Rose is universally known as “Queen of Flowers” belonging to the family Rosaceae. Traditionally, roses (Rosa × hybrida) have been considered to be one of the most valued flowers of the world because of their high ornamental value. The importance of beautiful flowers has grown over the years with the emergence of a global cut flower market. It represents a major product for floriculture market as well as oil industry. The nuances of the language are now mostly forgotten, but roses still imply passionate, romantic, affection, virtue and chastity, friendship or devotion, etc.
All roses symbolize love, but different colours have different shades of meaning. Roses are probably the most popular and loved flowers in the whole botanical Empire. They are soft looking and mysterious, revealing themselves in tens of layers of rose petals. The rose flower, especially the pink rose flower, was painted in the cavemen’s caves in the Stone Age. The rose flower was loved and evoked by numerous artists, writers and singers. Shakespeare mentioned it no less than 80 times in his entire life work and Oscar Wilde revived the Persian red rose flower legend in its short story: The Happy Prince.
When gardeners and flower lovers select from the many roses available, they may not be aware that each rose is imbued with a different meaning. If more people were aware of this, they would surely select a different type of roses - one that revealed their true feelings. Rose flowers come in a wide variety of colours.
White roses are magical flowers and are perfect for marriages, perfect for Mother’s Day and the right choice for paying respects. Orange roses primarily signify passionate romance, burning desire and enthusiasm. The peach rose is a symbol of sincerity, gratitude, friendship and appreciation. Peach roses are used to send out messages such as “closing the deal”, “Thank you” or “Let’s get together”. Blue roses are said to convey a message of eternal youth and of wish fulfillment.
From light red, to cardinal or deep red, these red flowers are a metaphor of love, passion and romance. Being used in wedding ceremonies to symbolize an eternal bond, this red flower conveys a message of “first love” (rose bud) or “I’m still in love with you” (open rose). Red and white striped roses or white Roses with red edges express unity and togetherness. The purple rose, a majestic and royal symbol, signifies enchantment and love at first sight or maternal/paternal love.
In addition, literature also suggested that number of roses express different meanings. As per literature, one Rose number symbolizes love at the first sight; you are the one, 02 rose numbers for mutual love between both, deeply in love with one another, 03 for ‘I love you’, 06 symbolizes ‘I want to be yours’, etc. Just as the different colours of roses have different meanings, so does the arrangement of roses.
The roses have several meanings, known for Love, beauty, passion. The number, type, size, and position of roses can alter their meaning. A single red rose means, "I love you". A thorn less red rose symbolizes love at first site. A bouquet of red roses symbolizes both love and gratitude. This is why bouquets of a dozen roses are often exchanged on Valentine's Day, instead of a single red rose. Two roses with their stems twined together symbolize engagement. A bouquet of white roses symbolizes innocence, purity, and virginity, which is why they are popular with brides as wedding bouquets. White roses surrounded by red roses represent unity. Such rose arrangements are also popular choices by brides for wedding bouquets. A crown of roses represents virtue, nobility, and reward.
The ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi is pioneer in scientific research on floricultural crops spearheaded by luminaries like Dr. B P Pal who laid a foundation for scientific breeding of flower crops in late 50’s and early 60’s. In recent times, number of varieties was evolved from the division for commercial production of flowers. Recently developed garden rose varieties of different colours by Division of Floriculture & Landscaping, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, (Pusa) New Delhi are given hereunder.
1. Pusa Shatabdi:
The variety produces very attractive light pink coloured flowers. The petals (numbering 35-40) are fleshy and are pink in colour. Each plant produces 20-30 flowers in winter and 35-40 flowers in spring season. This variety is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew and Leaf spot diseases. The blooms are mildly fragrant and are suitable for cut flower and exhibition purposes.
2. Pusa Ajay:
Foliage is pigmented and glossy. It has dark pink coloured flowers. The petals (numbering 35-40) are fleshy and are dark pink in colour. Recurrent blooming, each plant produces 15-20 flowers in winter and 35-40 flowers in spring season. This variety is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew and black spot diseases. The blooms are mildly fragrant and are suitable for cut flower and exhibition purpose.
3. Pusa Mohit:
Variety is thorn less and has red petals with lighter shade on the reverse side of petals, tolerant to black spot. Each plant produces 20 flowers in winter and 45 flowers in spring season.
4. Pusa Arun:
It is a variety of Hybrid tea category, produces medium to tall bushes often reaching a height of about one meter with broad and moderately glossy leaves. The shinning foliage contains higher pigmentation in early stages. The flower buds are pointed and are dark red in colour which opens to dazzling dark red, large sized, double blooms on strong and long shoots. This variety is tolerant to red scale, which is one of the major insect pests attacking roses in open cultivation. It takes 45-50 days to bloom after pruning in second fortnight of October. It produces 20-30 flowers during winter and 35-40 flowers during spring season. The blooms remain fresh for 8-10 days on the plant as well as in the vase when harvested at bud stage.
5. Pusa Komal:
It is a highly floriferous bushy variety, which belongs to floribunda group. The short to medium stature bushes are completely thornless. The variety possesses strong stems with multiple flower buds arranged in different heights, which open in a sequential manner. The variety produces as many as 60 flowers, which are mostly borne in clusters. The pink coloured buds are pointed in shape and unfurl in to double flowers. The variety produces very attractive pink coloured flowers, which last almost 6-7 days in vase.
6. Pusa Mahak:
It is a Hybrid Tea variety of rose. The plants are tall and vigorous with a height of 100 - 120 cm. The Flowers are dark pinkish in colour and have outstanding fragrance which can be offered as a single stem at valentine day to say ”I love you” to someone. The flowering starts in 40-45 days after pruning. Flowers are large and semi-double with 22-23 petals. It is a recurrent flowering and floriferous variety and each plant produces on an average 50-60 flowering shoots in a season. The variety is ideal for garden display and the fragrant flowers can be used for floral arrangements.
Author details
Dr. S.S. Sindhu, Dr. M K Singh and Dr. Namita
Division of Floriculture and Landscaping
ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
Email: sssindhuiari@gmail.com
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