Damask rose
Rosa x damascena

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The stems are robust with prickles that curve back. The leaves are alternate and have short stalks. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. The leaves are 7-15 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. There are 5-9 leaflets. These are oval and 2-7 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The leaves have scattered prickles underneath. The flowers occur in groups of 3-8. They are usually red.

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in lime soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Cyprus, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Rotuma, SE Asia, Serbia, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The petals are used to produce rose water for flavouring drinks, candies, ice cream and baked goods. Dried young flowers are used as rosebuds for flavouring sausages etc. The young shoots while still red are eaten raw or steamed as a side dish with rice. The leaves are used as seasoning.

Edible parts

Leaves, spice, flowers, petals, seeds

How it is grown

It is easy to grow by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bussorah, Fasli gulab, Hninsi, Mai-si, Shatapatri

Synonyms

Rosa damascena Miller var. trigintipetala (Dieck) Koehne; Rosa gallica L. var. damascena Voss;