For several years, single roses have been out of favor. Modern rose growers have preferred fully double, many-petaled varieties. The popularity pendulum has recently been swinging toward single and semi-double roses.
This appreciation is likely due to extensive interest in flower arranging and the realization by rose growers of the need for the contrasting form given by the delicate bloom of single roses.
And too, new varieties show unusual colors and combinations of tones, with heavily textured petals on bushy plants of proven vigor. These new roses have eliminated the fragility of bloom and poor keeping quality.
Single roses can be grown in almost any place with good effect. For example, you can use them in the rose garden with hybrid teas to lighten the planting; you can grow them in the shrub border to give color all summer.
Even in the perennial border, they are valuable for their compact business and quantities of colorful season-long bloom. In addition, many types of single roses are superb as a hedge or edging for a border or garden.
Last summer, I saw the recently revived English Maid Scries flowering in the nursery, offering these varieties.
I was enthralled by exquisite flower forms and colors, the exceptionally abundant deep green foliage, and the nice shrubby habit of the bushes.
Group of Floribundas
Three of this group of floribundas have received Gold Medal and Trial Ground Certificates from the National Rose Society, so their value is proven.
These three are ‘Bonnie Maid,’ ‘Charming Maid,’ and ‘Dusky Maiden.’
‘Bonnie Maid’ is one of the loveliest of the trio. It is almost a two-toned semi-double rose. However, its light pink petals are reversed to deeper pink.
The center mass of golden anthers adds much to this rose’s appeal. As a cut flower, it is a delight; in the garden, it produces quantities of continuous bloom. ‘Charming Maid,’ displaying orange salmon buds opening to huge salmon-pink flowers centered with a wide zone of clear yellow, is a beauty.
‘Dusky Maiden’ in form and color closely resembles the favorite old climber, ‘Dr. Huey.’ It has the same open bloom, lustrous garnet-red petals, profuse stamens tipped with gold, and a rich sweet fragrance. This is a stunning rose in the garden.
Another in this series, ‘Dainty Maid,’ looks like a wild rose in form and tint, though the petals are a little more ruffled. Its resistance to rain and bad weather is remarkable. ‘Dairy Maid’ is one of my favorites.
The tightly furled little buds are flushed carmine-red. The wide flowers in closely packed clusters are the luscious tones of peaches and cream. As in others in the series, the single bloom is enhanced by masses of gold stamens.
‘Maid of Honor ‘is another personal favorite. The flowers are large, deep rich pink with a lighter, almost white, center. The bloom has a sparkling texture that is entrancing. ‘Gypsy Maid’ bears slightly cupped roses of vibrant orange-red with a wide center golden zone.
The fragrance is very sweet. ‘Sunny Maid’ is an elegant rose of the palest yellow fading to warm ivory in the open, fragrant bloom. The bushes are tall (3’ feet) and are thickly studded with flowers all summer.
Their Desirable Characteristics
An especially desirable characteristic of this series is their tendency to upright vigorous growth with flowers borne on stems nice for cutting.
Two varieties, ‘Dairy Maid’ and ‘Maid of Honor,’ grow only to 2’ feet, so they are excellent for hedges and edgings, while the 3’ feet tall sorts fit pleasingly into the rose garden among hybrid teas.
An exceptionally beautiful white single rose is the European floribunda, ‘Poulsen’s Pearl.’ The bloom is pearl-white, satin-textured with contrasting dark center stamens. This rose is of very easy culture, hardy, and a prolific bloomer.
White-Flowered Single Roses
Probably the most spectacular among white-flowered single roses are the two hybrid teas, ‘White Wings’ and ‘Innocence.’ Both are wide, perfectly formed, five-petaled roses of spotless gleaming white.
Individual flowers are often 5” inches across. They are poised in open pyramidal clusters on tall, erect plants.
Both roses are identical in form and silvery whiteness of petals, but ‘White Wings’ is centered with clusters of long gold-tipped amethyst stamens, while ‘Innocence’ is centered with yellow ones.
‘Dainty Bess’ remains the favorite of single pink hybrid tea roses. It has yet to be equated with the grace of flower and loveliness of color.
In bud, the petals form a loose frilled cup; in an open flower, the soft rose-pink ruffled petals contrast the large cluster of wine-red stamens. As a cut flower, it is supreme.
Roses In Nursery Garden
In the nursery garden where I saw it flowering, ‘Anna Wheatcroft’ was certainly an eye-catcher. Its flowers are large, borne on stiff stems, and of the most vivid geranium red imaginable. The plants stood out among other vividly colored roses.
The well-named ‘Mr. Tall’ (hybrid tea) was another rose with instant appeal. When I saw it in a nursery display garden, I immediately asked about it.
The bush was tall and straight and carried myriad huge warm, salmon-pink seven-petaled flowers, which (I was told) are produced continuously from June until frost.
‘Red Boy’ is another hybrid tea rose with color in the garden. It isn’t red, as named, but a deep vivid red-pink. The bloom is wide and magnificent.
‘Cocorico’ is a dazzling floribunda of indescribable color, probably orange-scarlet. Seen against an evergreen background in a small local garden, its color dominated the entire scene. For accent, used alone, it is gay and sparkling.
‘Irish Fire Flame’ (hybrid tea) is one of the few fine single yellow roses. The long spiral crimson buds open to 5” or 6” inch crimson-flushed golden flowers. When the foliage unfolds, it displays soft rose, red, and bronze tones in harmony with the blossom tones.
Another lovely yellow single rose is the old ‘Cecil.’ It, too, is a hybrid tea. It grows tall, very vigorous, and bushy. The luxuriant foliage is large and deep green. The single, five-petaled blossoms are large, a silvery yellow.
‘Pax,’ a hybrid musk rose, is a beauty. It makes a big bush that may be used as a graceful shrub, trained over walls or fences, and pruned to fit into any rose bed. The fragrance is a delight. The ivory-white flowers with prominent gold stamens are produced all summer.
‘Mermaid’ is temperamental, but it is worth the trouble if the grower can keep it. It is exquisite—a wide, yellow rose with clusters of conspicuous stamens.
It prefers to creep over stones, on a fence, or, if protected, against a building. In cold climates, it will not survive.
Similar, but more satisfactory from a survival standpoint, is ‘Golden Wings,’ a hybrid tea. Ordinarily, it grows to about 3’ feet of the vigorous, informal bush, suitable for hedges and group plantings.
The flowers are radiant and lovely. The five petals are clear yellow, deepening to gold at the center, where masses of orange-yellow anthers add more color.
‘Fantasy’ is another beauty with ten two-tone petals of yellow and pink.
‘Betty Prior’ remains one of the best shrubby roses for mass and background use. The bloom is similar to ‘Dainty Bess,’ but the pale pink petals are reversed with a deeper tone. It is seldom out of bloom through the summer.
‘Sarabande’ is another rose of an indescribable color. Red, yes, but with coral, gold, and orange in their makeup.
The clusters of golden stamens make the red hues seem even more vibrant and brilliant. As a hedge, ‘Sarabande’ is sensational. Like ‘Cocorico’ it demands isolation from other roses.
The Scotch rose, ‘Fruhlingsmorgen,’ is another single rose of great beauty, vigor, and hardiness. The wide five-petaled flowers are soft yellow-edged with deep cherry pink and centered with maroon stamens.
The bloom is borne on short stems on arching canes in the fashion of the old favorite, Rosa hugonis. The foliage is soft blue-green, attractive in itself; the fragrance is delightful. It is especially good for cutting in long sprays.
While the rugosa hybrid ‘Flamingo’ is not primarily a rose for cutting, I enjoyed the clusters of this rose indoors, which they kept for days.
The bloom is similar in color to ‘Dainty Bess,’ but the five petals are slightly recurved. The buds, encased in long green bracts, are attractive and add much to the flower’s charm.
44659 by Martha Pratt Haislip