Some tid-bits that make these favorite flowers just a little more interesting
The ethereal rose is hardier than its reputation might suggest—its history and endurance only adding to the strength of its character, cherished for its silhouettes, scent and symbolism. Read on for a few fun facts about these beloved flowers.
- Roses can be traced back millions of years. In fact, roses are known to be one of the oldest flowers with fossils dating back more than 35 million years.
- While rosebushes can last from 50 years (tea roses) to a couple of hundred (garden roses and other wild varieties), the oldest living rosebush is said to be 1,000 years old. It grows on the outside of the Saint Mary Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany.
- Roses are an important element in the language of flowers with each rose color possessing a different meaning that historically was used to relay secret messages of love, friendship and gratitude to name a few.
- Roses are not just pretty to look at. Their scented oil is used for perfumes (it takes about 2,000 roses to produce 1 gram of rose oil for perfume production), water created by soaking their petals are turned into food flavoring and the rose hip fruit that grows on some species of bushes are rich in vitamin C and are used for teas, jams, jellies, wines, cocktails and its oil in makeup and skin-care products.
- Sprinkle them on your plates—roses are safe to eat (always check labels and with your doctor before ingesting) and make pretty embellishments and garnishes for dishes and drinks.
- The pride of America, the rose officially became the national flower of the United States in 1986. It’s no wonder that some of the most important speeches and press conferences are broadcast from the Rose Garden at the White House. Some states like New York, Oklahoma, Georgia, Iowa and North Dakota have also defined the rose as their state flower.
- The Juliet rose, by the famous rose breeder David Austin, took 15 years and close to $5 million to perfect—and then sold in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show for around $1 million dollars. It is said to be the most expensive rose ever created or purchased.
- More than 50 percent of the land in Ecuador is covered in roses--no wonder they cultivate some of the finest and most beautiful roses in the world—and why we at Bouquet Box favor them for our arrangements.
- Courtney’s favorite tip about roses is “flexing” them for arrangements. By gently peeling back the first few layers of petals (not damaging to the rose nor does it shorten the bloom’s life span), the rose appears larger in size and adds fullness and beauty to a bouquet.
What’s your favorite rose color?