What is a Rose? Exploring its history, and the meanings of its colors and numbers

The rose is a classic floral gift. It is one of the most popular flowers among the many available.
It's such a popular flower that we florists encounter it daily. It's active in weddings and celebratory floral gifts, as well as in gardens and funerals.
This article will focus on the language of flowers for roses, and introduce their history and recommended floral gifts.
Please use it as a reference for your gift choices.

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What kind of flower is a rose?

The rose is also known as the "Queen of Flowers." True to its name, it is an attractive flower with a voluminous appearance and delicate petals layered over each other.
Roses can be divided into three types: large, tree-like roses; climbing roses that trail their vines and bloom; and charming miniature roses.
The roses sold at florists are generally standard (ST) roses, which are large, single-stemmed roses, or spray roses, which have multiple blooms on one stem.
Recently, many attractive new varieties have emerged, such as delicate-stemmed garden roses, with many varieties available that look stunning even on their own.
&YOUKAEN also sells many stylish rose floral gifts! Please take a look!

What is the language of flowers for roses?

The language of flowers for roses in general is "love" and "beauty." These flower meanings are perfect for any gift!
Roses have long been a symbol of love and beauty, and have a history of being given as gifts to loved ones.
The rose is also a unique flower that has different meanings depending on the number of stems, color, and even its parts or combinations.

■ Does the language of flowers for roses differ by the number of stems?

As mentioned above, a characteristic of roses is that their flower meanings differ depending on the number of stems.
Since romantic flower meanings are generally attached to them, they might be good as gifts for your loved one.
It would be wonderful to present roses with your feelings entrusted in their flower meanings for proposals, birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. Please give it a try.

■ Does the language of flowers for roses differ by color?

The language of flowers for roses also changes depending on the color.
In recent years, rose breeding has advanced, and various colored roses have become available, so there are many flower meanings.
It's also wonderful to choose the color of the rose according to the situation and present it with your feelings entrusted in its flower meaning.

■ Do roses also have flower meanings for each part?

Roses also have flower meanings for their leaves, thorns, and buds. This is something not found in other flowers.
It's quite niche, but bringing it up as a bit of trivia might amuse people.
Of course, it would also be wonderful to give them as a gift, entrusting your feelings to the flower's meaning!

■ Do roses also have flower meanings based on their condition and combinations?

Roses also have flower meanings based on their condition and combinations. For example, the meaning of a fully bloomed rose, a withered rose, or
the meaning of combining yellow and red roses. The charm of roses lies in having meanings even for slightly unusual conditions.
While you might not have many opportunities to use these specific meanings, it could be impressive to know them for a special occasion!

What is the history of roses?

Roses have been cherished plants since ancient times. Their roots are actually not well understood, but it is believed they originated deep in the Himalayas.
Wild roses emerged approximately 3000 years ago and subsequently spread across the Northern Hemisphere. They are plants with a very long history.
Thereafter, roses began to take on cultural significance due to their beauty, becoming deeply ingrained in human society.
Here, we will introduce the history of roses. Since they are deeply connected to human history, understanding the history of roses allows you to understand human history, which is the charm of roses.

■ About ancient roses

Roses appear in various legends, but historically, they also appear in artifacts over 1,000 years BC, such as the wall paintings (blue bird mural) of the Palace of Knossos in Crete and Babylonian epics. Cleopatra, one of the three most beautiful women in the world, is recorded to have enjoyed the scent of roses by spreading their petals on the floor and putting them in her bath, making lavish use of them.

Furthermore, rose cultivation is believed to have begun around 500 BC, and Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, recorded that they were 'cultivated in palace gardens', which is considered the oldest cultivation record in history. At that time, they were treated as special only within the imperial court, but it is believed that general rose cultivation became widespread during the Ancient Roman Empire.
(Reference: Public Interest Incorporated Association Japan Agricultural and Food Industry Technology Development Association (JATAFF) "History of Roses")
(Reference: Meiko Flower Bridge Co., Ltd. "World History of Roses")

■ The Evolution of Roses

When the Roman Empire collapsed, roses temporarily declined, but they were re-imported from the East, and the Crusaders spread roses throughout Europe. Subsequently, roses began to be used as motifs in art, which became prominent during the Italian Renaissance.

A major turning point was Josephine, Napoleon's empress. She created a rose garden at the Château de Malmaison, cultivating and preserving 250 species of roses gathered from around the world. There, a horticulturist named André Dupont became the first in the world to perform artificial hybridization and breed new roses one after another. This was a revolution in rose history and formed the basis for the diverse roses we have today.

After that, breeding progressed further, and with the birth of the 'La France' variety in 1867, roses before this point became known as "Old Roses" and those after as "Modern Roses."
(Reference: Public Interest Incorporated Association Japan Agricultural and Food Industry Technology Development Association (JATAFF) "History of Roses")

■ Were roses also used as medicine?

Roses have been used as medicine since ancient times. In ancient India, the scent of roses was used in perfumes and for ritual purification (odor removal). In ancient China, roses were called 'Maikaika' and were prized as a herbal medicine to regulate stomach function.

In Europe, roses also have a deep medicinal history, with many rose-derived medicines found in pharmacies in the 19th century. Rose petals, in particular, have astringent properties (tightening effect), so they were well-known as a stomach medicine and diarrhea remedy. There are also records of 'rose vinegar,' made by pickling rose petals in vinegar, being used as a headache remedy or stimulant. Rose hips are rich in vitamin C and have been used since ancient times for nutritional supplementation and disease prevention.
(Reference: Public Interest Incorporated Association Japan Agricultural and Food Industry Technology Development Association (JATAFF) "History of Roses")
(Reference: Kanpo Senmon Yakkyoku Unryudo "Maikaika (Maika Flower)")

■ The amazing progress in rose breeding! In recent years, "blue roses" have also appeared!?

Rose breeding continued to advance into the 19th century, and in 1867, a large, repeat-flowering rose called "La France" was created and highly praised.
This rose was the first of the hybrid tea (HT) roses, which are now common. You can think of it as the original rose that is now widely seen.
In recent years, varieties known as English roses have been creating a new sensation in the rose industry and are widely available.
Many people are still working on rose breeding in search of even more wonderful roses, so we might see even more amazing varieties in the future.
Since the year 2000, blue roses, which were previously thought impossible, have been created through biotechnology. They are now distributed in flower shops and sold at premium prices.
(Reference: Public Interest Incorporated Association Japan Agricultural and Food Industry Technology Development Association (JATAFF) "History of Roses")
(Reference: Suntory Global Innovation Center "Blue Roses")

Recommended floral gifts for presenting roses

I'm sure you now understand that roses are plants with very beautiful flower meanings.
But how should you actually present roses when giving them as a gift?
Here, we introduce recommended floral gifts when you want to present roses.
These products can be purchased at any flower shop or online store, so please use them as a reference.

■ A "bouquet" of only roses

For a loved one's birthday present or an important day for two people, such as a wedding anniversary, a bouquet made only of roses is recommended.
The definite volume and gorgeous impression are sure to please the recipient.
Since it's a special day, it would be lovely to decorate the dining table with it and enjoy a meal. I'm sure it will be an unforgettable day.
When purchasing a bouquet, it's essential to always check if there's a vase! If not, it's a good idea to buy a vase along with it!

■ "Flower arrangement" to enjoy with seasonal flowers

A flower arrangement that allows you to enjoy not only roses but also seasonal flowers is also recommended.
The charm lies in being able to experience the season by combining roses with various other flowers: sweet peas and ranunculus in spring, sunflowers in summer, dahlias in autumn, and conifers in winter.
Unlike bouquets, arrangements don't require a vase, and you can simply place them down as they are, which is another attractive point.
If you present it with a message card to express your daily gratitude, your feelings will be conveyed even more effectively!

■ Undying flowers: "Preserved flowers"

"Preserved flowers," which are created by applying special processing to make flowers last indefinitely, are one of the most popular floral gifts in recent years.
Among them, preserved roses are particularly well-made. From pointed mini-roses to stylish cup-shaped roses, many varieties are now available as preserved flowers.
Many are arranged as box flowers, so you can display them in small spaces.
They can be enjoyed for about six months to a year. Please be sure to display them in a place out of direct sunlight.

Summary

The flower language of roses is "love" and "beauty." However, it also changes in various ways depending on the color and number of roses. It's a good idea to consider your relationship with the person you want to give roses to. It's also recommended to give them to your lover, wife, or husband. Recently, there are many varieties of roses, so you are sure to find your favorite flower. Autumn, in particular, is the peak season, so many varieties are available, and the flowers are large and beautiful! Please do give roses to your loved ones.

◆Revision History
December 11, 2025: Corrected some years. Added references and source information.