Timeless, elegant, and beautiful; three words that we first think of when we hear the word rose. Sophie has many favourite flowers, but she confesses that she simply loves roses. To celebrate the launch of Sophie’s latest design, Rose, which was inspired by her own fabulous garden, we’re taking a look at 10 interesting facts about roses!
1. Roses are possibly one of the oldest flowers
There are rose fossils that date back 35 million years. The oldest living rose is 1,000 years old, and it lives on the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany!
2. All varieties of roses are edible
Not only do they look beautiful climbing up a trellis or over an arch, but they can also be used in the kitchen. Rose petals are often added to jellies and used as a flavouring in Chinese and Indian cuisine. Your favourite tea or cocktail might even be infused with rose hips, a berry shaped fruit grown from roses which are packed with Vitamin C.
3. The national flower for England is a rose
The Tudor Rose refers to England’s emblem of peace at the end of the War of the Roses, the civil war between the royal house of Lancashire, which wore a red rose, and the royal house of York, which wore a white rose.
4. Each rose colour has a different meaning
Choose the perfect rose for you occasion, we've listed each below and paired them with their symbolism:
- Red roses – love and passion
- White roses - innocence and spirituality
- Yellow roses – warmth, friendship, and joy
- Pink roses – gratitude, elegance, and sweetness
- Orange roses – pride, energy, and intense desire
- Blue roses – secret love, mystery, and uniqueness
- Lavender roses – love at first sight, wonder, and enchantment
- Black roses – end of a relationship, change, and courage
5. The tallest rose bush stands at 5.6 meters high
Records show that the tallest rose bush stands at 5.6 meters high, that’s 18.8 feet! This was achieved by Christopher Rose in the USA on the 8th of November 2017.
6. There are many different rose varieties
There are around 150 species of roses across the world, with thousands of hybrids too! Cherries, apples, peaches, plums, pears, apricots, and almonds are all relatives of the rose family.
7. David Austin developed the most expensive rose - the Juliet Rose
It took 15 years and cost £2.3 million. It was first displayed in 2006 at Chelsea Flower Show. This iconic rose has a distinctive full cup with beautiful petals, whilst its colour resembles an apricot.
8. Their scent comes from their microscopic glands
Rose petals have microscopic perfume glands on their lower petals and these are responsible for producing their beautiful scent.
9. 54% of the land in Ecuador is filled with Roses
Ecuador is one of the world’s largest suppliers of roses, with an astonishing 54% of the land filled with roses. There is natural light all year round providing the perfect climate for flowers to thrive with longer growing cycles.
10. Sophie's Rose collection makes a beautiful statement
Sophie’s Rose collection is perfect for bringing the outdoors in and features on kitchen and table linens. This design was inspired by Sophie’s fabulous rose garden, which blooms from May to October every year and fills her home with a soft, delicate fragrance. Sophie has painted beautiful crisp white roses against a duck egg background, allowing you to bring the outside in, all year around. A simple, classic, and quintessentially British design that is timeless.
There’s plenty of gift inspiration for flower enthusiasts, garden lovers and those who love adding a vintage touch to their homes alike.