There are no truly naturally occurring green roses. The green color seen in some roses is caused by artificial processes or photoshopped images. However, through selective breeding and genetic modification, roses with green petals can be created. This article will examine if green roses exist in nature, how green color is introduced into roses, and examples of green rose varieties.
Do Green Roses Exist Naturally?
Roses belong to the genus Rosa, which contains over 100 species. Rose petals get their color from pigments called anthocyanins. The main anthocyanins that create red, pink, orange, purple, and blue rose colors are pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, and petunidin.
The anthocyanin profile of roses does not naturally contain high levels of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves and stems. As a result, roses lack the genetic capacity to biosynthesize green pigment in their petals. There are no truly green rose species found in the wild. Photographed “green roses” are often white roses illuminated under green light, or images manipulated by photo editing software.
How is Green Color Introduced into Roses?
Since green roses don’t occur naturally, different methods have been used to create green pigmentation in rose flowers:
Artificial Dyeing
Cut white roses can be placed in a solution of blue dye mixed with yellow dye to chemically stain the petals green. However, the color is not natural and will fade quickly. This method only creates a superficial green color on the petal surface.
Genetic Modification
Genetic engineering techniques can introduce new genes into roses to induce green pigment production. In 1999, an Australian company expressed Arabidopsis thaliana genes encoding chloroplast transit peptides and green fluorescent protein in roses. This genetically modified the metabolic pathway to express green pigments.
Selective Breeding
Conventional crossbreeding of roses with naturally higher chlorophyll content can selectively breed greener color over successive generations. Hybridizers patiently crossbreed roses expressing more chlorophyll in sepals, stems, and leaves to gradually introgress that trait into the petals.
| Method | Process | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Dyeing | Soaking in chemical dyes | Superficial green color |
| Genetic Modification | Introducing new genes | Biosynthesis of green pigments |
| Selective Breeding | Crossing high-chlorophyll roses | Increased natural greenness |
Examples of Green Rose Varieties
While still rare, some green rose varieties have been brought to market using the preceding methods:
Green Envy
This is a genetically modified green rose created by an Australian company in 1999. It was one of the early genetically engineered green roses making chlorophyll in the petals. However, commercialization stalled due to public skepticism of genetically modified organism (GMO) flowers.
Ebb Tide
Bred by American rose producer Jack Christensen, Ebb Tide is a floribunda rose cultivar with petals opening to a mottled green-bronze color. Its greenness comes from high stem chlorophyll content passed to the petals through many crosses.
Viridiflora
This is a green rose breeding program by Massachusetts rose grower Ryan Tilley. After 15 years of effort, Tilley bred a line of roses with intensely green sepals and moderate petal greenness. However, the variety is still being improved to enhance green color in the flower.
| Variety | Type | Greenness |
|---|---|---|
| Green Envy | Genetically modified | High |
| Ebb Tide | Selective breeding | Moderate |
| Viridiflora | Selective breeding | Low to moderate |
Conclusion
There are no truly naturally occurring green rose varieties. While genetically modified and bred green roses exist, these are the products of human intervention. The genes for green biochemical pathways are not inherently present within the Rosa genus. As bioengineering techniques advance, green color may become more prevalent as a novel rose trait. But for now, green remains an extremely rare and challenging color for roses. Any green roses viewed in nature or photography have been altered from their natural state.