1. In ancient Rome, a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where confidential matters were discussed. The phrase sub rosa, or "under the rose", still means to keep a secret.

2. Early Christians identified the five petals of the rose with the five wounds of Christ. Roses also later came to be associated with the Virgin Mary.

3. According to the Victorian "Language of flowers", different coloured roses each have their own symbolic meaning. For example red is love, pink is grace (or gentle feelings of love) and yellow is dying or platonic love.

4. In some pagan mythologies, no undead or ghostly creatures (particularly vampires) may cross the path of a wild rose. It was thought that to place a wild rose on a coffin of a recently deceased person would prevent them from rising again.

5. Roses were used in very early times as a potent ingredient in love philtres – magical potions that were said to have the power to cause those who drank it to fall in love with the person who gave it to them.

6. Rose plants used to be cultivated by monks for their medicinal properties. Rose water was used to cure all kinds of ailments, such as trembling, constipation, drunkenness, skin and throat infections and insomnia.

7. In the 19th century, old scented roses were used to make jelly.

8. Rose hips are a good source of vitamin C. They are usually pressed and filtered to make rose-hip syrup but can also be used to make herbal tea, jam, jelly and marmalade.

9. The annual Festival of Roses at Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival is the largest gathering of roses in the world and has become the official launchpad for the introduction of the forthcoming Rose of the Year. In summer 2006, 20 brand new roses were launched at the show, including Rose of the Year 2007, 'Tickled Pink'.

10. As the symbol of love, roses make up the largest proportion of the £22 million spent on flowers in the UK on Valentine’s Day (just make sure you don't get the yellow ones – see point 3).