stays fresh for longer.
• Garden and peony roses: keep them away from radiators, sunny windowsills and fruit bowls, because they open quickly in warmth. If you need them fully open for an occasion, a warmer room will get them there sooner.
• A drooping head usually means water is not reaching the flower. Recut the stem and stand it in fresh water straight away.

Frequently asked questions

What are spray roses?

Spray roses are rose varieties that branch, with several small blooms and buds on each stem instead of one large head. They are also called multi-headed roses.

Are peony roses real roses?

Yes. Peony roses are garden roses whose open flower looks like a peony. They are not peonies and not a cross between the two plants.

What is the difference between garden roses and standard roses?

Garden roses have many more petals, a cupped or rosette shape and often a scent. Standard roses have a single pointed bud on a long, straight stem.

What does "toning" mean for spray roses?

Toning means shades from the same colour family, such as blush and dusty pink or peach and cream, used together for a tone-on-tone bouquet.

Can I get a peony rose bouquet delivered the same day in London?

Yes. We deliver across London seven days a week, and orders placed by 10pm can be delivered the same day.