- One of the main uses for roses is as ornamental plants. Small roses, such as the tea rose variety, grow indoors too. People in the Mediterranean and China were among the first to cultivate roses specifically for showy gardens. If you're thinking of adding roses to your landscape design, remember that these flowers require 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, wind shelter and good drainage. Don't plant roses too close to each other. Giving them 3 feet of space decreases the chance of diseases. Once established, you can trim your strand of rose bushes into various shapes or train them onto decorative lattice work.
- Companies grow roses for use in bouquets and other types of floral displays for special occasions, holidays and entertaining. The flowers benefit from an early morning harvest to maintain the strongest aroma. Afterward the roses move to a cool area, often refrigerated, to keep them fresh until it's time to sell.
- Rose oil comes from crushed, distilled rose petals. Rose oil extraction began in ancient Persia. French rose oil uses Rosa centifolia, while German and Iranian markets use Rosa damascena -- the spice rose. Making 1 gram of absolute rose oil requires approximately 2,000 flowers. The byproduct of rose perfume production is rose water, used in various culinary circles for aroma and a distinct flavor profile.
- Both rose petals and rose hips, the fruit of the rose, are edible. Rose hips have the benefit of being rich in vitamin C. Use them to make a sweet-tangy jam, jelly, tea or syrup. Harvest rose hips after the first frost for the greatest amount of flavor.
Rose petals work well in soup, salad, jams, jelly, candy and also for brewing rose wine.
Landscape and Garden Plants
Floral Displays
Perfumery
Edible Petals
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