Rose (Rosa indica): Queen of flowers — deeply fragrant and therapeutic, used in Ayurveda, cosmetics, and cuisine.
🔍 Quick Facts
| Common name | Rose |
| Other names | Gulab (Hindi); Roja (Tamil, Telugu); Shatapatri (Sanskrit) |
| Scientific name | Rosa indica |
| Plant family | Rosaceae |
| Size | 0.5–2 m shrub (climbers longer) |
| Native region | Asia, Europe |
| Climate | Temperate/Sub-tropical |
| Ease of growing | Moderate |
| Parts used | Petals, Hips, Oil |
About Rose
The fragrant pink desi gulab (Damask rose, Rosa × damascena and related types) is the rose of Indian tradition — used for gulkand, rose water and attar. Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh has distilled rose attar for centuries, and Pushkar in Rajasthan is famous for its rose fields. Modern hybrid tea roses have bigger blooms but much less scent. Ayurveda considers rose cooling and uses it for heat-related complaints.
Botanically known as Rosa indica, it belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is native to Asia, Europe and grows best in a temperate/sub-tropical climate. The parts most often used are the petals, hips and oil.
Uses in the Garden & Tradition
Rose is best known for:
- Skin care
- Gulkand (preserve)
- Rose water tonic
- Anxiety relief
- Vitamin C
How It Is Used
- Petals are layered with sugar to make gulkand, a cooling preserve.
- Rose water is used in sweets, face toners and eye pads.
- Dried petals are added to teas and sherbets.
How to Grow Rose
| ☀️ Sunlight | Full sun, 6+ hours. |
| 💧 Watering | Deep watering 2–3 times a week; avoid wetting leaves to prevent black spot. |
| 🪴 Soil | Rich, well-drained loam with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. |
| 🌱 Propagation | Cuttings for desi roses; budding or grafting for hybrids. |
| 📅 When to plant (India) | Plant October–November in the plains; prune hard in October for winter blooms. |
| 🏡 In pots / at home | Grows well in a 14–16 inch pot with regular feeding. |
Precautions & Safety
- Use only pesticide-free petals for food and skin.
- Commercial rose water may contain synthetic fragrance — check labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Further Reading on Rose
Written by the WhyOnPlanet editorial team · Last updated October 2026