The rose is, according to fossil evidence, 35 million years old. In nature, the genus Rosa has some 150
species spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska to Mexico and including northern
Africa. Garden cultivation of roses began some 5,000 years ago, probably in China. During the Roman
period, roses were grown extensively in the Middle East. They were used as confetti at celebrations,
for medicinal purposes, and as a source of perfume. Roman nobility established large public rose
gardens in the south of Rome. ~ University of Illinois Extension
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