Rose doesn't need much introduction - with her flowers and sweet scent, Rose's beauty is truly timeless. The remains of the first discovered rose dates back to 40 million years ago, and in China, she's been a garden favourite for at least 5,000 years. Ever the romantic, Rose symbolises love, sensuality, and beauty - she's a famed aphrodisiac. Her petals are used to make perfumes, oils, and delicious treats (she's pretty popular in Turkish cuisine), and her light antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties make her a popular choice in skincare.
If you're keeping Rose in a pot, apply a protective layer of mulch in the winter (jute, tree bark, or fresh soil are good materials) by piling it up till it covers most of her. If you don't have the materials for this, use an upside down cardboard box or bucket (weighed down with pegs or stones if necessary) to keep her warm.
If possible, keeping her in a shed, garage, or conservatory will work too.
If you're transplanting her into a garden bed, she'll be more hardy and won't need any covering.
When re-planting her into one of our outdoor pots or a garden bed, she likes you to put some clay in her soil, along with multi-purpose compost.
Snip off her pretty blooms to give to a loved one, or dry out her petals to make fragrant pot pourri, infuse oils, or even adorn baked goods.