A genuine blue rose used to be impossible for gardeners to grow. Usually blue roses were “constructed” by simply adding blue dye to a white rose. Why couldn’t they be grown naturally? Because any type of blue flower contains a pigment known as ‘delphinidin,’ which is what makes them blue, but roses lack the necessary gene to make the delphinidin pigment. But now, due to genetic engineering, “blue” roses can be grown, although the exact color results may not be precisely blue — various shades of burgundy or lilac are usually the colors obtained.
Florigene and Suntory, an Australian and a Japanese company, respectively, have both been working to create a genuine blue rose for many years. Finally, in 2004 their joint collaboration resulted in a delphinidin extraction from a petunua plant, which they then injected into a ‘Rosa Gallica’ rose. But in the end, the result was more a burgundy rose than a blue one.
In the 1800s, long before genetic engineering was possible, flower afficianodos in Britain and Belgium offered large cash prizes to any gardener who could grow a genuinely blue rose. But no one ever claimed the money, even though people have been working with different types of roses for over 5,000 years.
The molecular geneticists at Florigene and Suntory had to work with quite a few different genes – “silencers” and other types, to enhance the delphinidin synthesis process. All of which worked to create a single gene that could be installed in roses to eliminate the ten year old problem of getting delphinidin into a common rose. Although the color of the new “blue” roses is not truly blue, the geneticists at the two companies are confident they will eventually create a blue rose soon, since a wider range of blues is possible, and since the new rose petals contain a level of nearly 100% delphinidin.
Suntroy and Florigene Ltd. banned together and had a successful run in the early 90s by making a blue carnation that eventually sold over 10 million by 2003 in countries all around the world. They called the blue carnation, “Moondust.”
Concerning roses, the symbolism involved with blue roses is quite interesting. They are seen as signifying mystery, acting as a fountain of youth, or signifying someone succeeding at impossible tasks.
By 2009, it is expected that genuine blue roses will be on the market, although mainly in Asia first – primarily Japan – and they will be costly. But there are presently quite a few “fake” blue roses available, if you can’t wait until 2009 to buy a real one, such as “Blue Girl” – this rose has lavender blossoms and is especially fragrant; it produces nearly 40 petals. Shocking Blue” – Deep lavender blooms, excellent for cut flowers, and highly fragrant. “Neptune” – this one is lavender with nice purple tinges and big green leaves, tolerant to disease with a powerful rose scent. “Stranger,” “Blue Curosia,” and “Blue Bird” are a few other “fake” blue varieties.
Blue roses have made appearances in movies, literature, and other arts. David Lynch’s film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me makes use of a blue rose, and in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, a blue rose is also mentioned.
Concerning growing roses in general, here are a few tips:
Try to maintain a pH level of between 6.4 and 6.8 in your soil, and make sure the soil is well-draining, but water them “deep” instead of shallow. Also watch out for the disease, “powdery mildew.” Give them room to breathe, don’t space them too close, and allow them to get about four to six hours of sun every day. Keep them out of windy places, but remember that they need good circulation also. Add peat moss and compost to your soil. And to increase the bloom size, nip off any multiple buds that form over one per shoot, which will allow the single buds to grow larger.
Sources:
Inventor’s Spot, True Blue Roses to be Sold First in Japan, http://inventorspot.com/articles/true_blue_roses_be_sold_first_ja_10477
iVillage.com, 8 Simple Rose Growing Tips,
http://home.ivillage.com/gardening/flowers/0,,69rb,00.html
Wikipedia, Blue Rose, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_rose
