Herbal Rose
The Wonders of Herbal Rose
Not your traditional modern rose, the herbal rose has a foundation in cooking, as well as perfumes and cosmetics. Certain parts of the herbal rose petals are used in salads as well as salad dressings, and also in conserves. With a rich and fragrant quality, they are the primary choice for herbal medicines, cooking, and fragrances around your home.
R. gallica Officinalis, the official latin name for the herbal rose, has long been used in the manufacture of creams, salves, jellies, candles, syrups, to name just a few. You may have come across one of its more common names throughout history, though: The Rose of Provins, Champagne Rose, or possibly even the Rose of Miletus. This wonderful herbal rose was cultivated between the 13th and 19th centuries and what sets it apart from other roses is that its aroma, or fragrance, is retained after drying. This yields a plethora of possibilities for its use over time.
The petals from this rose were commonly used in teas to aid in relief from sore throats, the common cold, and even hysteria (though the practicality of this has now been in doubt for a long time). There are other herbal roses that have developed strong affection from gardeners and connoisseurs for many years, but today, manufacturers are fond of this rose for is wonderful fragrances that are added to expensive perfumes.
The herbal rose grows best when it has access to full sun. If you plan on growing herbal roses, then make sure that wherever your garden is located that there are no buildings or trees that commonly block out sunlight, even for just a few hours a day. Many of these herbal roses will only bloom once a year, but most of the varieties will flower a great deal for one month.
The herbal rose does wonderfully when planted among well-decomposed compost and you should avoid the use of modern fast-release fertilizers as this will harm the plant and possibly even kill it. If you have older roses, they don’t require pruning or spraying, but younger ones could use this level of attention. If you want to prune these plants, then it’s best to do so immediately after the flowers have finished blooming. Pruning is a great way to shape the plant over time to your preference.
It’s best to apply mulch during the summer months as this will give the herbal rose plant the nourishment it needs to make it through the coming winter. As far as insects and disease are concerned, many herbal rose plants are durable and don’t require spraying; they recover quite well and rapidly to any attack.
Now, the best time to harvest the herbal rose petals is when the just open, preferably on sunny mornings once the dew has dried from the petals. Spread the flowers on a flyscreen away from direct sunlight. If you plan on harvesting the hips of the roses, do so when they are fully colored and dry these in the same manner that you do the flowers and you will have the lasting fragrance of these wonderful roses.
The herbal rose is a versatile, durable, and wonderful addition to any garden and due to their multiple uses, most gardeners prefer this plant to have a place in their garden all year long.
