A History of the Rose

There are many beautiful flowers around the world butwas sacred to many gods including Aphrodite and is
one timeless classic that makes everyone smile is theoften a symbol of the Virgin Mary. The rose is the
rose. This elegant flower looks great in anynational flower of England and the United States, and is
environment and the scent which it produces isused by English rugby teams as their emblem.
fantastic. Roses can be used for any occasion,Although roses symbolize a lot of great things they
weddings, birthdays, christenings and even funerals;also represent sadness as well. During the roman
every rose has a different meaning behind it.times people were forced to grow roses instead of
A rose is a perennial flower and contains over 30food in order to satisfy their rulers. The emperors
thousand different species and comes in severaloften filled their pools and fountains with rose petals
colors, you can have trailing roses, shrubs or climbingand sat within great rose petal pools. They used the
varieties. They are grown in several places around thepetals for celebrations, perfumes and medicines. During
world not only for their elegant beauty but also for theirthe fifteenth century roses were used to represent
enchanting fragrance. The plant does produce fruitthe war which was occurring in England. A white rose
which is known as rose hip and can be found in therepresented York and a red rose was used by
late summer through to autumn, many people use thisLancaster, this conflict became known as the war of
fruit for jams and jellies. You can get many differentthe roses. Roses became such high demand that in
sizes of roses from miniature ones to over seventhe seventeenth century they became legal tender,
meter climbers. These plants can easily be hybridizedand people would use them to barter for food and
and this has caused many different varieties to besupplies.
created.Today there are two main groups of roses, old roses
The rose is surrounded by many thousands of yearswhich were original and cultivated before the 1800's
of history, and has often been used throughout time inand modern roses which are cultivated today.
poems and stories. It is believed that the rose is overHowever the rose became what it is today it is an
35 million years old and the cultivation of this greatamazing flower which has survived years. No other
flower began in Asia over 5000 years ago. The roseflower has ever experienced such popularity and as
stands for many things and different colors representcut flowers they are the most sold flowers worldwide.
different emotions and feelings. It has representedPeople love giving roses as gifts and their use in the
many different cultures and religions over the yearsperfume world is outstanding. Whatever reason you
and is a symbol and emblem of many countries. Thegive roses you are guaranteed to bring a smile to
rose is an ancient symbol of love and romance andsomeone's face.