Different Grades of Roses

About Grading

• The American Association of Nurserymen established the different grades of grafted roses, and published them in "American Standard for Nursery Stock". Nurseries and other sellers of roses use this grading system in North America. Canadians also have a similar grading system, but it is not very specific or demanding. In order to be graded, grafted roses must have 3 to 4 inches between the top of the roots and the area where the graft was attached to the root stock plant. This is also called the graft union or graft bud.

Grade #1

• Grade #1 roses must have three or more canes that are 5/16- to 3/4-inch in diameter. Roots are well-developed and mature at two years old when dug out of the ground and pruned to sell. Hybrid teas and Grandiflora roses must have canes that are about 18 inches long, while Floribunda roses have canes that are 15 inches long. Polyanthus varieties have canes 12 inches long, and climber canes must reach 24 inches in length. Grade #1 roses are of the best quality and cost the most.

Grade #1-1/2

• Grade #1-1/2 roses have at least two healthy canes that will grow as large and strong as grade #1 canes in a short amount of time. Teas and Grandiflora canes are cut to 15 inches long, Floribundas to 14 inches long and climbers to 18 inches long. Polyanthus roses do not get a grade at this level, only at Grade #1 and Grade #2.

Grade #2

• Grade #2 roses are the type sold in discount stores and cost significantly less than grade #1 and #1-1/2. They have small canes and they take a great deal of work and time to measure up to the better grades. Grade #2 roses have two canes that are about 12 inches long. These roses did not come to the high standards of most grafted roses and were the runts. They usually do not reach the highest potential of the variety.