Rosa York and Lancaster (Rosa damascena var. versicolor): The Damask Rose of Peace for England

The phrasing Wars of the Roses comes from Sir Walter Scott’s (August 15, 1771 – September 21, 1832) novel Anne of Geierstein, or The Maiden of the Mist of 1829. It euphemistically evokes Lancastrian and Yorkist rivalries over England’s throne. King Henry IV’s (April 15, 1367 – March 20, 1413) overthrow of his Yorkist cousin, Richard II (January 6, 1367 – February 14, 1400?), generates challenges to:

• His grandson, Henry VI (December 6, 1421 – May 21/22/23, 1471?), in 1461 and 1471 by Yorkist cousin, Edward IV (April 28, 1442 – April 9, 1483);
• Edward IV, in 1470 by Henry VI;
• Richard III (October 2, 1452 – August 22, 1485), in 1485 by Lancastrian cousin, Henry VII (January 28, 1457 – April 21, 1509).

The Edinburgh-born Scots author’s phrasing defers to Henry VI Part 1 by William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616) in 1591.  The history play draws upon the London Temple Church garden in Act II Scene IV. The twelfth-century building’s grounds evoke conflicts involving:

• Knights Templar;
• Edward II (April 25, 1284 – September 21, 1327);
• Knights Hospitaller;
• Henry VIII (June 28, 1491 – January 28, 1547).

It foretells dynastic troubles through:

• A lawyer, Richard Plantagenet (September 21, 1411 – December 30, 1460), Vernon, and Warwick (Richard de Beauchamp, January 25?/28?, 1382 – April 30, 1439) choosing York’s white roses;
• Somerset (Edmund Beaufort, 1406 – May 22, 1455) and Suffolk (William de la Pole, October 16, 1396 – May 2, 1450) selecting Lancastrian red.

The white rose (Rosa alba) historically acts as emblem to male descendants of Edmund of Langley (June 5, 1341 – August 1, 1402), first Duke of York and fourth of Edward III’s (November 13, 1312 – June 21, 1377) five sons. As a representation of Heaven’s Mystical Rose, Our Lady Mary (18 B.C.? – A.D. 41?), it communicates pure acts and intents. But its symbolism does not foredoom that of the red rose (Rosa gallica officinalis?). The red rose historically links just with the House of Lancaster’s first earl, Edmund Crouchback (January 16, 1245 – June 5, 1296), as:

• Second surviving son of Edward III’s great-grandfather Henry III (October 1, 1207 – November 16, 1272);

• Stitched cross-wearing Ninth Crusade (1271 – 1272) participant.

Heraldry instead associates red-colored flowers with England’s Tudor-instigated floral emblem. Red-petaled, white-centered roses emerge as Tudor Union roses only with Henry VII’s:

• Coronation on October 30, 1485;
• Marriage on January 18, 1486 to Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth of York (February 11, 1466 – February 11, 1503);
• Elizabeth’s coronation as Queen Consort on November 25, 1487;
• Elizabeth’s delivery of Henry VIII, Margaret (November 28, 1489 – October 18, 1541), and Mary (March 18, 1496 – June 25, 1533).

They thereby jumpstart the third installment in the back-story to England’s historically embattled and subsequently reconciled red roses and white roses: the real-time existence of all-red and all-white roses on one shrub and of mixed red and white patterning on one rose’s petals.

Old mottled and striped candidates abound as York and Lancaster roses. But color-changing damask roses communicate the clearest back-story. The lineage of Rosa damascena var. versicolor recognizably dates back to no later than 1550 - 1551, what with such iconic, signature characteristics and features as:

• Exhibiting double and semi-double blooms.
• Expressing petals of pure rose pink and/or pure white;
• Gathering in clusters of 3 – 5 flowers individually sized at 2.76 inches (7 centimeters);
• Getting blue- and grey-green, downy, elliptic, lush, soft leaves;
• Giving off delicious, strong, sweet scents;
• Growing to heights and spreads/widths of 2.46 - 8.2 feet (0.75 - 2.5 meters);
• Having an arching, rounded habit;
• Including prickles and thorns;
• Tolerating shade despite requiring full sun.

Excepting aphids (Aphidoidea family), York and Lancaster damask roses generally attract no pests. They benefit from:

• Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil;
• Irrigation / precipitation sufficient to keep soil slightly moist;
• Monthly organic fertilizer treatments during growing seasons.

They cooperate with propagation by:

• Autumnal hardwood cuttings;
• Springtime softwood cuttings.

For flowering on old wood during June, they demand:

• Pruning damaged, dead, diseased, disfiguring branches every year;
• Thinning old canes by one-half every 2 – 3 years.

They deliver more marketable essential oils and floral waters for bathing and flavoring when petals daily are hand-picked at or before sunrise. Rose oil does not have the 2-phenyl ethanol content which gives damask roses their fresh fragrance. Rose water contrastingly holds it in.

Intranational and international conflicts appear to be historical norms. It therefore can be refreshing to become acquainted with the back-story to the world’s peace flower, the York and Lancaster damask rose. It likewise can be rewarding to become proficient cultivators of the color-changing rose whose other back-stories bespeak European introductions by Crusaders returning from Damascus, Syria. Damask roses indeed continue to embellish all environments with:

• Spacing equal to the shrub’s mature height;
• Soil pH levels between 5.6 and 6.5;
• Temperatures not exceeding -30°F (-34.4°C) or -- for more than 120 – 150 days -- 86°F (30°C).

Their appearance, fragrance, and taste inject peace and pleasure into the most stressful lives. They never renege on their historic, peace-making heritage.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Sir Walter Scott: 1822 oil on canvas portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn (March 4, 1756 – 8 July 1823)
National Galleries of Scotland, The Mound, central Edinburgh, South East Scotland: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Walter_Scott_-_Raeburn.jpg

Battle of Towton in North Yorkshire on March 29, 1461 was decisive Yorkist victory in War of Roses: Yorkist Edward, 4th Duke of York (April 28, 1442 – April 9, 1483) displaced Lancastrian King Henry VI (December 6, 1421 – May 21, 1471) as monarch.
"Henry VI at Towton": 1860 oil on board by William Dyce (September 19, 1806 – February 14, 1864)
Guildhall Art Gallery, Moorgate, north central London: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_at_Towton.jpg

White rose (Rosa alba), historic emblem of male descendants of Edmund of Langley, first Duke of York, who acted as Keeper of the Realm for King Richard II
"Dukes of York, Gloucester and Ireland dining with Richard II": c.1470-c.1480 half-page miniature, attributed to Master of the Vienna and Copenhagen Toison d’Or
Jehan de Wavrin, Recueil des chroniques d'Angleterre (1470-1480), vol. III; Royal 14 E IV f. 265v: Public Domain, via The British Library @ https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=57372

The marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York on January 18, 1486 united the Houses of Lancaster and York, respectively. The Tudor rose of red around white center symbolized union of York's white rose with Lancaster's red.
Double Portrait of Elizabeth of York with White Rose of York and Henry VII: c. 1825 by Sarah Malden, Countess of Essex (c.1761 - January 16, 1838)
c. 1825 by Sarah Capel-Coningsby, Countess of Essex (July 11, 1759-January 16, 1838): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_and_Henry.jpg

Elizabeth I (September 7, 1533 – March 24, 1603), with Tudor rose depicted, slipped and crowned, above her right shoulder
"Pelican Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth I: c.1575 oil on panel by Nicholas Hilliard (c. 1547 – January 7, 1619)
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth1.jpg

chromatic chameleon: Rosa 'York and Lancaster'~ white petaled variety
Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid: A. Barra, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_'York_and_Lancaster'.jpg

Rosa 'York and Lancaster'
open flower with buds and foliage: Angelika E. Hohenstein, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blüte_der_Rose_York_and_Lancaster_2.jpg

Rosa 'York and Lancaster': play of light highlights rosy perfection
International Rose Garden (Internationale Rozentuin), Kortrijk, West Flanders Province, northwestern Belgium: Jamain, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_'York_and_Lancaster'_J1.JPG

Rosa 'York and Lancaster'
open flower half-circled by buds: Angelika E. Hohenstein, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons@ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blüte_der_Rose_York_and_Lancaster.jpg

Rosa 'York and Lancaster' (Monardes, 1551)
Rosarium Uetersen, Schleswig-Holstein state, northwestern Germany: Huhu, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:York_and_Lancaster_-_Monardes_1551.jpg

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