About Roses

The rose is a perennial bush best known for its ornamental blooms. There are at least 100 types of roses of the Rosa genus, and they are known to grow around the world. Roses have been harvested as decorative plants for at least the last 2,600 years.

Background of the Rose

Roses are well known for their fragrance and their beauty. The ancient Chinese philosopher K'ung fu-tzu, also known in the West as Confucius, wrote extensively about roses. Queen Cleopatra was also fond of roses, and used them to seduce Alexander the Great. In addition, roses are also considered to be a symbol of love; ancient Rome identified the rose with Venus, the Roman goddess of love. It is also England's national flower.

Rose Types

There are several different types of roses that are available. These different types include hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, shrub and landscape, climbing, miniature and tree roses. These roses can vary significantly from one another. For example, hybrid tea roses are often the type of rose that is sold by florists. They have long stems that each bare one flower. On the other hand, climbing roses can be trained to climb up a wall or trellis as they grow, while landscape roses typically tend to spread and grow low to the ground.

Uses for Roses

Although roses are primarily used for decorative purposes, there are other uses for them than sitting in a vase. Roses are a highly perfumed flower and are often the basis for rose scented perfumes. These perfumes are made from oil which is extracted from the roses or rose water. The rose hips of certain species of roses may be used to make products for the skin. They may also be used to make wine, tea or jelly, all of which are high in vitamin C.