The rose, a flower cherished globally for its beauty and fragrance, possesses a history that stretches back millions of years. Its journey from a wild blossom to a cultivated icon is a story intertwined with geology, ancient civilizations, and the dawn of global exchange. This narrative reveals how the flower captivated humanity and became a fixture in gardens and cultures across the world.
The Wild Genesis of Roses
The story of the rose begins in the deep past of the planet. Fossil evidence suggests the genus Rosa has existed for tens of millions of years. A discovery at Colorado’s Florissant Fossil Beds revealed a rose fossil dating back an estimated 40 million years, with other discoveries in Montana, Oregon, Germany, and Yugoslavia.
These findings point to a vast, prehistoric distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. Botanists believe the earliest roses originated in Central Asia during the Eocene epoch, 60 to 70 million years ago. From there, they spread naturally across North America, Europe, and North Africa. These primordial roses were simpler than their modern descendants, typically featuring a single layer of five petals.
Ancient Hearths of Rose Cultivation
Humanity’s relationship with the rose transitioned to intentional cultivation approximately 5,000 years ago, with efforts emerging in several regions. Ancient China was one of the first civilizations to systematically grow roses. The philosopher Confucius wrote around 500 B.C. about extensive rose cultivation within the Imperial Gardens. During the Han Dynasty, this practice became so widespread that the emperor ordered some gardens plowed over for agriculture.
In ancient Persia, highly fragrant roses were cultivated extensively. This area is considered a cradle for many European garden roses, as the Persians mastered creating rose water and attar of roses, products that required a large supply of petals. From Persia, cultivated roses made their way to the Mediterranean.
The ancient Greeks and Romans also embraced rose cultivation. Alexander the Great is credited with introducing cultivated roses to Greece from his conquests in Persia. The Romans established vast nurseries to supply their immense demand for blooms, developing methods for forcing roses to bloom in winter. They also imported shiploads of cut roses from Egypt, where a warmer climate ensured a year-round supply.
Symbolism and Use in Early Cultures
In these ancient societies, roses were grown for more than their ornamental appeal. They were deeply embedded in culture, serving as symbols and practical resources. In China, the flower was associated with beauty and purity. For the Persians, the rose was a symbol of love.
The Greeks and Romans used roses prolifically in daily life and ceremony. They were fashioned into garlands for celebrations, and petals were scattered as confetti. Roman women prepared poultices from rose petals, believing they could erase wrinkles. The expression sub rosa, meaning “under the rose,” originates from the Roman practice of hanging a rose from a meeting room ceiling to signify that discussions were confidential.
The practical applications of the rose were also varied. Both the Greeks and Romans used roses for medicinal purposes and to create perfumes. The Romans were known to flavor their wine with rose petals, and the flower’s products demonstrated its economic importance.
Global Journeys and Early Rose Development
The initial spread of cultivated roses followed the paths of empires and armies. As the Roman Empire expanded, its legions and administrators carried different rose varieties throughout Europe and North Africa, establishing them in new territories.
Following the decline of Rome, the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries became another conduit for the rose’s journey. Knights returning to Europe from the Middle East brought back new specimens, like the Damask rose. This influx of new genetic material sparked renewed interest in the flower across Europe.
A transformative chapter in rose development began with the establishment of trade routes to the Far East. In the 18th century, cultivated varieties of Rosa chinensis, the China rose, were introduced to Europe. These roses possessed a remarkable trait previously unknown to European growers: the ability to bloom repeatedly throughout the season. This characteristic revolutionized rose breeding, as hybridizers began crossing hardy, once-blooming European roses with the repeat-flowering Chinese varieties, setting the foundation for the vast diversity of modern roses.