Rose
Name:
Botanical name Rosa
Origin: China and now cultivated from
America to Africa and from Eastern Europe to the Far East.
Colour:
Available in every colour except blue and true black.
Availability:
All year round and probably the best known and best-loved
flower in the world.
Varieties: For extra scented roses, look
for 'Sterling Star' (lilac), 'Jacaranda' (blue-pink), 'Osiana'
(peach-cream),
'Sterling Silver' (lilac) and 'Extase' (deep red).
Care
Tips: Limp roses can be revived by standing up to their necks
in lukewarm water in a cool room. Do
not
bash the stems
as this prevents them taking up water effectively.
Don't remove thorns unless for a hand-held posy,
as these can
cause wounds
where bacteria can enter. They have a vase life of
around a week but can last even longer.
Facts: In
the 19th century old scented roses were used to make jelly.
The red rose is the symbol of
England
and is
worn on
St George's Day. It is also the symbol of love
and is hugely popular on St Valentine's Day, when roses
make
up the largest
proportion of the £22 million spent on flowers
in the UK on this day.
Medicinal: The crusaders
when defeated by Saladin in Jerusalem returned
to the west with rose plants
which
were then cultivated
by monks in their monastery gardens for their
medicinal properties. Rose water was successfully used to
cure all kinds of ailments,
such as trembling, constipation, drunkenness,
skin and throat infections and insomnia. There is some
truth in
this as we
now know Rosa rugosa hips contain high levels
of Vitamin C. Indeed, rosehip tea is often recommended
in pregnancy.
Rose
oil can reduce high cholesterol levels. Roses
are used in face toners and perfume and are one of
the most
effective anti-ageing
ingredients.
History: Not surprisingly the Rose
has always featured strongly throughout history.
