- The rose is admired all over the world for both its beauty and its scent.
Throughout the ages the rose has been a favorite among flowers, perhaps mainly because of its rich scent. More has been written about the rose, especially in poetry, than any other flower. The ancient Greek poet Sappho called the rose the “Queen of Flowers.” Roses grow almost all over the world, but they are mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere. Most rose species are native to Asia. Smaller numbers are native to North America and a few to Europe and northwest Africa. Physical featuresRoses usually climb or trail over trees or banks, but in poor soils they grow as small, prickly shrubs. The stems usually have thorns. Roses range in color from white through various shades of yellow and pink to dark crimson and maroon. Many varieties have been specially bred to have beautiful blends of color. Roses may measure from 1/2 inch (1.3 centimeters) across for a miniature flower to 7 inches (18 centimeters) across for a large flower. Wild rose plants bear flowers singly or in small clusters. The flowers of wild roses usually have five petals. The flowers of roses grown by people often have many sets of petals. The petals grow out from a fleshy, fruitlike structure known as a hip. Types of garden rosesThe most popular rose is the hybrid tea rose. The majority of roses grown in greenhouses and gardens and sold in florist shops are of this variety. Hybrid tea roses come in the complete range of rose colors and have large blossoms. Climbing roses have slender stems that can be trained to climb trellises. Shrub roses develop into large bushes. Miniature roses are very short plants bearing tiny blossoms. UsesThe rose flower is admired all over the world as a beautiful ornament for gardens and houses. A fragrant oil called attar that comes from rose blossoms is used in perfumes. The rose hip is a rich source of vitamin C and is used to make jams and jellies. |