Old Roses

The old European garden roses as well as the species roses are usually winter-hardy, resistant to disease and produce beautiful flowers with complex and delicate scents. They have one drawback however, in that most will only bloom once during the summer.

European gardeners strived to develop a rose that had all of the above characteristics but that could be enjoyed for a longer period of time. Their efforts led to the development of the hardy repeat-blooming old roses. These include three different classes: the Portland Rose, the Bourbon Rose and the Hybrid Perpetual.

The Portland rose is pink or red and has a remarkable scent. It is not as winter-hardy as species roses or old European garden roses. The plant needs at least 2 years to establish itself in your garden before you can expect any flowers. Today, Portland roses are particularly popular in small gardens since they form small to medium sized shrubs no more than 3 or 4 feet tall and wide.

The Bourbon rose appeared on the scene later than the Portland rose. It was first grown on the Island of Bourbon (today Reunion) in the Indian Ocean in the 19th century. Bourbons form large white to scarlet blooms and have a heavy scent. The shrub is large and wide and is very easy to train on a fence. The Bourbon Rose is not as winter-hardy as species roses or Old European Garden roses and needs winter protection in colder climates. Bourbons can sometimes suffer from mildew or black spot, but the shrub is usually resilient enough to successfully handle such attacks.

The Hybrid Perpetual class was formed when gardeners began to breed the Bourbon rose with all kinds of already existing roses to form more types of re-blooming roses. The Hybrid Perpetuals therefore show very versatile characteristics. Some are very reliable and will definitely re-bloom while others are more unpredictable. Most Bourbons will bloom most vibrantly during the early summer and more moderate in autumn. Sometimes there is also a summer bloom in between. A majority of the Hybrid Perpetuals grow tall, sometimes exceeding 6 feet, which made them very popular as pillar roses or fence roses. The colors range from white to crimson and produce a very strong scent. Hybrid Perpetuals are less winter-hardy than species roses and old European garden roses, and should be given winter protection when grown in colder areas. They can sometimes suffer from mildew and black spot and require a few years to establish themselves.

European Roses

This group consists of the hybrid roses that reigned in gardens all over Europe before Rosa chinensis made its entry during the 18th century. Old European Garden Roses have a very strong but still subtle scent, much more potent than the majority of more modern rose hybrids and cultivars. Able to endure very cold climates, they actually prefer colder zones and can be very vulnerable if grown in too warm areas of the world. The Old European Garden Rose consists of five different classes: Alba, Centifolia, Damask, Gallica and Moss. They are usually less resistant to disease than Species Roses.

The Alba rose is also called the "White Rose of Shakespeare". Alba roses are not only white as the name suggests; the flowers can be somewhat pink as well. An Alba rose will only bloom once during a summer, usually around midsummer. The plant will often reach up to eight feet which makes it the tallest of the Old European Garden Roses, and Alba is used as a beautiful background to other plants since it likes to grow along north-facing walls. The Alba rose is not only a delight to the eye, it produces a soft scent as well. This rose is very sturdy and does not require much maintenance. It can also survive extreme cold. It will do best when grown in partial shade, especially in warmer climates.

You have probably seen the Centifolia rose on Dutch oil paintings. The Centifolia rose is said to be “hundred petaled” and is sometimes called cabbage rose since it almost resembles a cabbage with its tightly packed abundance of petals. The Centifolia rose is not found in the wild, it is a hybrid developed by Dutch breeders during the 17th and 18th century. The Centifolia grows in shrubs, and since the flowers are so large and dense they can weight down the stems. Many Centifolia lovers therefore grow them as pillar roses, or close to low fences that can support the flowers. The Centifolia rose can be dark pink to lavender, and blooms only one time each summer. It has a very distinct and lovely fragrance and is also resilient to cold as well as to most fungal diseases.

Damask roses were cultivated by the Romans. They were grown in European monasteries to be used in cures and remedies. The Damask rose is not as ancient as its relative the Gallicas and is taller with paler and larger foliage. The Damask rose produces an abundance of white to deep pink flowers during early summer or midsummer. The flowers grow in clusters with at least three flowers in each bunch, often more than five. The Damask rose is not only popular for its flower profusion, but for its significant “old rose” scent as well. This rose is winter-hardy and will resist most diseases without much maintenance.

The Gallicas are the oldest of the cultivated European roses. The reason behind its survival skills is that it is still closely related to its wild ancestor and will readily become naturalized when planted in temperate climate zones. It is a remarkably though plant and can grow even in quite barren soil. Gallicas form bushy shrubs and have leaves that will turn dark red during autumn. They bloom only once during summer. The flowers are cerise, strong pink or crimson – sometimes with a touch of purple. The fragrance varies.

The Moss Rose is a mutation of the old roman Centifolia Rose and it first occurred during the 18th century. Gardeners bred the mutation with Damask roses, which made the resulting cross bloom more repeatedly. All Moss Roses will bloom during early summer, but many also re-bloom during the end of the summer or early fall if the weather permits.

The breeding with Damask roses also gave the Moss Rose darker colors and it can today be found from white to very dark crimson. The buds, pedicles and sepals are covered in fragrant glands which gives the plant a fuzzy look. This appearance is unique to the Moss Rose and is what has given it its name. Most Moss Roses are though and hardy plants, but they can suffer from powdery mildew when the environment is suitable for this disease.

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