Which flower has been dominating the market these days? Roses of course. To welcome Valentine’s Day, different varieties of roses have been prepared. How can consumers choose the best roses? Let’s hear what experts’ advice is.

Since the blue enchantress stormed China’s Valentine’s Day flower market more than a decade ago, every two or three years, a new variety will appear. This year, imported Ecuadorian roses have become the latest hit.

It usually takes three days for the Ecuadorian roses to be transported from South America via Hong Kong to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and then appear in markets after passing through customs. A bunch of Ecuadorian roses (consisting of 19-20 pieces) is priced at 800 yuan.“As Valentine’s Day approaches, the price of Ecuadorian roses will be higher,” said an expert from the Shanghai Forestry Station.

More interestingly, as a recent big data report indicates, as of Feb. 13, 60% of flowers were bought by females and 40% of them were for their mothers. Valentine’s Day has become Mother’s Day! Although red roses still dominate the Valentine’s Day flower market, compared with last year, their sales have dropped by nearly 5%. What’s more, people in coastal cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces prefer pink and bright yellow roses for the festival.

Roses are still considered the best choice for couples on Valentine’s Day. However, experts warn that many people mistake China roses for other flowers in the rose family. What are the differences between them?

China roses are typically bigger than other varieties. They come in multiple colors like red, yellow, purple, pink, white and green. Each China rose has 3-5 long ovate leaves which feature serrated edges and are hairless and smooth. Other roses usually have 7-9 tiny leaves with obtusely serrated edges. Moreover, the thorns on China rose stems are more scattered than other types of roses. Last but not least, if well cultivated, China roses can bloom each month and they have a lighter fragrance, while other roses have stronger smells, according to experts.