The Rose-Arranging Hack That's Taking Over the Internet

Supermarket roses have a bad reputation. They're cheesy, dramatic, and uptight—not exactly the kind of flower that looks fluttery and romantic in a tabletop arrangement. But a newfound technique called "reflexing" is changing all that: By flipping some of the rose petals outward, people are turning roses into voluminous blooms that don't look a thing like their classic tightly furled shapes. What kind of flower is that?! your friends might ask. Which is when you do a little tutorial and reveal that it's really just a rose with the outer layers bent back. Calling it a technique is kind of ridiculous—we're talking about peeling back rose petals, remember—but you should feel free to describe it thusly when explaining it to said out-of-the-loop friends.

Taylor Patterson of Fox Fodder Farm actually taught us this trick last fall (she uses it on tulips and roses), but it's really taken off on the internet this spring. Emily Schuman, blogger at Cupcakes & Cashmere, discussed it in an April blog post about tips from L.A. florist Eric Buterbaugh. "We figured that his signature monochromatic rose bouquet must be a unique varietal because they looked so different," she wrote. "We were floored to find out that he uses a technique called reflexing to make regular roses look extraordinary." The "technique," of course, is flipping out some of the outer petals. Stylist Kendra Smoot described the same trick on Cup of Jo a few weeks later, suggesting you also remove "the highest two to three leaves for an even simpler look." Design blogger Grace Bonney discussed it on Instagram just last week, calling attention to an otherworldly arrangement she spotted that turned out to be just standard roses, petals reflexed.

Now you know—and you don't have to be a lifestyle blogger to give it a whirl. Next time you pass your favorite bodega or corner store, consider roses (they're typically pretty inexpensive, win-win!). Then flex your reflexing skills. And don't worry if a few petals fall off in the process—life doesn't always imitate Instagram! (Thank goodness.)