Roses have been around for a very long time. Rose gardening is not so long. Fossil evidence shows rose to 35 million years old. Until about 5000 years ago roses grew wild. Cultivation probably began in China. The Romans were fond of roses. They cultivated them in the Middle East. In England in the fifteenth century, roses were symbols of two parties became involved in a war for control of England.
The symbol of York was a white rose, while the symbol of Lancaster was the red rose. Thus, the war became known as the "War of the Roses". The seventeenth century saw rosewater used for perfume and roses were in high demand. During the eighteenth century cultivated roses were introduced in Europe.
