Rose

(height, leaf arrangement, leaf shape, root system)

A perennial, angiosperm, flowering plant. Depending on the species, it may be a low shrub (0.3–1.5 m), a climbing plant, or a tree up to 6 m tall. The stems are usually woody, with thorns, while the leaves are compound, pinnately divided, and consist of 3 to 9 leaflets with serrated edges. Some species are deciduous, while others are semi-evergreen.

(flowering period, flowers, seeds)

The most characteristic feature of the genus is its flowers, which can be single or double, and occur in a variety of colors (white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple). The petals are soft and often fragrant. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer. The fruit is orange to red. Natural reproduction occurs through insect pollination (primarily by bees), while propagation for maintaining cultivars is achieved through cuttings, grafting, or layering.

The genus Rosa consists of 140 to 180 species, with numerous cultivated varieties. At least seven species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are characterised as “Vulnerable (VU)” (R. transcaucasica, R. galushkoi, R. zangezura, R. doluchanovii, R. sosnovskyana, R. arabica, R. dolichocarpa), while additional four species are classified as “Near-Threatened (NT)” (R. rapinii, R. tuschetica, R. hemisphaerica, R. zakatalensis); however, most species have not been evaluated.

The rose is deeply rooted in human history and culture, serving as one of the oldest and most recognizable symbols of beauty and love. From early on, roses appear as a distinctive feature of flora and gardens. Pausanias notes “various brambles and roses” in Arcadia, while Arrian describes “rose gardens” in India as a hallmark of the local flora and abundance. In the great kingdoms of the East, rose gardens signified luxury, as cited by Herodotus in reference to the palace of Xerxes. In Ancient Greece, this flower was closely associated with the goddess Aphrodite, the symbol of love and beauty. In the Iliad, Aphrodite protects Hector’s body with “immortal rose oil”, while the poet Ibycus describes a youth raised “among rose blossoms”. Cornutus links Rose-colored Aphrodite with the color and grace of the rose; Aristophanes mentions roses in scenes of opulence and joy, while Aelian notes their use in festive rituals.

According to Pausanias, the rose acquired its red hue when Aphrodite was pricked by its thorns and the flower was stained with her blood. In mythology, Nonnus represents the bodies of gods and heroes leaving behind meadows that “redden with roses”, as rose wreaths are linked to erotic and wedding ceremonies. In the myth of Hero and Leander, as cited by Musaeus, the woman’s body is likened to a “garden of red roses”, repeatedly emphasizing the radiance of youth through the image of rosy flesh—whether referring to the rosy-fingered hand or the transformation of the face from a rose to an anemone when beauty withers. He adds that Aphrodite receives “red roses” as symbols of her brilliant nature, and the Horae water the earth with rose dew, endowing the rose with an intense ritual character, while every step of a divine figure makes the meadow “redden with roses”.

In the Roman era, roses became a symbol of extreme luxury. Suetonius mentions that Nero covered halls and beds with layers of rose petals, while according to the dictionary of Julius Pollux, rose wreaths at banquets denoted social superiority. Roses also held a prominent position in ceremonies and religious events. Plutarch associates roses with the worship of Isis and purification practices, while Nymphs and deities receive blood-colored roses, according to Nonnus; the flowers were even used in funerary rites, as their bloom symbolized rebirth and eternal beauty. Sidonius Apollinaris parallels the thorns of the rose with wounds of sin, while in the Greek Anthology, it is described how the falling of rose petals from a man’s wreath symbolizes the decay of joy.

With the prevalence of Christianity, the rose became identified with the Virgin Mary, most notably through the title “The Unfading Rose” and corresponding icons depicting the Virgin and Christ surrounded by roses. It also served as a source of inspiration for the creation of the rosary and other prayers. During the Middle Ages, Carthusian and Franciscan monks used the rose as a religious symbol of joy and devotion, while Albrecht Dürer’s painting “The Feast of the Rosary” (1506) depicts the Virgin offering rose wreaths to the faithful.

In European history, the rose established itself as a powerful political emblem, most notably during the English War of the Roses (1455–1487), where the white and red roses represented the rival Houses of York and Lancaster, respectively. The end of the conflict was sealed by the red-and-white Tudor Rose, which symbolized the union of the two houses and remains the national symbol of England to this day.

The symbolic power of the flower transitioned into the 20th century with clear humanitarian and resistance connotations. During World War II, the organization White Rose (Die Weiße Rose), led by students and a professor from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), chose its name to promote non-violent resistance against the Nazi regime. Their activities through leaflets continued until their arrest by the Gestapo in 1943.

The political significance of the rose remained vibrant in the modern era, crossing to the other side of the Atlantic. In 1986, under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the rose was officially recognized as the national flower of the United States of America, thus confirming its enduring status among the national symbols of great powers.

In the National Garden of Greece, Queen Amalia planted rosebushes relatively early, and manuals of the time mention that rows of rose gardens flourish [in the Garden].

The rose is one of the most popular ornamental plants worldwide, known for its striking flowers, which are cultivated in gardens, parks, and indoor spaces. Beyond its decorative value, it has significant commercial and practical uses. Roses have been extensively used in perfumery and gastronomy since ancient times. Theophrastus describes the process of producing rose oil and its immense aromatic value, while Pliny enumerates numerous uses in perfumery, decoration, and ceremonial practices. Athenaeus records dishes and drinks flavored with roses or rosewater at luxurious banquets, while Aelian notes their use in wine, sweets, and aromatic preparations in the daily life of Asia Minor and the East. Dioscorides describes the astringent, cooling, and anti-inflammatory properties of the rose, recommending ointments, eye drops, and scented preparations with rose petals, while Galen mentions rose oil as a mild soothing agent for inflammation, particularly for eye care and skin conditions. The flowers continue to be used in perfumery today and for the production of cut flowers, while certain species are employed in landscaping, as hedges, or for slope stabilization. The fruit of the rose (rose hips), especially from Rosa canina, is rich in vitamin C and edible. It is used to make jams, sweets, syrups, teas, and rose oils, which are utilized in natural cosmetics. Rosewater, with its distinctive aroma, is a key ingredient in Middle Eastern, Persian, and South Asian cuisine, used in sweets such as baklava, Turkish delight, and halva, as well as to flavor tea and preserved fruits.

(Note: Ethnobotanical data regarding the medicinal uses of plants must be handled with caution, and their application should be carried out exclusively under medical supervision).