Damask Rose = Perfection

by Team Shipka March 9, 2022

Of all the roses in the world the Damascus is the queen. An “Old Rose” deciduous shrub, brought from Persia to Europe in the mid-1200s, it grows some 7 ft. tall and is renowned for its fine fragrance. Over the centuries, the Damascus rose (Rosa damascena) has been considered a symbol of beauty and love. Its fragrance, captured and preserved in the form of rose water by an ancient method, can be traced back to biblical times.

Damask roses are divided into 1) Summer Damasks (R. × damascena nothovar. damascena) - having a short flowering season, only in the summer, and 2) Autumn Damasks (R. × damascena nothovar. Semperflorens) - having a longer flowering season with some repeat (Huxley 1992).

There is a myriad of ways the Damascus rose is used today; beauty products, therapeutic products and culinary products to name a few. Join us as we explore the past, present and future of the Damask rose in our blog.

Photo by Anushka Rathi on Unsplash

Huxley, A. (1992) The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, London.