月季和玫瑰极为相似，只不过刺更少花瓣更大，因为原产地在中国，所以月季的英文名为“Chinese rose(中国玫瑰）”。
国人早在2000年前就开始种植月季，汉朝时就已在宫廷花园中大量栽培，唐朝时更为普遍，广泛分布在长江流域地区。
Chinese people started to grow the rose about 2,000 years ago. In the Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220), Chinese roses were widely grown in royal gardens. And in the Tang Dynasty, the flowers found their way into most regions along the Yangtze River.
唯有此花开不厌，一年长占四时春。
Yet Chinese roses enjoy the four seasons with unceasing beauty.
——【宋】苏轼《月季》
