Red roses an enduring symbol of love and longing

Q. I’m wondering whether you have a favourite red rose. I would also like to know why red roses have become the most popular choice among flowers for expressing affection.

Article content

A. At the moment I have just one red rose in the garden, a climbing rose called Don Juan, which I grow at a corner of a vegetable plot, in the style of old monastery gardens, as a “pillar” rose. Not all climbing roses bloom well grown in such an upright style, but Don Juan is one of them.

It’s an intrepid rose, easy to care for and a continuous bloomer as waves of flowers follow each other through the summer and early autumn. The roses are beautifully formed, and very fragrant.

The association of red roses with love and respect goes back to ancient myths and lore. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is said to have created the red rose when, rushing to the aid of her lover, she is wounded by the thorns of a rose bush. Her immortal blood stained the roses forever. Red is linked with blood, and the heart.

Article content

The red rose has also been associated with love’s pain, and longing at separation, as in the Robert Burns poem “My luve is Like a Red, Red Rose.”

“And fare thee well, my only Luve!
And fare thee well awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.”

Q. Are you familiar with a plant called “peace lily”?

A. Peace lily is a common name for Spathiphyllum, a lovely house plant with glossy, bright green leaves that flare out gracefully from the plant’s centre — a characteristic giving it another common name: Sail plant.

Spathiphyllum is named for the leaf-like spathe (a large bract) that encloses the spike-like flower. “Peace lily” is for the white spathe (commonly thought of as the flower) resembling white flags of peace.

Recommended from Editorial