What is the difference between roses and Chinese roses, and what do they symbolize?
Roses and Chinese roses are two kinds of flowers with great ornamental value. Both belong to the genus Rosa in the family Rosaceae, and at first glance they look quite similar, so many people cannot tell them apart. What are the differences between roses and Chinese roses? What does each symbolize?
1. Differences between roses and Chinese roses
To tell roses and Chinese roses apart, you have to start with the morphological characteristics of the flowers themselves.
1. Leaves
Many people say the difference between the two can be seen from the leaves.
Rose leaves are 2-5 cm long, wrinkled and sunken, without gloss, and have white fuzz on the underside. They are generally oval, oblong-oval or obovate, with an acute or rounded tip and blunt serrations along the edges. They form pinnately compound leaves made up of 7-9 leaflets.
Chinese rose leaves are 2.5-6 cm long, flat and smooth on the surface, not wrinkled, and have no fuzz on either side. They are broadly ovate or oblong, with a pointed tip and serrated edges. They form pinnately compound leaves made up of 3-5 leaflets.
2. Flowers
When a rose blooms, its petals mostly open on one plane, the flower is relatively delicate and small, and the flower stalk is short.
When a Chinese rose opens, its petals do not lie on one plane, the flower is larger than a rose, and the flower stalk is long.
3. Stems
The stems of roses have poor upright growth, and the thorns on them grow rather densely. The thorns are slender and fairly hard.
Chinese roses also have thorns, which are sparsely distributed on the flower stems, with 3-4 per node. The thorns on Chinese rose stems are large and flat.
4. Fruit
Rose fruit is oblate.
Chinese rose fruit is spherical.
2. Symbolism of roses and Chinese roses
1. The symbolism of roses is generally related to love, and roses of different colors have different meanings.
Red roses represent passionate love and intensity, and people generally give red roses to their lovers;
Pink roses are as green and awkward as first love, symbolizing first love. Giving someone pink roses means you are my first love, and I hope we will love each other until old age;
White roses are pure and flawless in color, symbolizing innocence, and can also express pure love. Giving them to elders represents respect for them;
Giving yellow roses to friends expresses cherishing this friendship, while giving them to a lover means breaking up;
Green symbolizes vitality and energy, and giving someone green roses means wishing them eternal youth;
Blue roses represent kindness and romance. Giving them to a friend praises his kindness, and giving them to a loved one expresses cherishing the relationship;
Purple roses symbolize preciousness and uniqueness, and giving them to someone represents the preciousness and uniqueness of the relationship;
Champagne roses, in love, symbolize being devoted to you for a lifetime.
2. Chinese roses are generally associated with happiness and fulfillment. They also come in many colors, and people have given them different cultural meanings as well.
White Chinese roses represent respect, nobility and purity. They can be given between husband and wife, or to elders.
Red Chinese roses represent love and courage. They are suitable for people deeply in love to give to each other.
Yellow Chinese roses symbolize apology, I am sorry. They are generally given to a friend or lover after an argument.
The flower language of purple is cherishing and nobility. They can be given to elders, or to the person you love most.
Roses and Chinese roses are both beautiful flowers. They can be planted at home for viewing, or made into bouquets to give to others.