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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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