The rose, being the most popular garden and cut plant, has over 20,000 cultivars in the Northern Hemisphere alone. This number originates from a conservative figure of only 150-200 species of wild roses. Fossil specimens found in both Colorado and Oregon show that roses have been growing for more than 30 million years to date. More fossil specimens were found in North Africa and are said to be at least 4,000 years old. Variant wise, only five of the massive figures above cut as the most popular: the Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Grandiflora, Climber, and Miniature roses. Hybrid Tea roses were first cultivated in 1867 by a French nurseryman named Jean-Baptiste Guillot. He achieved the first Hybrid Tea by budding an old Chinese garden tea rose and a European rose. While it is not as fragrant as the other variants, it is safe to say that this rose is the most popular of all because of its wide selection of colors and its long stem that makes it ideal as a cut blossom. The Floribundas can easily be distinguished from Hybrid Teas because of their dense clusters and big, simultaneous blossoms sitting on its truss. It was first cultivated in 1909, crossing a Polyantha and a Hybrid Tea. This variant is generally easier to maintain than its parents, making it ideal for parks and similar spaces. The Grandiflora was first cultivated in the mid 1900s, crossing a Hybrid Tea and a Floribunda. Its stem is slightly shorter than a hybrid tea’s and its blossom’s size is midway its parents’. The Queen Elizabeth, the first Grandiflora, is still considered as one of the best variants of this rose class. All Old and Modern roses have their “climbing” counterparts. The canes of the Climbers’ shrubs are naturally more flexible and much longer than its bush form. Its form on Old Garden roses can generally be attributed to the natural growth habit while in Modern Garden roses, it’s actually an end result of mutating continuously. Most Climbing roses grow anywhere between 8-20 feet in height and needs to be “trained” to grow upwards by tying to structures. Miniature roses, similar to Climbers, are simply smaller versions of Old Garden Roses. This class of roses are usually twiggy in form with repeat-ing shrubs that grow anywhere between 6 to 36 inches in height. Its color range is similar to the Hybrid Tea’s and is usually marketed as houseplants.

I asked ten women which among the three cut blossoms can make them feel special or giddy the most: roses, lilies, or tulips. Roses got four votes while lilies and tulips got three each. While most women today say that they want something different and unexpected, I was quite confused why they still chose roses when other choices were presented to them. Out of the hundreds and thousands of cut plants in existence, have you ever wondered what makes the roses so special and popular after all these years?The rose has many times appeared in both mythological stories and history. A white rose from the Garden of Eden blushed and turned into red when Eve saw and kissed it. The Goddess of Purity turned a fair Greek maiden named Rodanthe into a white rose at the temple of Artemis. Faced with her suitors’ passionate gazes, the maiden blushed and turned into red. A handful of stories from both the Greek and Roman myths also associate the God of Love, Eros, to roses where rearranging his name forms the word “rose”. Our ancestors were enthralled by these stories and soon found themselves dedicating the rose to their gods. A white rose clearly symbolizes the Blessed Mother Mary while the five-petalled red rose recalls the five wounds of Christ. During the Roman aristocracy, Nero requested that his floors be covered with layers and layers of rose petals when he is expecting guests. Shakesphere also seems to be fan as he narrates in Henry VI Part1: “opposing parties pick different colored roses at the Temple Church”. Roses have long been a symbol of heraldry as well reason why it is visible on coats of arms, coins, banners, seals, paintings, stamps, even on emblems of both England and some of the American states. Over time, the rose has acquired its reputation as a symbol of exemplar virtues, compassion, purity, and gallantry. What’s most remarkable though would be its association to women: buds were sought by butterflies (as men do); its beautiful blooms and aromatic essence that seems to give one a warrant to pluck; and as it wilts and browns, it fades and unfortunately forgotten thereafter. Between all these stages, roses and women both prick and inflict pain with their sharp thorns. Based on the definitions and pieces of history above, we can definitely tell that the rose will always be recognized and treasured as a source of delight to its receiver, whatever the meaning it has in tow nor whatever form it takes. This should be a good eye opener to everyone who’s handed a bloom, as there is so much more beyond its captivating beauty and aroma.