When working at Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden where I’m the CR, I’m often asked to identify a rose from a picture of the flower on a cell phone. It is very difficult to ID with such limited information. Below is a guide to help make rose ID easier along with what pictures to take. In this guide I’ve added “language” that might describe blooms, etc.
BLOOM COLORS: “Buds just starting to open are greenish white Flowers pink with cream/white.” (Pictures: Take at least three close ups of flowers in various stages of development.)
PETAL COUNT: “60-65” (Count a couple developed blooms for count variance.)
OPEN BLOOM SIZE: 4.5? to 5? PRICKLES (thorns): “Straight not curved. Most Prickles about 3? apart.” (Pictures: Take close up of prickles. If some canes have a few and others many, take a picture of each cane with description.)
HEIGHT: 7? (Picture: This is important info. If a smaller plant, place a yardstick next to the plant. If a tall plant such as a climber, have someone stand in the picture providing their approximate height.)
BASE OF PLANT: “Has six canes growing out of a base width of approx. 9? with largest canes about the size of a quarter, smallest a dime.” (Picture: You may need to weed the base of the plant to clearly show the base. If appears to be grafted, include in description.)