When we think about edible flowers, roses seldom come to mind, however, this is about to change.
Serbian rose breeder, Pheno Geno, has developed a couple roses specifically for the flavour of their blooms. This new rose series, called Flavorettes, has really created quite a stir in the culinary world. Europeans, even in ancient times, have appreciated and used roses in their cuisine, both for their unique flavours and nutritional values.
Proven Winners have introduced Flavorettes to North America, not only as a garden rose but as edibles as well.
There are two varieties: Flavorette Honey Apricot and F. Pear’d.
As the name would suggest, Honey Apricot has fully double apricot-coloured blooms tinged with pink. It has a light fragrance of ripe apricots. It is an attractive garden rose, but more time is needed to assess its overall performance. Its flavour, however, is one of ripe apricots and honey. Its petals can be used in salads and baking and for menus that need a culinary lift. They also make a delightful garnish on any plate, especially for outdoor summer dining.
Flavorette Pear’d is a semi-double white with a pink tinge. It, too, is an attractive garden rose, which we will learn more about over time. Its edible petals have a unique flavour of ripe pears. It is ideal for salads and flavouring rose water, but it has so much potential and many more possibilities.
In the past few years, roses have become far more important in our landscapes, taking on a range of roles from ground covers, like the Flower Carpet series, to low hedging plants as in the Knock Out varieties.
Today’s shrub roses, which are far hardier, have greater disease resistance and bloom continuously from May into October, are replacing many of our established flowering shrubs. At the Essen I.P.M. show in Germany last January, there was even a new rose developed specifically for pollinators and birds.
After the extreme cold last January, many of our traditional roses were frozen out. Every winter we all must remember to protect the bud unions of our roses with some mulch, but it’s nice to know many of these newer roses are much hardier in our gardens.
Flavorettes are rated hardy to zone 4, making them two zones hardier than the Lower Mainland.
If you have a spot in your garden that needs some beauty and some flavour, consider a Flavorette rose — it will look great, have a nice perfume and yes, it will have a wonderful flavour.
