CROATIAN FLORA – ROSES, Christ Jubilee

The Christ Jubilee rose variety is a tea rose whose petals are delicately pinkish-yellow, with intense red dots. Due to its special flowers, the Christ Jubilee is a favorite garden rose, and can be found in many nurseries. The creator of this variety is also Josip Rogin. Roses belong to the genus Rosa. The genus Rosa – depending on the author – includes 100 to 250 wild species of roses distributed mostly in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. More than 30 species of the genus Rosa grow wild in Croatia. Among the most common species in Croatia are the pomegranate (Punica granatum), the dog rose (Rosa canina), field rose (R. arvensis), rugosa rose (R. rugosa), Gallic rose (R. gallica), sweetbriar rose (R. rubiginosa), mountain rose (R. pendulina) and the evergreen rose (R. sempervirens). Roses are best known as ornamental plants in gardens and parks and as cut flowers. However, except in horticulture, the application of roses can be very diverse. For instance, the fresh fruit of the Rosa canina species, which is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C, is processed into jams and dried into teas or tea blends. The petals of some wild or cultivated roses can be used for food or as an addition to dishes. The essential oil obtained from rose petals is an important raw material in the perfume and cosmetics industry. Fragrant oils are most often commercially extracted from the Rosa damascena and the Rosa centifolia varieties. The entire rose hip fruit is used for medicinal purposes, as well as the shells and seeds, mostly of the wild rose and mountain rose varieties. In aromatherapy, the scent of roses is used for therapeutic purposes due to its relaxing effect.