Rose

Rose (Rosa; Ukrainian: rozha, roza, troianda). A perennial shrub or vine plant of the family Rosaceae, with a prickly stem and fragrant flowers of many colors. Almost universally distributed and widely cultivated, roses are valuable flowers in decorative horticulture. Attar of rose (esp R. damascena) is used in perfume production. Herbal tea and preserves are made from the hips and petals of the sweetbrier (R. eglanteria), the prairie rose (R. setigera), and R. rugosa. Rose hips contain vitamin C and they were widely used in folk medicine. Roses play an important role in Ukrainian folk songs and poetry as symbols of love and beauty. Many roses are maintained in the Nikita Botanical Garden and the Odesa Botanical Garden as well as in the National Botanical Garden in Kyiv. Among the various Ukrainian hybrid roses are the Ukrainka, Kateryna, Nikita Pink, Vesnianka, Natalka, Red Ukraina, and Marusia.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]