Facts about roses

Interesting Facts about Roses

• The rose is the favorite flower of 85% of Americans.

• In 1986, then President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making the rose the official National Flower of the United States.

• George Washington bred roses at his home.

• A fossilized rose, which was 35 million years old, was found in Florissant, Colorado.

• Over 900 acres of greenhouse roses are harvested in the United States every year. 60% of these are grown in California.

• Florists sell millions of roses each year in the United States. The two biggest days for sales are Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Christmas is the third highest day for rose sales.

• Columbus’ crew picked a rose branch out of the ocean on October 11, 1492. This signaled the presence of land. The very next day, Columbus discovered America.

• Rose hips contain more Vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable.

• Ancient Romans believed that white roses grew where the tears of Venus fell when she was mourning Adonis.

• Shakespeare referred to roses over fifty times in his works.

• Mythology says that roses grew thorns when Cupid accidentally shot an arrow into a rose garden.

• The oldest rose in the world has flourished for over 1,000 years on the wall of Hildeshiem Cathedral in Germany.

Now that you’ve read some fun fact on roses, it’s time to get to work and begin growing these beautiful flowers to bring color, life and birds into your yard. Use these tips to assure that your rose growing experience is a positive one. Enjoy the blooms that spring forth from your efforts.