What Are a Roses Unique Features?

Often referred to as "Queen of the Garden," the rose is a perennial plant of the genus Rosa. There are more than 15,000 different species and hybrids cultivated around the world. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation honoring the rose as the official flower of the United States.

The scent of a rose is distinctive and unique. No other flower has that same smell. Rose oil is one of the most widely used scent ingredients in the perfume industry. The scent of roses is used in soaps, shampoos, perfumes, body lotions, bath gels and air fresheners.

Roses bloom early and have a long blooming season. Flowering starts in late March and continues through September. When the flowers wither and fade, a small, round globe forms at the bloom's base. The rose hip, as it's called, matures into a marble- or plum-shaped sphere that ripens to a deep orange, red, purple or black. The rose hip's color depends on the type of rose. The berry-like hip is the rose plant's fruit. Rose hips have a delicate, sweet, apple-like flavor. Harvest the hips after the first frost. Frost brings out the deep, vibrant color and full flavor.

Symbolic of love and beauty, roses are given as gifts of affection and attraction. The Society of American Florists reports that in 2010 more than 198-million roses were cultivated for Valentine's Day gift giving in the United States. Roses are durable, long-lasting and highly fragrant. Roses are available in white, pink, red, orange, yellow. Some varieties are variegated, presenting several colors in a single flower. The different types of roses include tree roses, miniature roses, climbers, shrub and landscape, floribunda, grandiflora and hybrid. Hybrid and floribunda are the two types grown primarily for the floral industry. Rose petals are also edible and provide a tasteful and colorful addition to salads.

The different types of roses include tree roses, miniature roses, climbers, shrub and landscape, floribuna, grandiflora and hybrid. Hybrid and floribuna are the two types grown primarily for the floral industry.

Rose petals are also edible and provide a tasteful and colorful addition to salads.

For centuries, wild rose hips were used as a food staple around the world. High in fiber and nutritionally rich, rose hips are a good source of vitamin C. Eat rose hips fresh, preserved or dried. Rose hips are used to prepare jellies, jams, marmalade, syrup, tea, soup and wine. Rose hips are available for purchase online, from local health food shops or gather your own. Select certified organic cultivated rose hips or gather them in the wild. Select rose bushes for harvest that have not been sprayed with pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers.

Rose hips are available for purchase online, from local health food shops or gather your own. Select certified organic cultivated rose hips or gather them in the wild. Select rose bushes to harvest that have not been sprayed with pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers.

Roses love sunshine and require at least six hours per day to attain their full potential. Roses survive in partial shade but are more susceptible to mold, mildew and fungus when deprived of adequate sunlight. Roses grow best in nutrient rich, well-drained soil. Roses are adaptable to most soils and grow in United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 2 through 11.