History of red roses

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The red rose is said to be 35 million years old. It was first introduced to Europe from China in the 1800s. Today it’s most closely associated with love and passion, but it has had quite a varied and rich history.

Ancient civilisations including the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans seemed to associate the rose with great importance – it has been found near Egyptian tombs and is repeatedly referenced in Greek mythology. The Romans apparently discovered the health benefits of the red rose, as well as ways to capture its fragrance for perfumes.

The red rose is also closely associated with the history of England. The name ‘War of the Roses’ comes from the time when York and Lancaster fought for control of England in the 15th century, because York was synonymous with the white rose and Lancaster with the red rose.

It’s not just England, though – red roses have appeared across many cultures as political and religious symbols throughout history. For instance, early Christians identified the five petals of the rose with the five wounds of Christ.

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Today there are over 150 species of roses (including hybrids), several of which are red. Their primary significance is love and romance, an association which can be traced back through many centuries. The colour red itself evolved from an early symbol for life (perhaps because of its association with blood?) into a metaphor for deep emotion. Many early cultures also used red roses to decorate their marriage ceremonies, giving it yet more connotations of relationships and fidelity.

As the tradition of giving flowers to mark special occasions developed, understandably the red rose became the flower of choice for Valentine’s Day and anniversaries. A bouquet is a lovely choice, but a single red rose usually conveys a more powerful message. Trust me – nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a single red rose! Even people who aren’t fond of flowers in general normally make exception for a red rose.

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When you think of a rose, what image comes to mind? Although roses come in a variety of colours, red is the most famous – as suggested by the poem ‘Roses Are Red’. The startling colour also arguably makes it the most beautiful of all the roses.

So if you’ve got a special anniversary coming up or just want to show a loved one how much you care, remember the red rose and you can’t go far wrong!

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