To Buy Roses Rose plants can be purchased locally through garden centers and other retail outlets or by mail. Plants bought locally are sold either bare-root or potted. Mail order plants are almost always sold bare-root. When ordered or bought from a reputable dealer, both are good, and it's just a matter of preference.
Many older roses are only available bare root through specialty mail order nurseries.
Packaged as well as mail order roses may also have their canes covered with wax. This helps prevent drying while in storage or in the retail store. The wax doesn't need to be removed. Canes on bare-root plants should be plump and green with smooth, unshriveled bark. They should also feel heavy.