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Rose, Thorn, Bud retrospective template

Free Rose, Thorn, Bud retrospective template: highlights, challenges and new ideas. Online board, no sign-up for participants.

Use this template — free, no sign-up

Opens a new board with these columns, right in your browser.

What is the Rose, Thorn, Bud retrospective?

Rose, Thorn, Bud uses a plant metaphor: the Rose is a highlight, the Thorn a challenge or pain point, and the Bud an idea or opportunity that could grow. It is gentle and easy to explain, and the Bud column pulls the conversation toward the future without forcing people to propose formal actions.

The columns

  1. Rose
  2. Thorn
  3. Bud

When to use it

Use it with mixed audiences (designers, product, stakeholders), for project kick-offs and check-ins, or when you want a friendly format that still surfaces problems.

How to run it in Peel in 5 steps

  1. Create a Rose · Thorn · Bud board and share the link; no one needs to sign up.
  2. Ask everyone for at least one card per column, written silently in five minutes.
  3. Reveal and group. Thorns often point to the same root cause; merge them.
  4. Vote on Thorns and Buds and discuss the top two of each.
  5. Pick one Bud to nurture and one Thorn to remove as your actions.
Use this template — free, no sign-up

Frequently asked questions

Where does Rose, Thorn, Bud come from?

It is a design-thinking exercise popularised by design teams and widely used in workshops and family conversations alike.

Can we use it outside software teams?

Yes. Any team can join from a link, in 31 languages.

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