Taming Wild Roses
The symbolism of a rose representing love has carried across the ages.
From ancient to modern times, roses have held a heightened position in the psyche of humans.
One of the most ancient garden flowers, the earliest evidence of rose cultivation dates back more than 5,000 years. Images and symbols of roses have been captured in relics throughout the ancient lands of China, Persia and Egypt. Rose petals have been discovered in ancient tombs and roses depicted in paintings on tomb walls as early as the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.
Nowadays, the bloom of the rose is one of the most globally recognised flowers.
A potent historical symbol
Roses have come to symbolise love – not just as a modern concept, but enshrined throughout history, including their symbolism in ancient Greek mythology. It has been told that Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, gave the rose its name in honour of her son Eros, the god of love, hence the rearrangement of his name to make ‘rose’. The ancient legend is that Aphrodite grew them from her tears.
The symbolism of a rose representing love has carried across the ages and roses remain a symbol of shared love and affection or a legacy for love lost.
Roses were adored and used widely in ancient times for perfume and medicinal purposes. Rose petals were used as confetti for celebrations and soldiers of victorious armies were welcomed by showers of rose petals on their return home.
Newly married couples were often crowned in roses and, when added to wine, it was thought that the rose petals may delay drunkenness.
In ancient Egypt, it has been said that Cleopatra would fill her living quarters with roses, creating an intoxicating atmosphere and ensuring that visitors would remember her as the goddess who smelled of roses.
The use of the rose as a fragrant flowering plant is a feature of many ancient Islamic gardens, also known as Persian or Paradise gardens. Paradise gardens are oases in the desert and heavily feature roses through planting and motifs.
Paradise gardens are renowned for their ability to capture the senses as a worldly representation of the Garden of Eden. In early times, this garden style spread throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East to India and Spain.
A wild family tree
Thee roses gardeners grow today are the result of cultivation, selection and hybridisation of the more than 150 ‘wild’ rose species that are found across the northern hemisphere. Rose breeding is a busy and expansive enterprise that continues today.
Early Rosa hybrids originate from Asia and Asia minor but have long been traded via the Silk Road and other ancient trade routes across Middle Asia and into Europe. Whilst the Europeans were importing roses for their gardens from early times, the vast majority of early rose breeding occurred in the Mediterranean and the Far East, with little evidence of European breeding prior to 1400. Continental European breeding came later.
This historical trade and development of rose breeds led to two loose geographical groupings of roses – Oriental roses (including China and Tea roses) and European and Mediterranean roses (including Gallicas, Damasks, Centifolias and Mosses). This second group has been the basis of much modern rose breeding.
Modernity and the ancient - an abundance of choice
In Europe, modern rose breeding began slowly through the period 1400–1700, then took off with velocity from the 18th century. Breeding was further accelerated under the influence of French Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, who had a great affection for the flower and collected more than 250 varieties throughout her lifetime. A significant rose collection was grown at their country house Chateau de Malmaison and varieties such as ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ are still in cultivation.
Old world roses such as Damask, Rugosa and China varieties still carry the essence of their ancient origins.
Rugosa roses are native to China, Japan, Korea and Siberia where they grow in coastal conditions but many varieties are excellent performers in Australian gardens thanks to careful selection and cultivation.
Damask roses (Rosa damascena) originate in the Middle East. These highly scented varieties are valued for their high oil content and used in the production of ‘Attar of Rose’ – a base for perfume, rose water and rose oil. Rosewater and rose oil were of such value in the 17th century that both were traded as currency. Damask roses possibly travelled back to Europe with the Crusaders from central Asia or via ancient trade routes.
To think that this common flower belies such an intriguing and ancient past!