Rose Facts

Rose is one of the best known and most favorite plants in the world. There are
100 different species of roses. Majority of them are native to Asia, while
others originate from Europe, North America and Africa. Roses can be found
throughout the world due to commercial breeding. Cultivation of roses started
500 years BC and resulted in creation of 13 000 varieties of roses. Wild roses
can survive in various habitats, except those associated with extremely cold
winters. Certain species of wild roses are faced with uncertain future (listed as
endangered) because of the habitat loss.

Interesting Rose Facts:

Size of rose depends on the species. Flower can reach from couple to 33
inches in diameter. Certain species can reach 23 feet in length.
Most species of roses are deciduous, with few species that belong to the
group of evergreen plants. Majority of roses form bushes or grow by climbing
over other vegetation.
Color of the rose depends on the species. Roses can be found in different
shades of white, yellow, pink, orange and red colors. Blue and black roses do
not exist.
Each color of the rose symbolizes certain value. Red rose is a symbol of love,
yellow of friendship, orange of enthusiasm, white of purity and pink of joy.
Wild roses have 5 petals and 5 sepals. Large number of petals is a result of
mutation and it can be seen in cultivated roses.
Roses are well known by their prickles. They look like hooks which facilitate
bonding to the other plants (in the climber types of roses) and protects stem

from herbivores.
Even though prickles are strong and sharp, certain species of deer are able to
eat roses.
Besides large herbivores, insects and spiders often attack roses. Fungal
diseases can induce significant damage to the cultivated roses.
Wild roses bloom once per year. They are pollinated by insects.
Rose hip is a fruit of rose. It is rich source of vitamin C. Rose is sometimes
used in folk medicine to relieve stomach pain and to treat cancer.
Rose water and rose syrup are used in cooking. Rose hip can be turned into
jams, marmalades or it can be dried and used in the preparation of tea.
Rose oil is important ingredient in the perfume industry. Extraction of minimal
amount of this oil requires huge amount of roses (one gram of oil is produced
from two thousand roses).
Roses are old plants. One of the oldest fossils of roses discovered in Colorado
dates back from 35 million years ago.
Roses are often used in literature and songs. There are over 4000 songs
dedicated to roses.
Roses can survive long period of time. Rose that covers the wall of the
Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany has over 1000 years.