The wind is blowing, all the holiday décor is finally put away, you just fed your (or your neighbor’s) horse the last pumpkin, and it’s time to curl up by the fire with a very tall stack of seed, bulb, and other wise “risky-to-look-at” gardening catalogues...risky from the standpoint that our winter ambitions are always excitable and hungry for spring...and you go straight for the rose catalogue...

There is not a single plant that inspires more, in everyone, than the rose. Whether you are mesmerized by their grand array of fragrances, shapes, colors, sizes, profusion of petals or quantity of flowers, everyone can appreciate something in a rose. We are very fortunate to have several local experts and growers in our area to supply and to help you select varieties. Choose your roses carefully, prepare well, and plan your first May party around the beautiful bouquet you will be picking!

The Rich Heritage of the Rose

All roses eventually trace their heritage back to any of over 200 species of roses that are found growing wild throughout the northern hemisphere. A curiosity of botanica, as no indigenous roses have been discovered in the southern hemisphere, virtually all varieties of roses now growing below the equator were originally carried there. Most species of roses bloom only once during the spring or summer and have simple flowers of five petals. Pink and white are the dominant colors, with reds and yellows being relatively rare. Their form and size range from contained and diminutive to lax and sprawling. Prickles (thorns) vary from thin needles to broad talons. Some species flourish in near-alpine climates while others adapted to the deserts of China and the mid-east. When comparing these rose species to those commonly grown today, one has to believe that there must be a long bridge of many planks that joins these seemingly distant camps. Over 10,000 rose cultivars have been hybridized by nature and man from a handful of rose species. Today, only a small percentage are still in propagation. When one thinks of a rose, the image is generally that of the florist's modern Hybrid Tea: long stem, high center, bright color. Yet at least 12 other classes of roses have captured the fancy of rosarians in generations past. To truly appreciate the beauty of the rose and the contributions that it has made to mankind, one must explore its botanical heritage and, hopefully, plant some of that heritage in one's garden landscape.

Gallicas, Damasks, Albas, Centifolias, Mosses, Chinas, Portlands, Bourbons, Teas, Hybrid Perpetuals and Noisettes are the classics from which modern roses were bred. Often named after notable citizens or places of their day, many antique roses are densely petaled and shaped like cups, or flattened like disks, or puffy like pompons. Others are simple, yet elegant, flowers of five to twelve petals.

Old roses are often sought for their heady perfumes. The contemporary collector cannot be certain, however, that old roses were inherently more fragrant than modern roses. Of the many thousands of rose cultivars introduced during the past two centuries, only a relatively small percentage remain in existence today. It could be that many old roses went out of favor because of a lack of fragrance, and those that were judiciously passed from one generation to the next were often prized for their scent. Nevertheless, unlike many modern roses, most antique roses available in commerce today offer rich perfumes.

As only species roses will stay genetically true when grown from seed, their hybridized progeny must be perpetuated by cloning - either by rooting cuttings or grafting a budeye onto a rootstock. Thereby, antique roses are literally living specimens of botanical history, descended directly from the one original plant selected by its hybridizer so long ago. Many antique roses have been preserved through the decades under the diligent care of rosarians. Others have been found in pioneer homesteads and cemeteries where they have grown unattended for decades. Many of these "found roses" are identified today only by given study names. Others have been reidentified by scholar rosarians, practicing "botanical archeology", from their meticulous readings of old books and catalogs.

Old Garden Roses (those classes existing prior to 1867)

Gallicas are the oldest of all garden roses - having been cultivated since classical Greek and Roman times. Their natural habitat extends throughout southern Europe from France into central Turkey. Recognized for their hardiness, Gallicas are once-flowering, compact shrubs of not more than four feet. Gallica stems are covered with needlelike prickles. The foliage is generally a deep, yet dull, green with a paler underside. Their numerous petals form neat rosette-shaped, strongly fragrant blooms ranging in rich shades of purple, violet, mauve and deep pink to stripes. When grown on their own roots, Gallicas will sucker profusely, forming a dense hedge. Well- suited for cooler climates, Gallicas are humble garden specimens in the warmest areas of the United States. Hardy to USDA zone 4.

 
Charles De Mills (Gallica)

Damasks trace their origins along a nearly parallel track to the Gallicas from ancient times. Thought to have been widely cultivated in Persia, the first Damasks in Europe were probably brought there by Crusaders. Their thorny, arching canes and long leaves produce an open, elegant shrub. Known widely for their powerful, sweet fragrance, Damasks generally are divided into the once-flowering Summer Damasks and the Autumn Damasks which offer a modest repeat in the fall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Mme. Hardy (Damask)

Albas are closely related to the European species R. canina and are mostlikely the progeny of natural crosses between this wild rose and Damask roses. Romans grew Albas in ancient times for medicinal and cultural uses. Albas are once-bloomers that are quite tolerant of partial shade. Their blossoms of white or pale pink offer a sweet fragrance. The gray-green foliage has few thorns and is produced on tall shrubs (6-8 feet). Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Pompon Blanc Parfait (Alba)

Centifolias, literally "one hundred petals", probably originated trom a wild cross between Autumn Damask and an Alba. They were the focus of much work by Dutch horticulturists during the 1600's. Also known as Cabbage Roses in Europe for their globular form, Centifolias are once-bloomers that produce richly scented, intensely petaled blooms born on nodding stems. The canes are very thorny and lax to the point of being floppy. The leaves are rounded and soft green. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Moss roses derive their name from the moss-like growth that covers the stems and buds. The mossy growth can vary in color from green to brown and in texture from soft feathers to stiff prickles. Many also have feather-like sepals around the bud. They are beloved for the fragrant oil that lingers on one's fingertips when the bloom or bud is touched. Most moss roses are once-flowering, although several will repeat in the fall. The original moss roses are thought to have been spontaneous mutations (sports) from Centifolia and Damask roses. Crested roses often are classed with the Mosses, but actually differ in that they have feather-like sepals without heavy mossing on the peduncle (stem). Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Mme. Louis Leveque (Moss)

China roses had been cultivated in China for centuries before four cultivars were brought to Europe around 1800. Of particular interest was their ability to rebloom throughout the summer, a trait not shared by the earlier, European-derived rose classes. Chinas are more delicate in growth than the original European roses in that their slim canes and light green foliage combine to form a dense, twiggy shrub. Best suited for temperate climates, Chinas produce a continuous series of lightly-scented blooms throughout the growing season. Modern miniature roses trace their ancestry to Rouletti, a dwarf China. Hardy to USDA zone 7.

Irene Watts (China)

Portland roses became popular after 1800 largely because of their ability to bloom repeatedly - a rather rare trait in old European roses. Valued for their strong "Old Rose" fragrance, the short-stemmed blooms appear to sit directly atop the dark-green foliage. As upright shrubs, they are often well suited for the smaller garden. Portlands are relatively rare in that very few cultivars are widely available today. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Rose de Rescht (Portland)

Bourbon roses originated on the lle de Bourbon (now Reunion Island) near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1871, the island was a regular stop for ships traveling between Europe and the Far East. Bourbons are thought to have originated from a wild crossing of the repeat bloomers Old Blush (a China) and Autumn Damask, which were both grown by colonists on the island in the early 1 800's. A versatile group, Bourbons can be tall shrubs (to 6 feet) or climbers. Most repeat readily throughout the season. The blooms are more often cupped than rosette and produce a heady fragrance. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Mme Ernst Calvat (Bourbon)

Hybrid Perpetuals were the dominant class of roses during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras with over 1,000 cultivars introduced. In America, most of the roses remembered from grandmother's garden as "Cabbage Roses" were actually Hybrid Perpetuals rather than European Centifolias. Originally starting as crosses between Chinas and Bourbons, later cultivars were produced from Noisettes and Portlands as well. When crossed back with Teas, Hybrid Perpetuals produced the earliest Hybrid Teas. Thus, they are often described as the bridge between old and modern roses. Hybrid Perpetuals were embraced for their ability to rebloom in the cooler climates of Europe. Strong crimson, a color lacking in many earlier classes, is often found among the Hybrid Perpetuals. The tall, upright canes are well suited for inward or outward pegging. The name is perhaps a bit optimistic in that Hybrid Perpetuals generally produce an outstanding spring bloom followed by an intermittent, rather than continuous, display later in the season. Hardy to zone 4.

Ferdinand Pichard (Hybrid Perpetual)

Tea roses probably originated long ago in China as wild crosses between the species roses R. gigantea and R. Chinensis. Originally called "Tea- scented China Roses" when introduced in Europe, the true origin of the name is obscure. Some say it is derived from a similarity to the scent of fresh tea leaves. Others suggest it stems from the tea chests in which they were reportedly imported from Asia. Tea roses grow as modest shrubs and climbers whose stature is a bit more substantial than that of the Chinas. Widely propagated for their pointed buds that open to nodding, but elegant, blooms of pink, cream, apricot, and yellow, Teas are tender plants which were highly prized specimens in the Victorian greenhouse. Crossed with Hybrid Perpetuals around 1860, Teas provided much of the grace found in the Hybrid Tea class. Well-suited for the temperate climates of the U.S., Teas were widely grown as far north as Philadelphia at the turn of the century. Hardy to USDA zone 7.

Monsieur Tillier (Tea)

Noisettes ("NWA-zettes") are a group of vigorous climbing roses which trace their ancestry to Charleston, South Carolina. There, in 1802, Champneys' Pink Cluster, a cross between R. moschata (the Musk rose) and Parson's Pink China (aka: Old Blush) was named after its breeder, John Champneys, a Charleston rice farmer. Like its Musk Rose parent, Champneys' Pink Cluster was only summer-blooming. Phillipe Noisette, a Charleston nurseryman, produced Blush Noisette, the first repeat-flowering climber from the seeds of Champneys' Pink Cluster. Phillipe later crossed his seedlings with Parks Yellow China to produce several climbing yellow Noisettes. Through Phillipe's brother, a resident of Paris, Noisette roses were introduced in France, where several Noisette cultivars were propagated. Like their China parents, Noisettes have slender canes, which are well suited for training on a trellis or fence. Noisettes make a beautiful contribution to the temperate garden. Hardy to USDA zone 7.

Mme. Alfred Carriere (Noisette)

Modern Roses (those classes emerging in or after 1867)

Hybrid Teas, as the dominant rose class of the 20th-century, trace their origin to 1867 when La France, a cross between a Tea and a Hybrid Perpetual, was introduced. Viewed by many as revolutionary roses, La France and the many other early hybrid teas that quickly followed effectively combined the elegance of the Tea rose form with the vigor of the Hybrid Perpetual stature. Rather than nod downward on slender stems as the Tea roses did, the newer Hybrid Teas were able to hold blooms of increasing size aloft on sturdy canes. Their high-centered blooms which slowly unfurled from long buds were a great contrast to the cupped or flat blooms of the Bourbons and Hybrid Perpetuals. It is interesting to note that the term Hybrid Tea was not officially accepted in France until 1884 (17 years after the introduction of La France) and that England's National Rose Society did not allow their exhibition as a separate class until 1898. Despite the fact that La France is sterile and has never passed its genes on as a pollen or seed parent, the introduction of La France was selected by the Classification Committee of the American Rose Society in 1966 to serve as the demarcation point between the old garden and the modern rose classes. When contrasted to the old garden rose classes, the Hybrid Tea of today often works more effectively as an herbal factory for the production of beautiful cut flowers than as landscape specimen in the garden.

La France (Hybrid Tea)

Hybrid Musks trace their lineage to Rev. Joseph Pemberton (1850-1926) of Essex, England, an Anglican cleric who championed the re-establishment the rose as the national symbol of England and helped to found the National Rose Society. Originally a cross between a Hybrid Tea with a seedling that had a musk rose in its distant ancestry, later Hybrid Musks were also developed from Teas, Chinas and Hybrid Perpetuals. Thus, while widely accepted, the name Hybrid Musk has little to do with the old musk roses. Hybrid Musks are widely adaptable roses for the landscape as many cultivars produce large arching canes that will form a cascading shrub that could be trained along a fence or up a pole. The blooms appear heavily in spring and fall with an intermittent summer showing as long sprays of usually double, pastel flowers. Hardy to zone 6.

Buff Beauty (Hybrid Musk)

Floribundas or cluster-flowering roses are the progeny of the Polyantha class - a group derived by Jean-Baptiste Guillot from crosses between climbing varieties of R. multiflora and the repeat-flowering Old Blush China. Whereas the Polyanthas produced repeated waves of delicate flowers, Floribundas produce larger blooms due to their being the progeny of later crosses between Polyanthas and Hybrid Teas. Appreciated for their mass of color rather than the beauty of individual blooms, Floribundas are best suited for use as bedding roses. Hardy to USDA zone 5.

Iceberg (Floribunda)

Rugosas and Rugosa Hybrids originated as crosses among subspecies within R. rugosa, a very hardy species from northern Japan and Siberia. As the word "rugose" means wrinkled, they are recognized for their dark green, leathery leaves with deep veining. Even when not in bloom, the rugosa foliage make a beautiful contribution to the garden landscape. The stems are covered with a sheath of stiff prickles. The fragrant blooms are large, single or semi-double and often like rice paper in appearance. Prolific growers in colder climates, Rugosas will often be modest growers in warm climates. Hardy to USDA zone 4.

Rugosa Rubra (Rugosa)

Large-flowered Climbers are distinguished from climbing roses as they originated with climbing traits whereas the latter is a climbing sport of an established bush. Consider that Altissimo is a Large-flowered Climber because it has always climbed, while Climbing Chrysler Imperial is designated as a Climbing Hybrid Tea because it sported from the bush form of the famous Hybrid Tea.

Royal Sunset (Large-flowered Climber)

Modern Shrub Roses are either the progeny of crosses between Hybrid Teas and Floribundas or between these classes and species roses. They often produce bushes of modern-looking blooms held closely to the foliage rather than aloft on long stems. Hence, they are often better suited as specimens in the garden landscape than as factories for the production of cut flowers. A large and diverse class, the Shrub Rose designation is often applied to roses whose characteristics do not easily fit into other classes.

Cape Cod (Modern Shrub Rose)

Sources:
Arena Roses 1041 Paso Robles Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446  1.888.466.7434.
Western Nursery  950 Alamo Pintado Solvang CA 688-6130