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Suntory to sell 'blue' roses in North America

19 Comments

Beginning in early November, Suntory will for the first time introduce its blue rose APPLAUSE in North America. With nearly 100% blue-pigmented petals, APPLAUSE is the world's first blue rose, a technically sophisticated flower with a delicate blue color.

APPLAUSE captivated the international audience when it first went on sale in Tokyo in 2009. Suntory said the flower will make an exquisite gift for special occasions including proposals, anniversaries and birthdays. It will be sold in North America at select florists.

Roses have been growing for at least 5,000 years and have long been objects signifying desire and romance. However because roses lack the plant pigment delphinidin, which gives a blue coloring, a naturally occurring blue rose is impossible. Despite the tens of thousands of varieties of roses that have been created through traditional rose breeding, achieving a blue rose had still remained out of reach. Redefining the impossible

Suntory embarked on research with the aim of developing a blue rose in 1990 with their Australian subsidiary, Florigene, now Suntory Flowers. Success was finally achieved in 2004 after introducing a gene for blue pigment from a pansy. In 2009, after nearly two decades of research and developmental work, sales of the blue rose began for the first time.

Suntory said it selected the name APPLAUSE as the name for its blue rose as a symbol of congratulations for those whose dreams have come true, as well as of encouragement for those pursuing a dream, whatever it may be.

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19 Comments
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Must be my computer, but it looks purple to me.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Definitely not blue; light purple, lavender even!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Though, blue comes in all sorts of variations. I didin't know Suntory sold flowers!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You can but the dyed versions cheaply at street markets all over New York City. So will it be worth it to buy what I'm guessing is somethng much more expensive?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You can "BUY"...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I thought the standard way is to put the rose into water, mixed with blue ink?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

electric: I think are correct.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What do they taste like?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

What do they taste like?

Blue roses

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Filling in the cultural slot currently filled in Japan by the Daruma doll.

He wore Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuu Rooooooooosess la la la....

Rose + Pansy = Rosey or Posey

How much do they cost? I want more blue things.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I drink a lot of Rosehip tea. Do these taste Spareminty?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I saw that rose in Aichi on the Flower show. Pretty impressive.

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I would prefer a red rose anytime. Red expresses love and emotion. Blue is a cool color. It does not mean love.

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I too thought it was a drink of some kind :)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

paulinusa Sep. 16, 2011 - 08:12AM JST ...will it be worth it to buy what I'm guessing is somethng much more expensive?

LOL. When they say "the flower will make an exquisite gift for special occasions" you can bet it won't be cheap. You can also bet that there will be plenty of people with more money than sense, who will buy them.

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LoveNotSep. 16, 2011 - 10:59AM JST. I would prefer a red rose anytime. Red expresses love and emotion. Blue is a cool color. It does not mean love.

Its not for personal gifts. Don't know when it was in last time to give flowers to a girl. And in the US you never know what kind of reaction you get in return. More like for concerts and funerals, I suppose. Purple is best.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cool. I bet that is really going to be trend for Valentine's day. The new thing, you know.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"be the trend to give your girl" I meant.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

do they have natural ( not dyed ) black rose ?

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