You know the phrase, “Stop and smell the roses”, but what if we told you that you can “stop and eat the rose”? Meet the Flavorette® Honey-Apricot Rose. It’s a unique edible rose from Proven Winners that combines gorgeous blooms, sweet flavor, and impressive garden performance!
Unlike traditional roses grown primarily for their beauty and fragrance, Flavorette® Honey-Apricot was specially bred for its edible petals, which have a delicate, fruity flavor with hints of honey and ripe apricot. It’s a wonderful addition to flower gardens, edible landscapes, and for some unique creations in your kitchen.
What Makes Flavorette® Honey-Apricot Rose Special?
This beautiful shrub rose produces large, lush, bowl-shaped blooms. The soft petals have warm hues of apricot, peach, and orange. Its fragrant flowers contrast beautifully against dark green foliage, creating a stunning display throughout the growing season.
This rose variety offers excellent disease resistance and repeat blooming without requiring constant deadheading!
But the star of this rose is its edible flower petals! Unlike ordinary landscape roses, Flavorette®Honey-Apricot was specifically selected for the flavor and texture of its petals. Their naturally sweet, fruity flavor makes them a fun ingredient for both sweet and savory dishes.
Try using the petals in some of these ways:
- Salads: Sprinkle fresh petals over garden salads for color and a subtle sweetness.
- Desserts: Decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and pastries.
- Drinks: Add petals to lemonade, iced tea, or floral-infused water.
- Jams & Jellies: Create rose petal preserves or floral syrups.
- Garnishes: Use fresh petals to dress up fruit platters and other dishes.
*The white base of the petals can sometimes be bitter, so you might want to cut that part off.
Fall Is a Great Time to Plant Roses in San Antonio!
Did you know that fall is one of the best times to plant roses in South Texas?
As temperatures begin cooling, roses experience less heat stress and have an opportunity to establish healthy root systems before the following summer. See our rose planting guide here.
Planting in October or November gives newly planted roses time to settle into their new home while the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth. For Flavorette® Honey-Apricot, fall planting is especially worth considering because it gives this less heat-proven variety a chance to establish before San Antonio’s intense summer temperatures arrive.
Flavorette® Honey Apricot Rose Quick Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Boznatafra’
- Mature Size: Approximately 5–8 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide
- Bloom Color: Soft apricot, peach, and orange
- Bloom Time: Summer, with repeat blooms that may continue into fall
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, at least 6 hours daily
- Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–8 (see San Antonio growing note below)
- Growth Habit: Upright, deciduous shrub
- Special Features: Edible petals, fragrant flowers, disease resistance, and repeat blooming
*This variety is officially rated for USDA Zones 4–8, while much of San Antonio falls within Zone 9. That doesn’t necessarily mean it cannot grow here, but its performance in our intense summer heat is less certain. Providing protection from harsh afternoon sun and monitoring for heat stress, keeping it well watered, may help.
Whether you’re looking to add gorgeous peach-colored blooms to your landscape or experiment with edible flowers in the kitchen, Flavorette® Honey-Apricot offers something a little different from your typical garden rose. We love introducing something truly unique, and we think you’ll be just as excited about this rose as we are. Bon Appetit!
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
