Rose petals are not only a feast for the eyes in the garden and on the balcony, they can also be used in a variety of ways: creatively for crafts, as decorative material, in potpourris, in the kitchen - the possibilities are almost endless. Rose petals can also be easily preserved, for example by dipping them in wax or paraffin or by drying them. Rose leaves, on the other hand, are an important indicator of the he alth of the plant: various pests and fungal pathogens particularly like to settle here.
What can you use rose petals for?
Rose petals can be used in the kitchen for jams, sauces, desserts and drinks, as decoration in potpourris, or preserved by drying or dipping in wax. Make sure to use safe, organically grown rose petals.
Rose petals delight the eyes, nose and palate
Fragrant rose petals, alone or mixed with the petals of other types of flowers in a potpourri, conjure up a pleasant olfactory note in any living space. But what pleases the nose also pleases the palate. The petals of many rose varieties - especially those of the so-called old roses - can be used for sauces, creams or desserts in the kitchen, and to refine jams, cakes, salads or even drinks. If you want to use rose petals in the kitchen, choose ones that are home-grown or organic if possible. The container roses available in supermarkets or garden centers in particular should not be eaten, as they have often been treated with toxic pesticides.
Delicious recipes with rose petals
Rose petals go excellently in jams or jams made from raspberries, apples or peaches, but can also be used in sauces for fish and white meat (e.g. turkey or chicken). Sugared or candied rose petals are recommended for cakes, tarts and desserts. Candiing the delicate petals works as follows:
- Beat one egg white almost solid.
- Brush the petals with the beaten egg white
- and sprinkle fine sugar on top.
- Shake off excess sugar
- and dry the rose petals in the oven at 50 °C for several hours.
The candied petals are ideal for decorating chocolate cakes or creams.
Preserving rose petals
However, rose petals can be used to decorate more than just edibles. For a flower-filled living room or romantic wedding decoration, you can use preserved rose petals. These can be purchased, but you can also easily make them yourself.
Drying rose petals
The rose petals spread out over a large area on a cloth are best dried in a warm, dry and dark place. This type of drying takes several days. However, it's quicker in the oven, where the petals dry for several hours at 50 °C.
Dip rose petals in wax
Alternatively, you can dip the petals in warm, liquid wax (€15.00 on Amazon) and preserve them that way. This method also has the advantage that the colors remain more authentic and the flowers look fresher. When preserving, you should just make sure that the flowers are absolutely dry, otherwise mold growth can occur. The wax must not be hotter than 60 °C, as the delicate leaves cannot tolerate higher temperatures.
Rose leaves indicate the he alth status of the roses
You should also always pay close attention to the rose leaves, as they are a sure indicator of the he alth of the rose. This is why leaf he alth information is so important when purchasing a new variety. In addition to the various fungal diseases such as sooty mold, powdery mildew, rose rust or ring spot disease, many pests also prefer to settle on the rose petals.
Rosenblatt curls up – what to do?
Measures should be taken as quickly as possible, especially if the leaves are curled, as these are a sign of an infestation with the rose leaf roller wasp. This sawfly lays its eggs on the edges of leaves, which then curl protectively around the larva. After some time, the rose petal turns yellow and falls off. You should dispose of affected leaves and also collect them from the ground. Dispose of the leaves with household waste as the larvae continue to develop on the compost.
Rosenblatt has lots of small holes – why is that?
Many small holes in the rose leaf, the so-called “window damage”, is caused by the larvae of the rose sawfly. These eat primarily on the top of the leaves and cause unsightly damage, which dry out after a while and leave holes. Remove the affected leaves and dispose of them with household waste.
Tip
To prevent the diseases mentioned, you should collect and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn. Fungal spores in particular like to overwinter in the warming piles of leaves and in the spring they reinfect the rose that has just awakened from hibernation. For the same reason, it is advisable to also collect the leaves remaining on the shoots.