From ancient times throughout the history of civilisation, people from around the world have held the rose in high regard. The earliest known gardening for pleasure rather than for food was the planting of roses. Earliest roses are known to have flourished 35 million-years ago as rose hips have been found in Europe and petrified rose wreaths were discovered in unearthed ancient Egyptian tombs. Here’s a little more about the history of the rose.

Roses in Ancient Historic Period

• The Romans outdid the Greeks when Nero, the hedonistic emperor, 1st century AD, descended thousands of rose petals on his dinner guests.
• Cleopatra had her living quarters filled with the petals of roses so that when Marc Antony met her, he would be reminded of her every time he smelt a rose.
• Throughout religious documents we find references to the rose.
• The Romans cultivated roses in dedicated gardens and we have learnt that newly married couples were often crowned with a ring of roses.

In Roman high society, women used petals much like currency believing that they could banish wrinkles. Rose petals were often dropped in wine because it was thought that the essence of rose would stave off drunkenness and victorious armies would return to be showered with rose petals from the cheering crowd watching from the balconies above the streets.

Roses in Medieval Period

• The earliest example of a rose painting was discovered in Crete around 1600 B.C.
• The apothecary rose, first recorded in the 13th century, was the foundation of a large industry near the city of Provins, France. Turned into jellies, powders and oils, this rose was believed to cure a multitude of illnesses.

Roses in Modern Period

The era of modern roses was established with the introduction of the first hybrid tea rose, “La France” by the French breeder, Guillot in 1867. By the late 20th century, more than 10,000 hybrid tea roses were bred with great success. Introduction of ‘La France’ heralded the era of modern roses.

The renewed interest in the garden rose came with the 19th century empress – Josephine Bonaparte. It was Josephine’s dream to plant a rose garden in Malmaison containing one of each rose variety in the world.

Legends of the Rose

• In a well-known Arabic legend, all roses were originally white in colour until one night when a nightingale bird met a beautiful white rose and fell in love. Legend has it that nightingales were not known for their beautiful song they merely chirped like any other bird. But now that the nightingale was so in love, he was inspired to sing for the first time. Eventually his love was such that he pressed himself to the flower and the thorns pierced his heart, colouring the rose red forever.
• In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is said to have created the rose which was formed from her tears and the blood of her lover, Adonis.
• In Ancient Greek mythology, when Venus´ son Cupid was stung by a bee he accidentally shot arrows into a rose garden. It was believed to be the sting of the arrows that caused the roses to grow thorns. When Venus walked through the garden and pricked her foot on a thorn, it was the droplets of her blood which turned the roses red.
• The world’s oldest living rose bush is thought to be over 1000 years old. Today, it continues to bloom on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany.

The history of the rose is a fascinating one. This is why today it is still one of the most popular flowers with gardeners. If you are looking for a blooming marvellous display why not be inspired by some of our roses?