Absorptance spectra measured in leaves of rose cv ‘Akito’ are qualitatively similar to those reported by McCree (1972) for the “average plant” (from 22 plant species grown in growth chamber) and from other authors for different herbaceous crops. In particular,both red and green leaves of rose absorb more than 90% of the incident radiation in the violet and blue regions and in the 640–680nm band of the red light, similarly to those reported for strawberry (Inada, 1976), rice and perilla (Inada, 1977) grown in greenhouse and for bean in growth chamber (Balegh and Biddulph, 1970).