The historical rose gardens in Descanso Gardens at La Canada, Calif., preserve numerous species of the oldest known roses.
Beginning with the Christian Era, these varieties have been collected from all parts of the globe and planted in labeled groups along walks winding through the area.
Oldest Known Roses
Gallica Rose
One of the oldest roses is Red Gallica, the unstriped form of Rosa Mundi. It was grown by the Persians in 1200 B.C.
The lilac-colored Nestor and the unusual violet and white-striped Gros Provins Panache are other Gallica species from this era. R. gallica officinalis, the apothecary’s or healing French rose, is an ancestor of the Hybrid Perpetuals.
It blooms abundantly from late May to June with flowers that have deep pink to crimson petals. This species grows wild in New England and is thought to be the first rose brought to Plymouth and Boston in the New World.
Damask Rose
Damascena, the damask rose, is a native of Syria and was brought to France by the Crusaders and then on to England.
The name suggests poetry, travel, and romance and is claimed by a lasting and mysterious past, according to Mrs. Frederick L. Keays in her book Old Roses. It is also the source of the attar of roses.
Cabbage Rose Centifolia
The cabbage rose centifolia is a native of the Caucasus and descends from the Hybrid Perpetuals. Blooms are 3” inches wide, double, pink, and extremely fragrant.
The Greeks and Romans grew the cabbage rose in 270 B.C., and Cleopatra used its petals to carpet the floors during her courtship with Mark Anthony.
The Golden Rose Of China
Hugonis, Father Hugo, or golden rose of China, came from Central China and was one of the first ancient roses to bloom each spring.
Wonder Thorn Rose
The wonder thorn rose has ordinary white flowers, but its beauty lies in its tall arching canes, which bear huge thorns that are wing-like and translucent when young. The thorns glow like fire when the sun is behind them.
Old Pink Moss Rose
One of the famous old roses of the 15th century was the old pink moss rose. It came from Holland to England in 1596 and bore delicate pink buds in striking contrast to the mossy calyx.
Foetida Rose
Foetida, the Austrian copper, is striking. The upper petals are a brilliant vermilion, and the undersurface is a deep buttercup yellow.
Rosa Centifolia Burgundiaca
Burgundiaca, a centifolia, appeared in 1664. It is a charming miniature shrub with deep, bright rose flowers resembling clover blooms.
Alba Hybrids
The hybrids of alba came from the 17th century, and one species, the Andrews rose, was grown during the Middle Ages. It bears beautiful semi-double white flowers.
Alba is believed to be a hybrid of gallica with corymbifera, mentioned by Linnaeus in 1759, although appearing earlier.
Old Blush Rose
An old blush rose came from the early 17th century. This dainty orchid-pink rose was the first to bloom in spring and lasted until fall. It is a chinensis variety and is considered an ancestor of our Floribunda roses.
A compact grower, it produces an abundance of small well-shaped blooms that last all season. It is the first ever-blooming rose.
The poet Thomas Moore discovered it one blustery fall day in an old cemetery, still blooming radiantly, and got the inspiration for “The Last Rose of Summer.”
Napoleon Rose
Napoleon rose was discovered on the wall of an old convent near Fribourg and was sent out by Vilbert in 1827.
Acclaimed as the most beautiful rose of its time, its equal has never been produced since its origin is still unknown.
Mother’s Day Rose
In 1832, Mme. Hardy, a perfect Mother’s Day rose, was introduced and appraised as the finest white damask rose of that era.
Hybrid Gallica
In 1840, Cardinal de Richelieu, a hybrid gallica, was developed by Laffay. The perfect rich violet and maroon pincushion flowers are freely produced on a vigorous bush.
Hybrid Foetida
Harison’s Yellow is a hybrid foetida introduced in 1830 and is famous as a briar brought to California during the Gold Rush days, where it grows wild.
Souvenir de la Malmaison
Souvenir de la Malmaison is named after the famous garden of Josephine. A Bourbon Climber of 1843, it has beautiful glossy foliage and an abundance of frilled pink petals.
Chestnut Rose
A chestnut rose is a double form of Roxburgh. It appeared in 1825 and has buds resembling chestnut burrs and leaves like a locust tree.
Rose Pruning
The early-day artistic techniques were unique and interesting. For example, the rose bush of long ago was a single complete shrub not grafted onto the root of another plant.
Chemical fertilizers were not available, so manure and natural fertilizers were used.
Species that bloomed during the summer were pruned by cutting the weaker canes and reducing the more mature shoots by one-third. As a result, the old roses thrived and grew into graceful bushes by allowing natural growth.
Bushes blooming through the spring were regarded as flowering shrubs. Therefore, rose Pruning was done after the flowering season; otherwise, the blooming wood was destroyed.
Rose Arching
A system of arching the branches and putting the ends into the ground with strongly hooked pegs 6” to 8” inches long was practiced.
This was done after the canes were long enough in late summer or early fall and some instances, after spring pruning.
Arching is still practiced today. Vigorous canes can be formed into 5’ to 6’ feet high arches, creating a circular or oval outline.
In spring, when growth begins, bud shoots and flowers grow from each leaf node instead of just the cane tips. Arching produces abundant flowers, resembling a water fountain with colored lights.
44659 by Anita Miller