Origins of the Modern Rose
According to current fossil evidence, the rose is roughly 35 million years old. Rose cultivation likely started in China around 500 years ago. In fact, most rose species are native to Asia, and the roses that we have come to recognize are an ancestor of the China Rose. They were prized for their ability to bloom consistently every month, and their vibrant red color, and became very popular once they got to Europe. Many modern rose species can be traced back to these origins. Afterwards, the rose became so popular amongst royalty that it was treated as a form of currency. The Romans were obsessed with them for their medicinal and perfume properties.
Rosa Chinensis — Wikipedia
The first hybrid tea rose, which is the type of rose that most people think of when they think of roses, was first created in France in the mid 1800’s. It is a cross between a tea rose and a hybrid perpetual rose. They are the largest and most popular class of roses, combining the hardiness of the hybrid perpetual, and the appealing center spiral of the tea rose. Rosa ‘La France’ is credited as the first hybrid tea rose, a beautiful pink and elegant flower. Hybrid tea roses were not very popular until the Rosa 'Soleil d'Or', a year 1900 rose which introduced a larger variety of colors into the mix, like yellow, hues of orange, lavender, grey, and brown. Unfortunately, due to its ancestry, this new variety of rose is susceptible to disease and poor scent quality.
There are now many different species of hybrid tea roses in a huge range of colors, and are still extremely popular in gardens and bouquets.
Life Cycle
The rose plant will typically take 3-4 years for it to reach full maturity, with the fullest blossoms. If the rose is being grown from a fresh seed, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to half a year for them to properly germinate. The seed will only germinate in colder conditions, timing itself with the coldness of the winter to grow in time for the spring and summer. Under optimal conditions, it will take anywhere from 6 months to a year after it is large enough to transplant from a small pot to the garden for it to bloom. Much of this depends on the species of rose, there are over 300 species of the genus Rosa, and thousands of varieties. Most rose species will last a few decades with proper care. The longest surviving rose in Germany is estimated to be around 1000 years old.