Every February, roses help lovers express their affection. But did you know that the ancient Greeks and Romans were dedicating roses to their goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus, centuries before Shakespeare’s symbolism, or that roughly 25 percent of all roses sold in the U.S. come from Ecuador? Here are 7 fun facts to give roses a little extra love this Valentine’s Day.
- The rose is the national flower of America.
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 1985 designating the rose as the national floral emblem. President Ronald Reagan signed the resolution into law the following year.
- Four states call the rose their state flower.
In addition to Washington D.C., the rose officially represents Georgia, Iowa, New York, and North Dakota.
- Ecuador sends 200 million rose stems to the U.S. for Valentine’s Day each year.
Not necessarily to say, “I love you,” but because South America is where most of our roses come from. 54% of Ecuador’s land is filled with roses, and across South America, the rose business employs more than a quarter million people.
- There is a rose with four petals.
There are nearly 400 species of roses and they all have five petals, except for one…Native to the Himalayas, Rosa Sericea is the only rose in the world with four petals.
- 12 roses for 12 months in a year.
The traditional significance of a dozen roses stems from the “completeness” of the number 12. Think about it: 12 months in a year, 12 hours on the clock, 12 signs in the zodiac. So when you give someone a dozen roses, you’re telling them that you love them completely, in all ways, all the time.
- Know your colors!
You know that a red rose symbolizes love, but do you know what other rose colors stand for? Here’s a cheat sheet:
Red = Love/Romance
Pink = Elegance
Purple = Enchantment
Yellow = Friendship
Orange = Passion/Desire
White = Honor
- Growing roses in NJ can be easy.
Many homeowners hear that roses are difficult to plant and high-maintenance to keep healthy. But, that doesn’t have to be the case. When you let High Tech Landscapes design and maintain your garden, you’ll have beautiful roses to enjoy all the time. Learn more about our residential landscaping services.
