Provence rose, Cabbage rose
Rosa centifolia

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaves are greyish-green. They are compound and have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are usually pink and have many petals. The rose hips are round and fleshy with small seeds.

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

Where it is found

It is a temperate and subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Caucasus, Central America, China, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Europe, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Iraq, Italy, Kurdistan, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Myanmar, North America, Palestine, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, Turkey, Türkiye, West Indies

How it is used for food

The flowers are used to scent tea, wine, vinegar and honey. The buds can be pickled in white vinegar and sugar or ground up with sugar to make a conserve. The petals are preserved in syrup. They are also placed under the crust of cherry pies before baking. The flowers are boiled to make juice.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Burgundy rose, Centifolia, Hnin-si, Pale rose, Stolistna vrtnica, Vonjaca, Ward jouri

Synonyms

Rosa centifolia var. mucosa (Aiton) Ser.; Rosa gallica var. centifolia (L.) Regel;