Roses – Thorns or Prickles? The Botanical Mystery
Roses – thorns or prickles?
The botanical truth behind the world’s most famous plant defense
“Every rose has its thorns”—one of the most quoted sayings in any language. But here’s the twist: roses don’t actually have thorns. They have prickles. And the difference matters more than you think.
Thorns vs. prickles – what’s the difference?
| Function | Thorns | Prickles |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Modified stems or branches | Outgrowths of the outer bark (epidermis) |
| Attachment | Deep—connected to the plant’s vascular system | Shallow—attached only to the outer layer |
| Removal | Tears the plant tissue (painful for the plant) | Comes off cleanly (like peeling off a sticker) |
| Examples | Hawthorn, blackthorn, barberry | Roses , raspberries, blackberries |
| Growth pattern | Grow from internal tissue at specific points | Can grow anywhere on the stem |
The quick test: If you can snap it off cleanly with your thumb, it’s a prickle . If it tears the stem, it’s a thorn . Try it on a rose stem—the prickles snap right off. (But maybe put on gloves first.)
Why do roses have prickles?
Rose prickles evolved for several practical reasons:
- Defense against herbivores: The main purpose. Prickles keep animals from eating the stems. Deer, rabbits, and goats quickly learn to leave roses alone.
- Climbing support: Wild roses are often climbers. Prickles act like hooks and help the plant hold onto other plants and structures as it reaches for sunlight.
- Protection from wind: In exposed habitats, prickles help protect the plant from strong wind by catching onto the surrounding vegetation.
- Water collection: Some researchers believe that prickles may help channel dew and raindrops down the stem toward the roots—although this is debated.
Are there thornless roses?
Yes! Rose breeders have developed varieties with few or no prickles:
- “Zéphirine Drouhin”: A classic climbing rose — completely thornless. Deep pink, fragrant, and loved by gardeners since 1868.
- “Smooth Touch”: A modern hybrid tea rose with very few prickles. Red, with a classic shape.
- “Mortimer Sackler”: An English rose by David Austin — almost free of prickles. Soft pink and fragrant.
- “Lady Banks’ Rose”: A vigorous climber — practically thornless. Small, yellow or white Flowers in abundance.
Most commercially sold cut roses still have prickles, which florists remove from the lower stem before arranging them.
The symbolism of rose “thorns”
Regardless of botanical formality, the Symbolism The rose’s defenses are varied and universal:
- “Every rose has its thorns”: Beauty comes with pain. Nothing is perfect without challenges. Love is worth the risk of getting hurt.
- In Christianity: The rose’s thorns are associated with the crown of thorns, linking beauty with sacrifice and suffering.
- In Persian poetry: The nightingale loves the rose despite its thorns — a metaphor for devotion that endures pain.
- In modern culture: From Poison’s rock ballad to countless quotes, the “thorn” remains a powerful symbol of the dual nature of beauty and love.
Fun party fact: Next time someone says, “Every rose has its thorns,” you can casually mention that roses actually have prickles, not thorns. Botanically speaking, the saying should be: “Every rose has its prickles.” But it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
How to Handle Rose Prickles
- Florist’s method: Use a thorn stripper — a small tool with a notch that glides along the stem and cleanly removes prickles.
- At home: Wrap a kitchen towel around the stem and slide it downward. Or remove the prickles with a sharp knife.
- Gloves: For garden roses with aggressive prickles, leather gardening gloves are essential.
- What to remove: Remove the prickles from the lower two-thirds of the stem (the handling and vase area). Leave some on the upper part to keep a natural look.
- If you get pricked: Clean the wound and apply antiseptic. Punctures from rose stems can introduce bacteria – watch for signs of infection.
Perfectly de-thorned roses at MO BLUMEN Vienna
We take care of the thorns – you enjoy the beauty. Fresh roses delivered throughout Vienna.
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Frequently asked questions
Not really – in everyday language, “thorns” is perfectly understood and accepted. Even botanists use “thorns” casually when talking about roses. The distinction between thorns and prickles is technically correct, but it mainly matters in academic botany. The saying “Every rose has its thorns” still works just fine, and that’s a good thing.
For cut roses in a vase: no functional purpose. Florists remove them from the lower stems to make handling easier and to prevent damage to other flower in the arrangement. Some people prefer to leave a few thorns visible for a more natural, “freshly picked” look – especially in country-style or garden-style arrangements.
Wild roses (Rosa canina, dog rose) tend to have the most aggressive thorns. Among cultivated roses, rugosa roses and many climbing roses are especially thorny. Hybrid tea roses (the standard florist’s rose) have a moderate number of thorns. Because of their vigorous growth at high altitudes, Ecuadorian roses tend to have larger, more pronounced thorns.