China Rose

The China rose has an interesting background. Learn more about this Far East beauty!

Into the history books….

The scientific name for these flowers are rosa chinensis. They had been bred and grown in Southeast Asian gardens for centuries and used for medicinal purposes as well.

European traders first brought the flower to Western Civilization in the late 18th century. French breeders took up this plant and immediately bred varieties of the red and pink colored species that had been brought over. The exotic origin of these plants made them very popular. From there, they made there way to the United States and the rest of the Western world.

Beauty

There are many varieties of these plants. The color schemes go from red, pink to white. The wild versions are exclusively red or pink. Some cross-bred versions can have yellow or orange blooms. They are not normally "show" roses, but are still very popular in gardens. They have a nice continuous bloom. They often look very bushlike and in fact is classified as a shrub. It can reach up to 7 feet tall. They normally don't have a strong fragrance but cross-bred varieties may. This plant is known for its red hips. Chinese herbal medicine often uses the hips and petals in herbal remedies.

Gardening

The China rose, even when healthy, can end up looking a little scraggy or thin, especially for the cross-bred types. This is normal. They can be grown in pots or containers. However, they seem to do best as borders. Keep in mind that this flower is not very cold-hardy, so take steps to winterize it.