Roses, originally native to North China, Japan, and Korea, are one of the world’s most famous ornamental plants. Fresh flowers can be steamed to produce aromatic oils, petals can be used to make pie fillings, rose wine, and rose syrup, while dried flowers can be used to make tea. The plants themselves can be used as hedges, and they hold significant economic value.
So, where in China are the highest-quality roses grown? The best rose-growing regions in China include Pingyin, Liaozhong, Kushi, Miaofeng Mountain, Yutian desert, Huangdian, Hotan, Tongxu, Huixian double rose, and Weinan.
Let me introduce you to the top ten rose-producing regions in China for a better understanding of each area’s unique cultivation conditions.
Pingyin Rose, a specialty of Pingyin County, Jinan City, Shandong Province, is renowned for its large, thick petals, brilliant color, and rich aroma. The “Dictionary of Chinese Famous Scenery” refers to Pingyin County as the “hometown of roses.”
Here, the Yudai River valley is surrounded by mountains, creating a narrow, mild climate, which gives rise to the fragrant Pingyin Rose. The Pingyin Rose is not only beautiful to look at but its dried buds can also be used in medicine. The root bark can be used as a brown dye for silk, and the flowers can be used to make wine, sugar, sauce, and tea. They can also be used to extract rose essential oil.
The Mo Red Rose is an edible, double-petal red rose variety originally from France and later grown in China. It requires specific natural conditions for growth, such as climate, altitude, and light, which are predominantly found in Yunnan. The unique natural conditions in Yunnan contribute to the high quality of Mo Red Rose, especially those grown in high-altitude areas, which have a higher anthocyanin content.
Each flower has a rich fragrance and a velvety texture, the result of time brewing a unique and rich aroma. The anthocyanin content is 4-6 times that of ordinary roses. In addition to the Mo Red Rose, Yunnan also produces the Golden Edge Rose and the native “Dian Red” Rose, making it one of the famous rose-producing regions in China.
The Kushi Rose, a specialty of Yongdeng County, Gansu Province, is a natural hybrid of the dull-toothed rose and traditional Chinese roses, and a rare plateau selenium-rich rose variety in the world. The Kushi Rose is a medicinal and edible variety, a typical representative of the oriental fragrance type.
The buds are tight, the stamens have petalized, and it is a typical double-petal red rose. The flower receptacles are small and pot-shaped. The petals are fleshy, tender, and deep pink. The fragrance is unique and strong, with a silky texture. The taste is sweet and slightly astringent. The dried buds are full, and the calyx is yellow-green.
The buds are purple-red and fragrant. It is characterized by vigorous growth, bright flower color, strong fragrance, high yield, and oil output, and strong resistance.
The Yutian Desert Rose is grown in Yutian County, Hotan Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The soil in the production area is deep and fertile, with vegetation consisting mostly of arid desert shrubs and weeds.
The water source comes from the snow water of the Kunlun Mountains, which is suitable for rose cultivation. The Yutian Desert Rose is characterized by its elliptical buds, which are pink-purple. The flowers are either solitary or clustered at the top of the annual branches, with 4-5 layers of petals.
The fruit is hidden in the calyx, is long and oval, initially green, and turns orange-red when ripe. It contains many small, thin fruits, and the calyx is persistent. After brewing, the soup is yellow-green, the petals naturally bloom, and it has a strong fragrance. The taste is mellow, the mouthfeel is sweet and not greasy, and the aftertaste is long-lasting.
Weinan Roses are a specialty product of Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. As compiled by the shopping network, the main variety of Weinan roses is the Damascus rose, with its rich color palette of pink, red, and white, and a multitude of blossoms. The primary direction for processing these roses is for perfumery and beauty products.
Additionally, the scent of the Damascus rose, considered international, stands out as more stable and prominent than Pingyin roses and Bitter Water roses. It is not pungent or choking, but instead elegant and full-bodied. Weinan is also recognized as the origin of the Damascus rose, making it quite famous.
Miaofeng Mountain Roses are a specialty of Miaofeng Mountain Town in the Mentougou District of Beijing. Due to their growth primarily above 700 meters in altitude, they are also known as high-mountain roses. The types include chicken claw branches, small chrysanthemums, large chrysanthemums, multiple thorns, broom-shaped, single petals, and no flowers.
Apart from viewing, Miaofeng Mountain roses can be used to extract essential oils, smoke tea, brew wine, use in medicine, eat, and make sauces. The mature fruits can also be eaten. The rose dew wine made from it is crystal clear and fragrant.
Miaofeng Mountain roses can also be made into rose sauce, rose cakes, fried roses, and other edible products. Additionally, the rose and Scutellaria tea, which is made from rose flowers and Scutellaria, has the effect of clearing the liver, relieving stagnation, reducing fire, and beautifying the skin.
Also known as Dingtao Roses, Huangdian Roses are a specialty of Dingtao County, Heze City, Shandong Province. The rose buds are tight, with large, thick, and vividly dark-red petals. The Huangdian rose growing area has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, with cold winters, hot summers, cool autumns, and dry springs.
The sunlight is plentiful, and the soil is formed by the repeated flooding and sedimentation of the Yellow River, which is lime-rich alluvial soil. The terrain is flat, with deep soil layers, neutral or slightly alkaline, fertile, rich in organic matter, and rich in trace elements such as zinc, iron, boron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and molybdenum, which are beneficial to the growth of rose roots. Therefore, the roses produced here are of high quality and are recognized by many.
Tongxu Roses are a specialty product of Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. They appear as small, red-purple blossoms that are full, intact, uniformly sized, with dense and thick petals, and have a strong rose and honey scent. Where is the best rose tea?
According to reports, after Tongxu roses are brewed, the petals bloom in water, the color lightens, the scent is sweet, the soup color is light purple, clear, the taste is fragrant, slightly sweet.
In addition, the total ash content, extract, essential amino acids, and other quality indicators are all excellent, and under the same moisture conditions, the content of anthocyanins in roses is relatively high, which is recognized and praised by many.
Huixian Double Petal Roses are a specialty of Huixian City, Xinxiang City, Henan Province. The main production areas are in the villages of Daliuman Village, Hongzhou Township, Meng Village, Bobi Town, Mengzhuang Village, Mengzhuang Town, Donggeng Village, Zhaogu Township, and other places.
It is understood that the characteristics of Huixian double petal roses are irregular in cluster form, with fine hairs on the residual flower stems, the sepals are lanceolate, brown-green, covered with fine soft hair, the petals are pleated, after flattening, they are broad-ovate, arranged like roof tiles, purplish-red, the stamens are yellow-brown, the pistil tops are capitate at the mouth of the hypanthium, protruding, shorter than the stamens, the body is light, brittle, the aroma is rich, and the taste is slightly bitter.
Liaozhong Roses are a specialty of Liaozhong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. Where are the best roses produced? From my understanding, Liaozhong District has a long history of rose cultivation and a wide variety of species.
Due to Liaozhong’s flat terrain and fertile soil, especially the unique microclimate formed by the Liao River, with abundant sunlight and humid air, it has created natural conditions conducive to the growth of roses.
The Liaozhong roses produced here are characterized by vibrant colors, beautiful shapes, and rich aromas. Among them, Liaozhong Red Roses are deep peach-red, a typical Chinese red, and belong to high-yielding, less thorny varieties that are easy to process, and are highly appreciated by consumers.
Peggie was once a high school mathematics teacher, but she set aside her chalkboard and textbooks to follow her lifelong passion for flowers. After years of dedication and learning, she not only established a thriving flower shop but also founded this blog, “Flowers Library”. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about flowers, feel free to contact Peggie.
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