Pink Avalanche roses with guard petals by Daily Flowers

Guard Petals: Why the Outer Petals of Your Roses Look Different 🌹

Have you ever received a bouquet of roses and noticed that the outer petals look a little rough, slightly discoloured or even a bit damaged? Don't worry: there is nothing wrong with your roses. Those outer petals are called guard petals, and they have an important job.

What are guard petals?

Guard petals are the outermost petals of a rose. They wrap around the bud like a protective coat. From the field to the auction to the florist, they protect the delicate inner petals against bumps, wind, cold and handling. In Dutch, florists call them schutbladeren, literally "shield leaves".

Why do they sometimes look damaged?

Because they do exactly what they are meant to do. During transport and packing, the guard petals take the knocks so the rest of the flower doesn't have to. That's why they can show small creases, brown edges or a slightly greener, firmer look than the inner petals. It's a sign that the rose has been protected well, not that it is old.

Do florists remove them?

Often, yes. Many florists gently remove one or two guard petals before arranging, so the rose looks fresh and open. Sometimes we leave them on on purpose: for example when roses still need to travel to you, so they arrive in perfect condition. Some varieties also look more natural and full with their outer petals intact.

Should you remove them yourself?

If the outer petals bother you, you can easily remove them:

Hold the rose just below the bloom.
Gently pull the outer petal downwards and away from the bud, close to the base.
Remove only the petals that look damaged. Usually one or two is enough.

Don't remove too many: the rose can lose its shape and may open faster. And leave them on if the bud is still closed, as they help the rose open evenly.