Oh My Rose

Roses deserve a truly special place in the kitchen garden. Beyond their stunning looks and intoxicating fragrance, their beautiful petals are a secret weapon in the kitchen, lending an exquisite floral flair to everything from pastries to preserves.

Here in Sweden, this exact time of year—High Summer—is when the roses absolutely shout for attention, commanding the spotlight in the garden.

More Than Just a Pretty Face: Choosing a Kitchen Rose

Selecting a rose for a kitchen garden isn't as simple as running to the local nursery and picking the first pretty bloom you see. If you want a rose that performs as well on the plate as it does in the soil, it needs to check three strict boxes:

• An intense fragrance: No scent usually means no flavor.

• Abundant, large blooms: Tiny flowers mean endless, tedious work when it comes time to pluck the petals.

• The right habit: It must fit the growth requirements of your designated spot.

Trusting the Expert (And Finding a Hidden Gem)

I am incredibly lucky to have a specialized rose nursery just ten minutes from my home. When I visited, I told the "rose lady" exactly what I was looking for: a variety with large petals and a powerful fragrance, perfect for making homemade jams and teas.

Without a moment's hesitation, she marched me through a vibrant jungle of roses, stopping right in front of two small, unassuming Augusta Luise plants. At the time, they were tiny, completely devoid of flowers, and looked rather ordinary. But the pure passion in the way the rose lady spoke about them won me over. I just had to have them.

The Grand Reveal: Augusta Luise in the Garden

Now, look at them! I planted them right by the greenhouse, where they have transformed into a true, head-turning showstopper.

Augusta Luise Profile:

• Type: Compact Hybrid Tea Rose

• Breeder: Rosen Tantau, Germany (1999)

• Characteristics: Massive, ruffled, peach-pink blooms with a nostalgic form and a powerful, sweet fragrance.

Currently, one is a bit smaller than the other because it started with slightly less ideal soil conditions. I am actively working on balancing things out by feeding them well with cow manure in the spring and practicing a specific pruning technique during deadheading.

A Quick Gardening Tip: Instead of just snipping off the dead blooms, I cut the stem back quite far to encourage strong, vigorous new growth. (I will go through this technique in detail in an upcoming post, so stay tuned!).

If you are looking to bridge the gap between your flower beds and your plate, Augusta Luise is an absolute dream.

The Ultimate Summer Jam: https://www.gardenkinship.com/en/articles/the-ultimate-summer-jam