A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…

In Gertrude Stein’s 1913 poem, “Sacred Emily”, there is an often-quoted line: “A rose is a rose is a rose”. But let’s take that sentiment literally for a moment: what IS a rose? Yes, they’re pretty, yes, they smell sweet, yes, they’re a Valentine’s Day staple - but what about the history of the flower known as a rose?

Roses are ancient, fossils of roses suggesting they’ve been around for over 35 million years. They originated in the colder temperatures of the Northern Hemisphere, gradually adapting to warmer conditions as they spread across the world. Now we can grow roses anywhere thanks to the greenhouse techniques invented by the Chinese, who started the first recorded cultivation of roses in 3000BC. They used roses for perfumes, oils, medicine, and celebrations.

Once roses spread to the warmer temperatures of the Middle East and Ancient Mesopotamia, the Romans began using them in their public gardens and for landscaping. Another Roman use for roses we still put into play today: a flower girl strewing petals on the ground ahead of the entrance of the bride!

In the 17th century, not only were tulips expensive, but so were cut roses, rose plants, and byproducts such as rose water and attar (oil) of roses, especially in places like Persia and Syria. So expensive in fact, they were sometimes used as barter or legal tender in business dealings. The priciest rose at this time was bred in Syria - the Damascene, or Damask rose. Its scent was beyond compare and highly sought.

At this point, most rose species only bloomed once. The late 18th century saw the Chinese revolutionize breeding repeat-blooming roses, and Europe immediately welcomed these rose varieties. Empress Josephine of France cultivated vast quantities of these roses in the gardens of Malmaison, which in turn led to a “rose revolution” among artists seeking to capture the beauty of these flowers. Then the Victorians began hybridizing numerous varieties, exporting many to America. Now, in the present day, the rose is the most well-known flower in the world.

So a rose is a rose is a rose - many different types of roses with a complex and ancient history!