A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 known species. They form a group of plants that can be either erect thorny shrubs or climbing creepers. Their stems are often armed with sharp prickles. The name rose comes from the Latin rosa.

Flowers vary in size, shape and color. They are usually large and showy, in colors ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa.

Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.

Roses are ornamental plants grown for their lovely colorful and fragrant flowers in the garden and indoors. They are used in commercial perfumery and commercial cut flower crops.

Some varieties are used as landscape plants, for hedging and for other utilitarian purposes such slope stabilization. They also have minor medicinal uses.

The majority of ornamental roses are hybrids that were bred for their flowers. A few species of roses are grown for attractive or scented foliage, ornamental thorns or for their showy fruits.
Ornamental roses have been cultivated for millennia, with the earliest known cultivation known to date from at least 500 BC.

Rose perfumes are made from rose oil. It is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam distilling the crushed petals of roses. Rose water, an associated product is used in cooking, cosmetics, medicine and in religious practices.

The rose oil production technique originated in Persia and then spread to Arabia and India and more recently into eastern Europe.

The oil is transparent pale yellow or yellow-gray in color. ‘Rose Absolute’ is solvent-extracted with hexane and produces a darker oil, dark yellow to orange in color.

Three to six kilograms of rose flowers are required to produce one gram of rose oil. In other words about two thousand rose flowers are required to produce one gram of the precious rose oil.

Rose hips are high in their vitamin c content. They are occasionally made into jam, jelly or marmalade or brewed as tea. They are also pressed and filtered to make rose hip syrup. Rose hips are also used to produce Rose hip seed oil.

Rose petals or flower buds are sometimes used to flavor ordinary tea. In France Rose syrup made from an extract of rose petals is liberally used. Rose flowers are used as food and to add their flavor and color to the food. Candied rose petals is also widely used.

Rose Cream or rose flavored fondant covered in chocolate and topped with a crystallized rose petals is a traditional English confectionery. It is widely available from numerous producers in the UK.

R. canina rose hip is used as a minor source of Vitamin C. The fruits of many species have significant levels of vitamins and have been used as a food supplement.

Many roses have been used in herbal and folk medicines. Rosa chinensis has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine. This and other species have been used for stomach problems, and are being investigated for controlling cancer growth.

Roses are a favored subject in art and appear in portraits, illustrations, on stamps, as ornaments or as architectural elements.