Colombian Flowers Bring Life to Rose Parade Floats
On New Year’s Day, countless people see the colorful floats of the Rose Parade move through Pasadena. Behind this beauty, a worldwide network exists. It links roses from South America and Colombian farms to this famous American event.
The Journey of a Colombian Rose
High in the Andes near Bogotá, Colombian farmers grow the Hearts rose. This flower shines with a deep red color and has detailed petals. At 9,000 feet, these roses thrive in exact conditions. People love them for their beauty and strength, making them a favorite at the Rose Parade.
As the LA Times reported, Bob Mellano, a third-generation flower wholesaler, relies heavily on these South American roses to supply the parade’s 39 floats. “Without the flowers,” Mellano told the LA Times, “the Rose Parade is nothing.”
On December 13, Colombia’s Elite Flower farm workers harvested thousands of Hearts roses. The flowers started their trip from Bogotá to Miami, passing a strict check before moving in chilled trucks to Los Angeles. Paperwork troubles and transport problems piled on the stress, but Mellano’s strong will ensured all 50,000 lost roses, including the prized Hearts, reached on time.
A Legacy of Roses and Family
The Mellano family has been at the heart of the Rose Parade for three generations. Giovanni Mellano, an Italian immigrant, began selling floral greens in Los Angeles nearly a century ago. Over time, the family expanded, supplying flowers for prestigious events like the Rose Parade.
Mellano recalled delivering California-grown flowers as a child, dwarfed by the boxes he carried. However, as land and labor costs rose, the industry shifted to international markets, with South America becoming the primary source for roses sold in the U.S.
Today, Mellano oversees a global operation from his downtown Los Angeles office. For decades, he has faced the unique pressures of the parade season, balancing tradition, family, and the complexities of a global flower trade. “Nothing compares to the Rose Parade once you see those floats coming down Colorado Boulevard,” he told the LA Times.
Designing Magic with South American Roses
The Rose Parade is a testament to creative ingenuity, with every float covered entirely in natural materials. For Scott Lamb, floral director at Artistic Entertainment Services, roses are indispensable. “It’s a gorgeous rose, deep red, not black, just a very, very deep red,” he told the LA Times, describing the Hearts rose.
Lamb, a veteran of 52 Rose Parades, oversaw the floral design for the “Go Bowling” float, sponsored by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America. With its dynamic depiction of a bowling alley and wobbling pins, the float required over 36,800 flowers, including 2,500 Hearts roses.
The roses were arranged precisely, their deep crimson blooms adding texture and drama. Lamb said that the Hearts rose “screamed perfection” for the float’s vibrant theme.
The Global Supply Chain Behind the Parade
The Rose Parade shows how flowers from different places connect. Roses from Colombia, orchids from Thailand, and greens from Costa Rica all help make the floats beautiful. According to the LA Times, the process is quite tricky: people pick flowers, check them for bugs, and then send them in cool trailers to keep them fresh. When they get to Los Angeles, workers gently prepare the flowers, cutting stems and giving them water to make them look lively again.
Mellano finds this very important. Every year, sponsors consider float designs and flower orders ‒ leaving little room for errors. In 2024, sudden changes and delays tested his team, but they ultimately created stunning displays.
Also Read: Colombia’s Mangrove Women Forge Tradition and Sustainability
The Rose Parade is not just a party; it shows how people from all over the world work together to create art. From Colombian greenhouses to floats in Pasadena, flowers from South America play a big part in making this event special. For Mellano, the parade means tradition, creativity, and hard work. After many nights without sleep, making sure every rose is there, he will watch the parade from home, happy that his family’s work has brought the Rose Parade to life again.
