Why roses don’t have thorns?

«No rose without a thorn», they say. Well, that's just plain wrong. Because roses have no thorns. Learn more about a big misunderstanding here.

Ever heard of the prickly cactus or the thorny rose? It’s wrong. In actual fact a cactus has thorns, while roses have prickles. In botanical terms, thorns are sharp-pointed, aborted shoots with a wooden core, which are found in such plants as sloe bushes and succulents.

Prickles, on the other hand, are formed from the bark of the shoots and are very easy to break off – as in the case of roses. They protect the plant against being eaten by animals.

Click here for care tips for roses.