Do roses and Chinese roses differ?
This article introduces the differences between roses and Chinese roses, as well as the cultivation methods of roses in the field of green plants and flowers. Let's dive into a comprehensive introduction.
Many flower enthusiasts cannot distinguish between roses and Chinese roses because the roses sold on the street look exactly like the Chinese roses we grow, but vendors insist on calling them roses! This confuses us, making us wonder if roses and Chinese roses are the same. Of course not, roses are roses, and Chinese roses are Chinese roses. Although they both belong to the Rosaceae family, there are still differences. Today, I will talk about the differences between roses and Chinese roses.
The number of thorns differs
Roses have many more thorns on their branches than Chinese roses, with dense hard thorns covering the branches, which can easily hurt your hands when picking them. That's why there's the saying, "Beautiful but difficult to pick thorny roses." Some flower enthusiasts may say that Chinese roses also have thorns, and some varieties even have many thorns! Indeed, some Chinese roses do have a lot of thorns, but even then, they don't have as many as roses! Moreover, the thorns on Chinese roses are usually large and spaced apart. Rose thorns come in both large and small, making them impossible to handle! Therefore, roses are not suitable for bouquets to be given as gifts, as they come with hand-fulls of thorns! Even with modern de-thorning machines, rose thorns are too dense and varied in size to be completely removed.
The leaves differ
Both roses and Chinese roses belong to the Rosaceae family and have similar leaves, but there are still some differences. Chinese rose leaves usually have 5-7 small leaflets, which are smooth, flat, and glossy. Rose leaves have 5-9 small leaflets, which are more than those of Chinese roses, look somewhat wrinkled, have a dull color, and have a textured feel when touched. The leaf color of Chinese roses is generally darker, while the leaf color of roses is lighter, yellow-green, not dark green.
The blooming time after cutting differs
Most Chinese rose flowers can bloom for 5 to 7 days after being cut for propagation, making them very suitable for cutting. Even if not propagated, the cut Chinese roses can maintain their flower shape for more than ten hours without strong sunlight exposure and wind. Roses are not as good; after cutting, the flowers quickly wilt, and the flower shape becomes a mess. Even if placed in water immediately after cutting, it's hard to maintain their original beauty. Due to the roses' tendency to wilt quickly, they are also not suitable for gifts, as they may be wilted by the time they are given away.
Do roses and Chinese roses differ?
Are the "roses" sold in flower shops actually Chinese roses or roses?
The "roses" sold in flower shops are actually all Chinese roses. Why is that? As previously mentioned, roses have many thorns and wilt easily after cutting, making them unsuitable for gifts or flower arrangements. Chinese roses, on the other hand, have bright colors, few thorns, and can bloom for a long time after cutting, making them perfect for bouquets. Why call Chinese roses roses? Because roses represent love, and different numbers and colors of roses represent friendship, auspiciousness, beauty, and wishes. Calling Chinese roses roses can attract more people to buy them, giving them a better meaning! So, the roses we buy in everyday life are not actually roses, but Chinese roses! For example, the well-known varieties such as Carol, Peach Blossom Snow Mountain, Red Bride, and Blue Demon are all Chinese rose varieties.
So, what do real roses look like? The most representative ones are the edible roses in Yunnan, used for making fresh flower cakes and rose sugar. There are also the Kansui roses in Gansu, used for brewing tea. The roses in Pingyin, Shandong, are also used for making floral tea. It's not difficult to find that most roses are edible rather than ornamental. Actually, roses can also be ornamental, but their ornamental value is really not as good as that of Chinese roses.
The above is a detailed introduction to the differences between roses and Chinese roses and the cultivation methods of roses. Did you get it?