The rose. It is one of the most recognizable flowers in the garden, with its signature stem prickly with thorns and a sweet scent often duplicated for cosmetic purposes. We all know what a rose is, but here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the Queen of Flowers:
1. There are thousands of varieties of roses, the number estimated to be approximately 6,500. Because the flower is so popular with consumers, new hybrids are often developed by floriculturists – which is why a few of them are named after current pop culture icons such as famed country singer, Dolly Parton (a variety of hybrid tea rose).
2. Rose hip, a flavour of teas and other drinks, is actually the fruit of a few varieties of this flower. Rose hip is loaded with Vitamin C, even more than citrus fruit!
3. There is no such thing as a naturally black rose. The closest you can come to getting a black rose is when it’s a dark, dark burgundy/red. Black roses available at some florists have been dyed or spray painted to be that colour. However, scientists are working on it since it’s such a popular colour and would surely be a hit on the shelves.
4. Roses have been around since well before common era. While archaeological findings have proventhat they existed in Ancient Egyptian times, there is documentation that proves one rose bush in Germany has been around since 815 A.D. – and it’s still thriving.
5. Rose essential oil, used for culinary, cosmetic and medical purposes, is believed to be an aphrodisiac for women and a cure for impotence in men. Remember that for Valentine’s Day!
