Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Kazanlik / Rosa Damascena Trigintipetala

• Rosa damascena var. trigintipetala

• Trindafil

Also referenced as: Kazanlyk, R. gallica var. damascena f. trigintipetala, Trendaphil

Introduced in Germany by Dr. Georg Dieck in 1889 as 'Rosa damascena var. trigintipetala'.

Deep pink Damask.Unknown origin (before 1612).

Pink, white undertones, ages to lighter. 30 petals. Average diameter 2" - 5 cm. Medium, double, in small clusters bloom form. Occasional repeat later in the season. Small, glandular sepals, leafy sepals buds.

Armed with thorns / prickles, bushy, well-branched. Light green foliage. 7 leaflets.Height of 5' to 8' (150 to 245 cm). Width of 4' to 6' (120 to 185 cm).Zone 4.

Vigorous. Prune lightly after flowering is finished. This rose blooms on old wood. So, don't cut it down.

Strong, centifolia fragrance. PROBABLY THE MOST FRAGRANCED ROSE OF ALL!

'Kazanlik' seems to be the same Damask-type which is also cultivated in Isparta/Turkey and Isfahan/Iran for making the famous ATTAR. Supposedly it was brought to Bulgaria by the Turkish when Bulgaria was under Ottoman domination.

Cultivated extensively in the Rose Valley (Bulgarian: Розова долина, Rozova dolina), a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora chain to the south. Geologically, it consists of two river valleys, those of the Stryama to the west and the Tundzha to the east. The total area is about 3,300 square kilometers.

This valley is famous for its rose-growing industry which have been cultivated there for centuries, and which produces 85% of the world's rose oil. The extracts are used by perfumeries all over the world.

The centre of the rose oil industry is Kazanlik, while other towns of importance include Karlovo, Sopot, Kalofer and Pavel Banya. Each year, festivals are held celebrating roses and rose oil.

The picking season lasts from May to June

. During this period, the area gives off a pleasant scent and is covered with multi-coloured flowers. The gathering process, traditionally a woman's task, requires great dexterity and patience. The flowers are carefully cut one by one and laid in willow-baskets which are then sent to the distilleries.

Check these links for more information:

http://www.rose-festival.com/

valley-roses.shtml

http://rosevalleyoils.com/

bulgaria/

http://www.brilltravel.com/our-tours-general-information/special-interest-tours/rose-festival