_tcm42-27024.jpg "Rosa Prima Donna+")
Buyers indicated that they voted for Prima Donna+ because of its overall quality, vase life of 10 – 15 days, its good availability and demand from customers. Prima Donna+’s apricot color and subtle, sweet fragrance are exceptional. It has a traditional flower shape and a stem length of 24 to 35 inches (60 to 90 cm). It is a large flower rose which is cut at a more open stage than other roses to ensure exceptional flowering in the consumer’s home.
At the moment, Rosa Prima Donna+ is available exclusively at the Aalsmeer Auction, all year round. From August through to October this past year, 0.9 million stems were sold for an average price of 52 Euro cents per stem.
This rose is appropriately named. Prima Donna is Italian for ‘first lady’ and refers to the star or a leading singer in an opera company. In other words, one who stands out among the rest.
Product group/family
Rosaccae. Other cut flowers in this family include Malus, Prunus, Alchemilla and Spirea
Varieties in this genus
At auction the rose assortment is divided into:
* small flowered roses (smaller than 3.15 inches(8cm))
* large flowered roses (larger than 3.54 inches (9cm))
* floribunda roses (at least 3 flower buds per stem)
* Between 3.15 and 3.54 inches (8 and 9 cm), buyers have a choice of small or large flowered but this is influenced by the appearance of the flower as a whole. The measurements are carried out upon registration with the Vaste Keurings Commissie (general approval committee) when the flower bud is 45ºF open.
Care tips
Top-10 cultivars in this product group
Top-10 large flowered varieties
1. Passion
2. Red Berlin
3. Grand Prix
4. First Red
5. Sphinx
6. Akito
7. Vendela
8. Milva
9. Avalanche+
10. Ilios!
Explanation of the name of the product group
The name rose is derived from the Celtic word "rhodd", meaning red. It is assumed that the first roses were red.
Symbolism of the flower
No flower is the bearer of as much symbolism as the rose. The rose means many things, all of them concerned with a pure life, free from sin. It symbolizes beauty, Christianity, love and the transitory nature of life.
The rose has always symbolized love. This originated in Christian symbolism. The red rose represents the blood of those who gave their life for Christ and Christianity; the white rose symbolizes virginal purity surrounded by thorns and injustice.
The rose is particularly linked to the Virgin Mary, who is sometimes called the rose without thorns because she is free from sin. An early legend has it that roses bore no thorns before the fall from grace.
There is also the use of the Rosary: those wishing to love and honor the Virgin Mary should weave a garland of roses. Roses are often used as decorative elements in churches where they appear on doors, the organ or chancel.
The rose often appears on gravestones and obituary notices, where it is shown with a broken stem as a symbol of a broken life. A wilted rose represents a wilted body.
The five leaves of the rose are said to be symbolic of the five wounds suffered by Christ and are a sign of martyrdom
Most important colors in the product group
Top-5 large flowered varieties:
Popular on special day(s)
Roses are also popular on Valentine’s Day, but roses are actually ideal for any occasion one could possibly think of.
