Here’s a little know fact about yours truly: I was actually a history major in college. (That’s right, no need for any Agricultural Science for this rose guy.) In the course of earning my degree, I had more than one class focused on Medieval Europe. You can only imagine my excitement at the prospect of writing a rose story so steeped in history. Not to mention, I’m sure my parents are truly pleased to know I’m finally putting my degree to work!
The middle to late 1400s were a tumultuous time in the history of England. During the previous century, England fought the Hundred Years’ War with France, faced mass casualties due to the Black Death (bubonic plague), and generally struggled to put together the social and economic foundations necessary for a strong nation. These factors led to a great dissociation of power and allowed feudal lords to gain significant strength economically and militarily. Rival factions, with claims to the throne of England, began to vie for total control. What came to be known as The War of the Roses was a series of battles that pitted two branches of the Plantagenet royal family against each other: The House of York and The House of Lancaster. The war lasted for 30 years and ultimately resulted in the consolidation of power by Henry Tudor (Henry VII) by uniting the rival houses through marriage.


While a civil war at its core, historians later began using the name The War of the Roses after the heraldic emblems of the two houses. The white rose represented the House of York while the red rose symbolized the House of Lancaster. While the emblems are largely symbolic, the roses behind them are real. The actual identities of the roses does spur some lively debate.



The White Rose of York is generally considered by scholars to be Alba Semi-plena. It is know as the oldest of the Alba roses that emerged in northern Europe and the United Kingdom and was derived from crosses between Rosa canina with Gallica and Damask roses. Alba roses are known for their arching sprawling habit, beautiful layered flowers of soft pink and pure white, and interesting green gray foliage that almost looks blue. The earliest “known” discovery date that I have found for Alba Semi-plena is 1623 but it is very likely that the variety was present in England in the 15th century. One of my favorite customers, and a noted history buff, is adamant that the true identity has to be Rosa canina itself. The flower of Rosa canina is a single (5 petaled) flower and in theory would be even older than Alba Semi-plena.



The identity of Red Rose of Lancaster is a little less controversial and is most likely to actually be a pink rose. The general scholarly accepted identity of the rose is none other than Rosa gallica officinalis (The Apothecary Rose). Tales of this rose weave in and out of the early history of Europe. Some believe that this variety may be as old as three thousand years. Gallica roses have their origins in the Mediterranean cultures of the Greeks and Romans before moving throughout Europe. The roses are medium sized shrubs with an upright habit and dense foliage. The flowers are know for their deep rich colors in shades of deep pink, maroon and purple.
I enjoy the notion that roses have held such a prestigious position in human history. In a way, it is not surprising. Humans first began cultivating roses thousands of years ago. However, that is a mere flicker in time compared to fossil evidence that suggests roses have existed naturally for over 35 million years. Maybe it is more correct to suggest that humans have held a prestigious position in rose history.
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