Are There Blue Rose Bushes?

Are Blue Rose Bushes Naturally Occurring?

Blue rose bushes do not occur naturally, as roses lack the genes necessary to produce the blue pigment delphinidin. Roses are naturally limited to shades of white, yellow, pink, red, and purple. To create blue roses, scientists have used genetic modification techniques to introduce genes from other plants that are responsible for producing the blue pigment.

How Are Blue Rose Bushes Genetically Engineered?

The process of creating blue roses involves turning off the gene that produces red pigments in roses, specifically the dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) gene, using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Then, genes from other plants, such as pansy and iris, which are responsible for producing delphinidin, are introduced into the rose DNA.

One notable cultivar is the “Applause” blue rose developed by Suntory and Florigene. Although it is often described as mauve rather than a pure blue, it represents a significant advancement in producing blue-colored roses through genetic engineering.

What Are the Cultivation Conditions for Blue Rose Bushes?

There is limited specific information on the unique soil, climate, and care requirements for blue rose bushes, as they are not widely available for general cultivation. However, it is reasonable to assume that they would require similar conditions to other rose varieties, including well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and regular watering and fertilization.

How Available Are Blue Rose Bushes in the Market?

Blue roses are not widely available in the market for general consumers. The “Applause” blue rose, developed by Suntory and Florigene, has been commercialized but is more of a novelty and not broadly distributed. There is no public data on the retail prices or average sizes sold of blue rose bushes, as they are not commonly sold through retail channels. The production and distribution are largely controlled by the companies involved in their development, such as Suntory and Florigene.

References:

[2] https://phys.org/news/2005-04-gene-results-world-blue-rose.html
[4] https://www.suntory.com/sic/research/s_bluerose/secret/
[5] https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/synthetic-biology/Synthetic-biology-cracks-blue-rose/96/i40