| Evidence suggests that the red rose is nearly 35 | | | | them, displaying them and growing them. French |
| million years old. The most commonly available | | | | Empress Josephine, particularly after her divorce |
| roses belong to two broad categories: the Oriental | | | | with Emperor Napoleon, took to roses and |
| species and their hybrids, and the European or | | | | dedicated a large space and resources to the |
| Mediterranean species and their hybrids. It is | | | | cultivation and hybridization of roses. The palace |
| possible to grow a red rose anywhere in the | | | | of Malmaison became home to rose gardens with |
| world, if the species to which it belongs is selected | | | | old and new species. Among these, the red rose |
| according to climatic conditions. | | | | received plenty of attention. |
| Not surprisingly, therefore, ancient civilizations such | | | | The red rose also has an interesting place in the |
| as those of the Egyptians, the Greeks and the | | | | history of England. Opposing factions in York and |
| Romans seemed to have given the red rose a | | | | Lancaster fought for control over England in the |
| place of pride. Rose fossils have been found near | | | | 15th century. York was synonymous with the |
| ancient Egyptian tombs. Greek mythology is | | | | white rose and Lancaster with the red rose. In |
| replete with references to the red rose being | | | | fact, the friction between these warring factions |
| sacred to Bacchus, the Greek god of wine, and | | | | led to the coining of the term 'War of the Roses'. |
| Venus, the Greek goddess of love. Cupid, of | | | | Lancaster emerged victorious, but this victory did |
| course, is inextricably linked to the red rose. | | | | not spell defeat for York. Tudor Henry VII and his |
| The Romans seem to have been rather | | | | bride from York facilitated the symbolic union of |
| preoccupied with the red rose. Their | | | | red rose and the white rose, and gave England |
| preoccupation was not just the result of their | | | | 'the Rose of England'. |
| appreciation for its beauty and fragrance. They | | | | Whether it's red roses in England, or in any other |
| had discovered the medicinal properties of the red | | | | part of the world, botanists credit China with the |
| rose, and also found ways of capturing its | | | | 'ever-blooming' variety. In the late 18th century, |
| fragrance in perfumes. In fact, there is evidence | | | | botanists succeeded in bringing these to Europe, |
| which suggests that they experimented with | | | | and then the rest of the world. Today, including |
| cultivation techniques and found ways to make | | | | hybrids, there are over 150 species of roses. |
| red roses blossom beyond their natural | | | | Several of these are red. There are different |
| peripheries. | | | | shades of red roses available today, and they are |
| The beauty of the red rose has always driven | | | | of different sizes. |
| rose lovers to find ways and means of collecting | | | | |