Pink Cloud

Pink Cloud – a compact semi-shrub up to 10–100 cm in height and about 80 cm in diameter, which quickly fills space thanks to a dense bush with abundant leaves. Vegetation begins in late March–early April, and flowering covers the first decade of September: mass flowering in the second decade and completion in the third. The flowering period lasts 20–25 days, after which seeds mature at the end of the first–beginning of the second decade of October. The entire cycle from the start of growth to seed collection takes about 190–200 days.

Raw material for essential oil production is taken from the upper parts of annual growth with inflorescences, collected during mass flowering. The yield of raw material is about 170 kg/ha, the essential oil content is 0.32% of the raw mass, which allows obtaining approximately 54 kg/ha of pure oil. The oil is dominated by rose furan (≈40%) and rose furan epoxide (up to 30%), giving it a characteristic spicy-citrus aroma. The perfumery rating reaches 5 points.

Pink Cloud is easily reproduced by seeds, as well as vegetatively with cuttings – the optimal period for cuttings is February. The plant is light-loving, responds well to organic and mineral fertilizers, watering, while remaining drought-resistant and maintaining stable productivity regardless of weather conditions. Thanks to these properties, it can be successfully grown in open ground in southern regions of Ukraine.

The culinary application of the plant is also worth attention: fresh and dried inflorescences add a spicy, citrus aroma to salads, meat soups, broths, stewed meat, appetizers, and meat paste. They can be used as a seasoning for tea, and are also valued as an excellent nectar plant. Thus, pink cloud combines the beneficial properties of essential oil, ease of cultivation, and wide application possibilities in cooking.