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Roses have symbolized
love, beauty, politics, even war.
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Roses Symbolism
The rose has a history that's as interesting and colorful as the
blossom itself. Roses have been the symbol of love, beauty, politics,
even war. In the fifteenth century, both factions fighting to control
England used the rose a symbol, the white rose for York, the red
rose for Lancaster. The conflict between the two factions became
known as the War of the Roses.
The Rose has Diverse Roots
According to fossil evidence, the rose is an ancient plant, some
35 million years old. The rose grows throughout the northern hemisphere,
in climates and soils as diverse as Alaska, Mexico, and northern
Africa. The genus Rosa has about 150 species.
Roses as Confetti, Medicine & Perfume
Cultivation of roses probably began in China, about 5,000 years
ago. Roses were grown extensively in the Middle East during the
Roman period. They've been used in a variety of ways, such as confetti
at celebrations, for medicinal purposes, and as a source of perfume.
Roses have often been particularly prized by royalty and nobility.
They were in such high demand during the seventeenth century that
royalty considered roses or rose water legal tender. Napoleon's
wife, Josephine, established an extensive collection of roses at
Chateau de Malmaison, an estate near Paris, in the 1800s. This garden
became the setting for Pierre Joseph Redoute's work as a botanical
illustrator. His watercolor collection "Les Rose," is
still considered one of the finest records of botanical illustration.
Modern-Day Roses were Introduced from China
Cultivated roses were introduced into Europe from China in the late
eighteenth century. Most modern-day roses can be traced back to
this ancestry. These introductions were repeat bloomers, making
them unusual and of great interest to growers of hybrids, setting
the stage for breeding work with native roses to select for hardiness
and a long bloom season. Many of these early efforts by plant breeders
are of great interest to today's growers.
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