“Damascus” roses belong to the class of old garden varieties of the crop and constitute a whole group of diverse varieties, which includes both old Persian-Turkish representatives and modern European hybrids. They have been cultivated since ancient times, have a rich history and are included in the UNESCO list of intangible heritage.
Damask roses are famous for their amazingly beautiful lush flowers, wide palette of colors and extraordinary fragrant aroma
Damask roses are among the most fragrant. Since ancient times, they were grown primarily to obtain valuable rose oil, famous for its healing and perfume properties. Based on it, rose water was prepared, which was very popular for many centuries. There is an opinion that it is precisely thanks to the high content of essential oils of exceptional quality that these roses have not disappeared to this day and continue to be popular in many countries of the world, primarily in the Middle East.
Kazanlak is considered one of the most fragrant Damask varieties. It is grown commercially as an essential oil crop in Bulgaria, as well as Turkey, Iran, India and Morocco, where rose oil is produced from the petals.
Description
Russian breeder Yulia Gonchar gave the world many varieties of geranium.
The plant attracts with its rich color
Unlike other varieties, representatives of the YUG group have a compact size and beautiful flowering.
A brief history of the appearance of flowers of the YUG group
India has long been considered the birthplace of pelargoniums, but only recently have scientists been able to establish the exact origin of the plant. It originally appeared in South America.
Active selection began in 1951 in England. Amateurs and experienced flower growers grew new varieties, achieving improved flower characteristics.
Yulia Gonchar (YUG) was no exception. She wanted to get compact geraniums that would have large inflorescences. Over time, the breeder's work was successful, and she created many new plants.
For example, pelargonium SOUTH Aksinya has double inflorescences of a delicate red color with a barely noticeable white center. The small size of the specimens allows them to be kept in apartments and tiny rooms. The dwarf size does not make pelargonium unattractive; on the contrary, at such a height the plants’ inflorescences look impressive.
Varieties
The YUG group currently includes many varieties. They have different colors, and this allows collectors to show interest in new species. The shades of some varieties of pelargonium change during flowering. For example, like YUG Varvara-Kras’s pelargonium.
Geranium variety with double-colored petals
- SOUTH Shukar - rich burgundy color of the petals, size about 50 cm, requires the formation of a crown.
- SOUTH Jadwiga pelargonium - flowers are soft pink, do not require pruning, green leaves. Average height 40 cm.
- SOUTH Sakura - the name comes from the plant of the same name. The center of the flower is crimson, the rest is light pink. The leaves are serrated.
- Pelargonium Varvara-Krasa is a dwarf size, height does not exceed 30 cm. Double flowers are similar in shape to peonies. Color white-pink. Blooms for a long time.
- SOUTH Zlatoslava - Bright pink inflorescences. The leaves are green with a slight tint of gold.
- SOUTH Claudia - snow-white, double flowers, plant size is dwarf, crown formation is not required.
- SOUTH Princess Grace is an original variety. The white petals are edged with a dark pink border.
- Pelargonium SOUTH Ireland - flowers are white, sometimes greenish in the middle and outside of the petals. Does not require the formation of a bush.
- SOUTH Yesenia - pink flowers with reddish veins, the edges of the petals are pinkish-white.
- SOUTH Nina - golden foliage. The flowers are densely double, pale lilac-pink. The bush forms independently.
Pelargonium SOUTH Shukar needs the right conditions. The abundance of flowering and the lifespan of the flower depend on this.
Important! If you deviate from the recommendations, the geranium may stop blooming.
Factors required to grow a flower:
- Illumination is diffused light; during the flowering period, the duration of daylight is at least 8 hours.
- Temperature – in the warm season – 23 °C, in the winter – 15 °C.
- Watering – during the flowering period, the plant is watered once a week, as stagnation of moisture leads to the development of gray rot. In winter, the amount of watering is reduced to once every 10 days. The humidity level is maintained at 60%. SOUTH Segal pelargonium and others do not need spraying.
- Fertilizing – during flowering, add a universal remedy for flowering plants once a week. The soil should be loose and nutritious.
- The size of the pot is 1 cm larger than the earthen ball.
- Pruning - dwarf varieties do not need to form stems; taller specimens can be pinched out in the spring. Transplantation is carried out once a year.
Origin
The ornamental garden plant Rosa Damascena has been grown in the Middle East since ancient times. There is also information about its cultivation in the Roman Empire - frescoes with images of the flower have survived to this day. Then the Arab countries became the main place of distribution. According to official data, the plant was reintroduced to Europe in 1875 from Syria. Disputes about the real homeland of this beautiful flower continue to this day.
Damask roses are harvested at the full bloom stage; their petals are a valuable raw material for the production of rose oil.
Previously it was assumed that the flower is a hybrid of Rosa gallica and Rosa canina. Later, DNA analysis of four ancient Damascus varieties showed that they had a common ancestor of hybrid origin, the parent species of which were: (Rosa moschata × Rosa gallica) × Rosa fedschenkoana.
At the moment, there are many varieties of Damask beauty. The most popular varieties: “Kazanlak” (aka Bulgarian or Turkish rose), “Leda”, “Ispahan”, “Marie Hardy”, “Marie Louise”, “Yolanda de Aragon”, “Perpetual White Moss”, “York and Lancaster” ", "Duc de Cambridge", "Quattro Season" and others.
The photo shows a Damask rose of the Duke de Cambridge variety, which is characterized by long flowering and hardiness.
Features of periods of development
The plant has two periods of time in the year - dormancy and active growth. They must be changed periodically, otherwise the geranium will not live long.
Periods
Growth time is in spring and summer. Around mid-April, pelargonium awakens from hibernation and begins to grow. At this time, bud formation and flowering occur.
This is interesting! Some varieties of geraniums bloom for a very long time (even in winter), for example, YUG Kamalia pelargonium.
In spring, geraniums form buds
Preparation for dormancy begins around September. During this period, the plant is not replanted, fed or rearranged. It is advisable to reduce the temperature, the amount of watering and the length of daylight hours.
Geraniums awaken gradually. To do this, they are gradually returned to their usual conditions of detention, imitating the change of seasons in nature.
Types of flowers
The varieties differ not only in size and color. Pelargonium SOUTH Deya, for example, has double petals - this makes the flowers voluminous, lush, and beautiful. They are called terry.
Varieties may have different flower shapes. For example, in tulip pelargonium they resemble tulips. This also applies to rosebud species. Deacons look especially beautiful. This geranium has flowers collected in a small bouquet.
Interesting Facts
- To obtain 1 g of rose oil, you need to process about 2000 rose flowers.
- One rose bush produces 15 - 20 kilograms of flowers per season, from which about 7.5 liters of high quality rose water can be produced
- In roses, the gene responsible for the aroma is recessive. This means that crossing two varieties with an intense aroma will result in a hybrid with less fragrant flowers.
- In the “History of the Augustans” - a collection of biographies of Roman emperors (a historiographical monument of the 4th century), there is a story about Emperor Heliogabalus from the Severan dynasty, who ruled the Roman Empire from 218 to 222. One day, wanting to get rid of his enemies, he invited them to a feast. The arriving “guests” were sprinkled with so many rose petals that they suffocated.
- When the Arabs captured Jerusalem in 1187, the Egyptian Sultan Saladin turned all the Christian churches in the city, except the Temple of the Resurrection, into mosques, ordering them to be cleaned beforehand - washed with rose water brought from Damascus. The Turkish Sultan Mehmed II Fatih did the same in 1453 with the main Byzantine temple of Hagia Sophia when he captured Constantinople. (In 1935 this temple became a museum).
- Damask rose essential oil has long been used in the creation of perfumes, but its smell is different from the aroma of natural flowers. Rose oil is heavier, thicker and more concentrated. Experts describe it as luxurious, intoxicating, with fruity and woody notes, sometimes with hints of tobacco. In the finished perfume, the aroma of rose oil appears in a diluted form, acquiring new colors.
- Interestingly, rose oil can enhance and emphasize the sound of other flowers in the “pyramid” of a perfume composition, for example, iris, hyacinth, hawthorn and gardenia.
- Damask rose essential oil is successfully used in aromatherapy. Abu Ali Ibn Sina (980 – 1035), a medieval Persian scientist, philosopher and physician from Bukhara, known in Europe as Avicenna, wrote about the healing properties of rose water, prepared from rose petals and pure water under the influence of sunlight. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Russian scientist N.A. Kuntzel advised using the scent of roses in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system.
- Psychiatrists have long used a test called the “rose test”: a drop of rose oil is applied to the patient’s wrist, and then, after 30 minutes, they check how much its aroma has changed. If a strong sourness appeared in it, it means that the person is suffering from hysteria. For overly romantic individuals, the rose became candied. When the aroma became tart, with notes of tea, this indicated the subject’s strong character and healthy psyche.
- With the participation of specialists from Bulgaria, attempts are being made to grow oil roses in Afghanistan as a cost-effective alternative to opium poppy.
Reproduction methods
The easiest way to propagate pelargonium is by cuttings. To do this, just cut the stalk, put it in water or plant it in the ground. It takes 2-3 weeks for the roots to germinate, after which the plant needs to be cared for as usual.
Important! During flowering, branches cannot be cut, as the wound will negatively affect the health of the flower.
Additionally, you can use stimulants for the development of the root system, for example, “Kornevin”. It is better to do this in the spring, when the geranium is gaining strength.
Another breeding option is using seeds, which are sold in specialized stores. They are planted in March in shallow containers. The first shoots appear at 3-4 weeks, picking is carried out at 6 weeks after sowing. This method of growing is difficult for indoor conditions.
Rose scent
The main aroma of ROSE oil is smoky, low, bluesy, honey, tart.
- Shades of tonality (complex aroma that has an additional tone - the tone of heat): upper - melted beeswax; medium - tart, floral; heat tone - dry, smoky; the bottom one is transparent, light, caramel.
- The aroma of luxury that hovers around the aristocracy and bohemia. Enriches emotions, gives them complex, subtle accents.
- An antidote to feelings of resentment, because it takes everything external beyond the circle of personal consciousness. Helps ardent people to calmly resist the irony and causticism of others, without perceiving it as a provocation. Eliminates inferiority complex.
- Develops the talent to laugh at oneself easily and cheerfully. Eliminates symptoms of fatigue, relieves reactions to stress, and increases performance. Stimulates creative and intellectual growth, eliminates the constraint of the imagination.
- Facilitates the process of going to bed and waking up, harmonizes biological rhythms. Creates a cozy and joyful atmosphere in the house, neutralizing the effects of the most disgusting weather outside the windows.
Rose essential oil is one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs with legendary status. It is considered ideal for modest and insecure partners; it enhances trepidation and sensuality.
Rose essential oil goes well with the aromas of spruce, bergamot, bitter orange, ginger, lavender, palmarosa, vetiver, jasmine, clove, lemon balm, cinnamon, cedar, ylang-ylang, black pepper, patchouli, myrrh, nutmeg, myrtle.
Diseases and pests
When the soil is over-moistened, gray rot appears, which is easy to visually detect by characteristic spots. The affected parts are removed and the plant is treated with a fungicide.
When the air is dry, rust appears on the leaves of pelargonium. Treatment is the same as for gray rot. The disease can be identified by a characteristic brown coating on the leaves.
When there is a lack of air humidity, the plant is affected by spider mites. Its presence is determined by the characteristic web on geraniums. To kill the pest, the entire plant is sprayed with an insecticide.
Aphids are also easy to see visually. It attaches to the outside of the leaf and stems. Insects are carefully cleaned with a cotton swab, and the geranium is washed with soapy water and treated with an insecticide.
The description of a variety does not always give a complete picture of the characteristics of a particular pelargonium. Carefully study the care recommendations, this will help preserve the plant for many years.
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