Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The Kentucky Derby’s Garland of Roses has a clear modern origin: Louisville florist Grace Walker designed the cloth-backed garland in 1932. But roses honored Derby winners before that, and the early record does not identify one certain starting point. Today, Kroger floral designers make the garland by hand, sewing roses onto a backing and giving each stem its own concealed water vial.
When did the Kentucky Derby start giving the winner a garland of roses?
Roses were associated with the Derby winner before the familiar blanket-shaped garland existed. The Kentucky Derby’s historical account records a collar of white and pink roses presented to 1896 winner Ben Brush. It also cautions that early accounts are unclear about whether Churchill Downs formally sanctioned the practice or whether roses were presented consistently on Derby Day. A story about roses given at a party after the 1883 Derby is one possible origin, not conclusive proof. The official history notes photographs of winners with a garland dating to 1906, evidence that the custom had taken hold by then.
The designed, cloth-backed Garland of Roses came later. In 1932, Louisville florist Grace Walker created it at the request of Churchill Downs official Samuel Culbertson. Earlier rose presentations were often arranged in a horseshoe shape; Walker’s design attached roses and greenery to a cloth-backed blanket. Burgoo King was the first Derby winner to wear the new design. The Kentucky Derby’s historical account says Walker’s original garland used more than 500 dark red roses and greenery—a figure for that 1932 design, not the present one. The Derby’s historical account and its 2025 media guide document the design’s origin.
Why is the Derby called the “Run for the Roses”?
New York sports columnist Bill Corum popularized the phrase “Run for the Roses” in 1925, seven years before Walker designed the cloth-backed garland. Corum later served as Churchill Downs president from 1950 to 1958. The nickname refers to the rose tradition; it should not be confused with the 1932 introduction of the recognizable blanket design. The Kentucky Derby’s history treats the nickname and the garland’s design as separate milestones.
#1 Best Overall
- Hi, dear: We suggest that you carefully check the product information before purchasing, which can reduce your return time. This product has small flowers(1.5"), and the flowers and leaves can be removed (a small amount of flowers falling into the box may affect your experience). When decorating, multiple vines need to be used together (one vine alone is not full), made of plastic and silk (there will be a plastic smell when received)
- Package: 8 vine plant hanging fake flower garland, 4 bags in total. 8.2FT (250CM) per vine, each plant with 45 flowers. 1.5"(3.8CM) in diameter of rose heads. 45 leaves per vine. When you connect these 8 vines end-to-end, the total length can reach 66ft. The single vine is not thick, but when you wrap 8 pcs rose vines side by side together, you will get an 8.2 ft bigger flower vine which is puffy & thick enough to decorate your room. We used multiple vines wrapped side by side in our picture
- Multi-use rose vine: With the vibrant color, PONKING fake rose vines are ideal for your wedding, party, vlentines, Christmas, birthday, DIY bouquets, arch home room decor, etc. They could also decorate your space with the string lights(not included). Adding more romantic atmosphere to you all
- Material & Features: PONKING fake rose garland is made of silk and plastic. Durable silk and plastic flowers ensures durability and no risk of leaves or flowers dying. The rose vine spares you from endless watering. Different from real rose flowers, our artificial vines with rich color layers and natural appearance will never fade. They will last forever. Nice choice for your daughter's bedroom
- PONKING cares about you: ①Missing pieces refund support. ②Price difference refund support. Instead of returning the item, which could reduce your return time. ③Warm notice: Due to the difference in sunlight, display configuration, the color differences are inevitable. These faux flowers may be squeezed and deformed in transit. Wet the flowers, then use the hairdryer to recover them. Let us know if you have any problems with our artificial flowers
Who makes the Kentucky Derby Garland of Roses?
Kroger has crafted the garland since 1987, according to the Kentucky Derby and Kroger. The Derby’s 2025 media guide describes a public assembly event on the day before the race at the Middletown Kroger store in Louisville. That venue and schedule are annual event details, rather than a permanent part of the garland’s design.
How is the Kentucky Derby rose garland made?
The Derby’s 2025 media guide describes a 10–12-hour creative process. Floral designers hand-sew 465 Freedom roses onto a green satin backing over thornless Sprengeri foliage. Each stem sits in an individual water vial concealed within the backing, helping keep the flowers supplied with water. The garland measures 2½ yards long and 14 inches wide and weighs about 40 pounds, according to the same guide. The 2025 media guide gives the precise count; the Derby’s Living Traditions page describes the quantity more broadly as “more than 400” roses and also puts the weight at about 40 pounds.
Rank #2
- 【INCLUDES】: 4 pack artifical pink rose garland. Each garland has 9 pink roses.
- 【SIZE】: Each garland is 6.5 ft/200 cm long. On each garland there are 4 2.2-inch pink roses and 5 4-inch pink roses. These flowers are larger and more authentic than most of the flowers on the market.
- 【MATERIAL】: The artifical pink rose garland is made of high-grade crepe. The vine leaves have dense green color. And the flowers are full and lifelike, and the leaf veins are clear.
- 【Lush, Rich and Colorful】: The fake pink rose vine are lush, rich and colorful, and the material is durable forever without maintenance. A easy way to add a touch of color and romance to your home with these beautiful rose garland.
- 【Perfect Decoration】: The rose hanging vine plant is suitable for wedding, parties, arches, centerpiece decorations, flower basket, celebration, aisle, show windows, shop, restaurant, stairway, fences and many other events
The 465-rose count describes the contemporary garland in the 2025 media guide. It is not the same design or count as Walker’s original 1932 version, which the historical account describes as having more than 500 roses.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the garland and its crown symbolize?
The green satin backing bears the Commonwealth seal at one end and the Twin Spires and current renewal number at the other. At its center is a crown made from roses, greenery and ribbon. The Kentucky Derby says the single rose pointing upward in the crown symbolizes “the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle.” The 2025 media guide also says the crown contains one rose for each Thoroughbred running in that year’s Derby. These are distinct details: the upward-pointing center rose carries the stated symbolism, while the crown’s rose count corresponds to the field.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Packaging and Size】The package includes 9 pcs artificial rose vines. Each rose garland is 8 FT long, flower is 1.6 inches in diameter, each garland holds about 45 red flowers and 270 green leaves.
- 【Premium Materials】The vivid faux garland's flowers and leaves are made of soft silk cloth, stems are made of plastic. No glue. The petals are naturally curved, simulating the shape of a real flower, lifelike. The flowers and leaves are not easy to drop, and you can bend the branch easily.
- 【Abundant Application】Red rose garland decorations can create a romantic and fairytale atmosphere for your life. Suitable for many scenes such as wedding arch, birthday party, anniversary, Valentine's Day. It can be used to decorate dinner-table, gardens, fencing, sheds, swing frame, rattan chair, air-conditioning pipes, exposed wires, stairs, shop, restaurant, office, etc.
- 【Design elements】With two color matching, the hanging flower vines seem to be more beautiful and the effect is better. Using a unique dyeing process, two vibrant colors blend well in flower vine which can add a touch of nature to your life. The roses artificial flowers decorate your life and every festival, and make your life full of beauty and surprises.
- 【Easy to Care】Artificial floral garlands do not require much maintenance and care, do not have to water and no dead leaves. This outdoor artificial flowers garland is the perfect choice for someone who have no time to care fresh flowers, they will last forever. Nice gift for your family and friends.
Rank #4
- Hi, dear: We suggest that you carefully check the product information before purchasing, which can reduce your return time. This product has small flowers(1.5"), and the flowers and leaves can be removed (a small amount of flowers falling into the box may affect your experience). When decorating, multiple vines need to be used together (one vine alone is not full), made of plastic and silk (there will be a plastic smell when received)
- Package: 8 vine plant hanging fake flower garland, 4 bags in total. 8.2FT (250CM) per vine, each plant with 45 flowers. 1.5"(3.8CM) in diameter of rose heads. 45 leaves per vine. When you connect these 8 vines end-to-end, the total length can reach 66ft. The single vine is not thick, but when you wrap 8 pcs rose vines side by side together, you will get an 8.2 ft bigger flower vine, which is puffy & thick enough to decorate your room. We used multiple vines wrapped side by side in our picture
- Multi-use rose vine: With the vibrant color, PONKING fake rose vines are ideal for your wedding, party, vlentines, Christmas, birthday, DIY bouquets, arch home room decor, etc. They could also decorate your space with the string lights(not included). Adding more romantic atmosphere to you all
- Material & Features: PONKING fake rose garland is made of silk and plastic. Durable silk and plastic flowers ensures durability and no risk of leaves or flowers dying. The rose vine spares you from endless watering. Different from real rose flowers, our artificial vines with rich color layers and natural appearance will never fade. They will last forever. Nice choice for your daughter's bedroom
- PONKING cares about you: ①Missing pieces refund support. ②Price difference refund support. Instead of returning the item, which could reduce your return time. ③Warm notice: Due to the difference in sunlight, display configuration, the color differences are inevitable. These faux flowers may be squeezed and deformed in transit. Wet the flowers, then use the hairdryer to recover them. Let us know if you have any problems with our artificial flowers
Rank #3
- Package Contents: 2pcs Red Artificial Floral Garlands included in this set
- Realistic Appearance: Natural looking silk flowers and lifelike leaves makes these Rose Chain Garlands look like fresh real flowers vine, suitable for banister, pole, backdrop, and wall arrangement
- Product Specifications: Raw silk material of the flower and leaves, and the stem is made of soft plastic. Garland length: approx.8 feet / 2.4 meters each, the diameter of the flowers is around 8cm / 3inch, 16 flowers each, 66 leaves each
- Versatile Decoration: You can hang these vivid rose ivy garland on the wall, door, mirror or twist on the swing, stairs or any where you want to create a romantic and refreshing atmosphere at wedding receptions, Baby or Bridal Showers, Holiday, Birthday Parties, Office, Living Room Churches
- Care Instructions: The Faux flower vines may be squeezed and deformed during transportation, we suggested you use the iron to restore them to original shape
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
