Plant, Grow, Eat… Edible Roses Collection
Now you can plant a range of roses that don’t just look and smell gorgeous, they’ll tickle your tastebuds too
Edible Roses
There is always plenty to be planting, pruning and preparing in the garden and this year, Dobbies has launched a plant with a difference: the ‘Taste of Love’ culinary roses collection. The best roses look good enough to eat. It’s easy to forget that some varieties really are!
Unique Floral Flavours and Textures
The three roses that feature in the collection have each been specifically chosen for their unique flavours and textures - from silky sweet to refreshing citrus. The floral medley will leave your garden brimming with beautiful blooms, that can be used to complement a variety of sweet and savoury dishes
Roses On The Menu
Just like different varieties of fruit, roses have different tastes and aromas. Our ‘Taste of Love’ collection features three different roses
Very Berry Rose
With strong, upright branches, this rose has a sweet taste of redcurrants. An intense pink colour, it’s very eye catching and is certain to make your garden stand out from the crowd. Flowers are nicely rounded and full of soft petals, blooming all summer long
Top tip: A sweet redcurrant taste - perfect for rose petal preserve or rose syrup
Nadia Zerouali Rose
The petals of this rose are edible and have a fresh lemon/lemongrass taste. Strong medium-sized, healthy and resilient, it blooms continuously throughout the season and is very attractive to bees and butterlies
Top tip: A fresh lemongrass taste-best used in salads, Medditararean cuisine, confectionary and drinks
Theo Clevers Rose
This variety has a gentle aroma of strawberries and has beautiful rosette- shaped flowers in large, tight clusters. These work well planted next to pergolas or porches where they will give a great display in combination with climbers. Also suitable for growing in larger pots if you only have space for containers on the patio
Top tip: A gentle stawberry aroma, this variety makes a lovely base for a rose petal ice cream
Enjoy Rose Petal Flavour All Year Round
The easiest way to enjoy rose petal flavour all year round is to preserve their essence by making rose water or rose syrup, or dry them and store in an airtight container. Roses contain high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, matching and even outperforming lots of common fruits and vegetables
Top Tips On Harvesting Rose Flowers
- 1. The best time for harvesting rose flowers is early in the morning, as that is when the concentration of aromatic and nutritional compounds is at its peak
- 2. If flowers are not to be used immediately after they are picked, they should be kept in an air tight container in the fridge. Petals can also be air-dried and stored in glass jars
- 3. Even though stamens of roses are also edible, and they contribute to the overall aroma, people with pollen allergies should avoid them and use petals only. The 'Theo Clevers' Rose is perfect for those that do not like to deal with the little golden beads, as it has no stamens
- 4. Water thoroughly before planting, positioning in full sunlight. Prune in late winter or early spring and feed in late spring and again in mid-summer with good quality rose fertiliser
Allergy guidance
It's best to avoid eating any type of flower if you suffer from hay fever, other plant allergies, or are allergic to pollen