Who goes first?
From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Paint the Roses?

North Star English base rules, 20-page publisher PDF

Whoever most recently watered a plant goes first.

Read the publisher’s rulebook

Rule details

Give that player the Greenhouse. They begin by choosing and placing a Shrub tile; the group then contributes clues and guesses.

At the end of a continuing turn, replenish and pass the Greenhouse to the player on the left, who becomes the active player.

The two-player rules and Expert variation change other parts of play or setup, while retaining this starting-player criterion.

If there’s a tie

The cited starting-player instruction does not specify a tie-break. We don’t infer one.

Source & edition

  • Paint the Roses — North Star Games rulesNorth Star Games · Setup step 7; How to Play; Place a Tile and Place Clue Tokens; Moving the Queen; Two-Player Rules and Expert Variation; credits; player aid · Checked 2026-09-23

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