The flower of England

The symbol of Mother England, the rose has adorned jackets and jerseys, crests and coats of arms of Great British sorts for centuries. But the exact species of rose depicted on such regalia is uncertain. This week we’ll take a look at the origins of the English rose and see if it still smells as sweet!

The origin of the English rose is most often associated with the first English Civil War. Fought from the mid to late 15th century, this series of conflicts, also (later) referred to as the War of the Roses, was waged between the House of York (with the white rose as their emblem) and the House of Lancaster (red rose).

The futility of this conflict is comically referenced in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, whereby the gardeners are forced to paint white roses red to appease the Queen.

After securing victory over Richard III, Henry Tudor (Henry VII) who married Elizabeth of York, combined the white and red rose emblems into one, forming the red and white coloured Tudor Rose.

However, contemporary sources show that neither side fought under their respective rose banners and that this unity of rose emblems was most likely just a Tudor invention.

Whether the flower of English youth was cut down in battle under rose-adorned banners, or this was simply a propaganda move by one astute Tudor, either way, the rose has since become a symbol of beauty and courage.

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 86th birthday and 60 years on the throne of England, the rose will take its place as a representation of the monarchy. Blood red in colour, this fragile flower continues to depict a nation of conquerors who grew tall atop standards carried across battlefields the world over.