The Rose is the national flower of the United States. It is also known as the flower of the Virgin Mary.
[From Rose Gardens: Their History & Desgin, by Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, p. 8:] In Ancient Egypt the rose was sacred to the goddess Isis and traces of what may R. richardii, also known as the 'Holy Rose of Abyssinia', have been found in tombs.
[From Better Homes & Gardens Successful Rose Gardening, p. 8:] Droplets of blood from Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, were thought to have spawned the first red roses. Pink roses, to match the modest blushes of a maiden, were the gift of Bacchus, the god of wine. In other stories, the rose was said to have been born from the smile of Cupid... Medieval legend holds that a white rose bloomed in the garden of Eden, and was turned blush after a kiss from Eve.