Juliet Rose: The £3 Million Flower – Meaning, Price, Care & Why It is So Famous

I have planted all kinds of roses in every shape and form, but this one variety stands out for me every time. The Juliet rose, which is an ‘expensive ‘ popular rose, has been on my bucket list to plant ever since I started planting roses. 

For those of you new to this, Juliet roses are one of the most expensive varieties of flowers, which are popularly used in wedding bouquets due to their unique shape and distinctive fragrance. 

Now, if that intrigues you enough, come along as I share a well-detailed guide about the Juliet rose, right from its origin, features, meaning, and care guide. 

Quick answer 

The Juliet rose is a carefully bred variety of garden rose that was created by English botanist David Austin over the course of 15 years. Particularly prized for its almost perfect flower head and tea-like fragrance.

Symbol of luxury, these immensely expensive flowers are now commonly cultivated in home gardens across the world.

What Is a Juliet Rose? Origin and Key Features

The Juliet rose (Rosa ‘Ausjameson’) is a hybrid rose variety bred by David Austin. This project took him over 15 years and approximately 5 million dollars, which is also why this particular type is really expensive and associated with the idea of luxury and wealth. 

Over the years, the flower became increasingly popular in flower arrangements for weddings due to its cup-shaped, apricot colour and tea-like scent. Although the Juliet rose is more expensive than the other true roses, it has become increasingly common to grow them at home. These repeat bloomers continue to bloom from spring to fall. 

Why Are Juliet Roses So Expensive? Price and Reasons Explained 

It is not surprising to know that one stem of a Juliet rose costs around $10 to $15, or 140 dollars for a bouquet, which varies depending on different sources, online and offline. 

These prices are not for the ‘aesthetic’ purposes only; they are valid reasons that support such high pricing. Take a look at why buying these unique flowers might pinch your pocket a bit: 

1) Unique Process of Creation

• It took about 15 years for David Austin to create these flowers, and in the course of that time, he went through various layers of screening and experiments, which eventually led to the final result. 
• When flowers are artificially bred, there are precise features that are aimed at, for instance, disease resistance in the Juliet rose, and that is the reason the prices are higher, to do justice to the work done and money invested in the process. 

2) Uncompromised Quality 

• While a normal true rose has not more than 40 petals per flower head, the Juliet rose is created to feature over 90 petals per stem, which also means it has a larger bloom size. 
• The petals of these flowers are soft and thin as paper, which feels exotic and evokes a sense of peace and love.

3) High Demand and Royal Branding 

• Since its debut in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show, the Juliet rose has been popularised as a symbol of luxury and wealth, precisely because of the long journey of its creation. 
• Since this flower has been used extensively in wedding decor and flower arrangements, because of its appearance and unique fragrance, its demand has skyrocketed. 
• The one crucial reason for such high prices lies not only in its features but also in the way it has been branded as an epitome of perfection and royalty.

How to Grow Juliet Roses at Home

The best time to plant the Juliet roses is early spring, as the root establishment is much faster. I use the Juliet roses’ root balls and plant them in a container for my balcony garden or sometimes in my garden bed outdoors.

To my surprise, planting these ornamental flowers is pretty much the same as planting other flowers. Here is my tried and tested planting guide for Juliet roses. 

1. Select a planting site with a well-draining sandy or clay soil that receives direct sunlight for 6-8 hours of the day. 
2. Now dig a hole twice as deep as the root ball and place it in the hole, and cover it back up with soil. 
3. Make sure all the plants are at least 18 inches apart for even growth, as overcrowding leads to more competition for the resources, which in turn causes poor growth. 
4. Now water the plant thoroughly weekly, as these flowers need consistent moisture for the results. 
5. Feed the plant with a rose fertiliser every 4 weeks in the growing season for added nutrition. 
6. It takes about 2-3 years for the Juliet roses to reach full maturity. 

Did you know?

The Juliet rose was patented for more than 20 years, which restricted gardeners around the world from planting and selling it. However, this patent has ended, and now it is legal to grow this rose variety at home.

Juliet Rose Care: 3 Essential Growing Tips  

Juliet Rose is a heavy feeder and needs a regular dose of plant food during the growing season. While the care is minimal, here are a few main pointers that must be taken care of to ensure healthy blooming:

1) Watering 

• The Juliet rose loves consistent moisture and needs watering every 2-3 days. 
• However, make sure the soil is well-draining, as waterlogging can, in turn, lead to root rot. 
• Apply a layer of mulch to the soil to retain moisture and suppress weeds. 

2) Fertiliser 

• The best time to fertilise the Juliet rose is early spring or summer. As these shrubs are heavy feeders, regular fertilising helps in healthier blooms. 
• Take a slow-release rose fertiliser and apply it around the base evenly in spring and summer, respectively. 
• If you are using a liquid fertiliser, make sure you read the package instructions, as overfeeding can lead to root burn. 

3) Pruning 

• Ideally, a healthy Juliet rose can reach up to a height of 4 feet, and pruning is not only essential to make sure the flower looks clean and elegant but also to ensure it stays safe from infections. 
• The best time to prune the flowers is early spring. 
• Take a pair of garden scissors or a pair of pruners and snip off the extra foliage and remove the dead and damaged parts. 

Gardener’s Insight :

The Juliet rose is built to be disease-resistant, but minor pests might attack once in a while due to poor growing conditions. Use an insecticidal soap and neem oil to treat them.

How to Care for Juliet Roses in a Vase and Make Them Last Longer 

As discussed earlier, Juliet roses are mainly used in flower arrangements only, and now that the growing guide is discussed, let me take you through the care tips to make fresh flowers last longer: 

1. Take the flower stems of the Juliet roses and cut them at a 45-degree angle. 
2. Now, take a clean flower vase filled with warm water and flower food, which is essential to provide adequate nutrients to the cut flowers. 
3. Remember that these roses need more hydration than the common varieties, as they also last for more than 10 days in a vase. 
4. Make sure you keep the flowers away from direct sunlight, as it can scorch the petals. 
5. Change the water every 2-3 days, as contaminated water can lead to infection. 
6. While placing them in the vase, ensure the flowers and the leaves do not come in contact with water, as it leads to rot.

Did you know?

The Princess Charlene of Monaco is a peach-coloured rose flower that looks similar to the Juliet rose.

Juliet Rose Meaning and Symbolism 

The Juliet rose has an apricot-like peachy colour, which is a symbol of love and affection. Although roses in general are associated with the idea of love and romance, take a look at what this rare flower has in store for you!

1) Luxury and Royalty 

• As this flowering shrub is one of the most expensive flowers in the world, it is naturally accessible to only a few groups of people, and therefore, the association with luxury and royalty is natural.

2) Love and Affection

• The Juliet rose flowers are most commonly used in weddings and bridal flower arrangements because they are symbols of love and passion.
• They can be paired perfectly with a few baby’s breaths and scabiosa flowers. 

Concluding Remarks 

Globally renowned as the most expensive flower, the Juliet rose is more than just its price. The whole process of growing this elegant bloom from scratch is a rewarding one. Whether it is the soft, elegant petals or the tea-like scent, every effort is worth it. 

While buying them can pinch your pocket a little bit, as someone who has cultivated and used them once, I would recommend starting at least once and gradually increasing with time.

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