Rose development is apparently following a pattern set many years ago when introducing hybrid teas caused home gardeners to discard many old favorites.
However, many rose fanciers are again switching their allegiance from one type of rose to another.
The present change will probably not be as radical or spontaneous as it preceded it.
Yet there is every indication of a trend towards types of greater stature, disease resistance, and bloom production. These desired attributes are found in the floribunda, Grandiflora, and shrub rose classes.
Rose hybridizers are attempting to further improve these classes’ bloom form and color range by recrossing them with hybrid teas.
This group played a major part in the growth of the new rose classes, which are destined to replace hybrid teas to some degree. However, to accomplish this objective, possibly some desirable characteristics may be sacrificed.
Genes Play A Part
Hardiness, for example, will undoubtedly decrease, since the gene for this important attribute, though present, is certainly not dominant in the hybrid tea class as a whole.
An increase in disease susceptibility and loss of vigor may also be expected with the infusion of more hybrid tea “blood.”
This does not imply that we have reached the end of the road in rose development or that further improvement is impossible.
The creation of distinct new classes is foreseen in the not-too-distant future. We possess the components in the past hybrids and the species, or wild roses, of the world, but the proper combinations have not yet been found.
Perfect Rose
Until the “perfect rose” is created, we must satisfy our rose desires by planting available varieties of our choice. Even the most discriminating can find something satisfying in our present-day catalogs.
Several types within the genus Rosa would be popular if their attributes were known.
We can pass over the modern floribundas and grandifloras for the present since they are well publicized.
Appreciation Of Rose Flowers
Let us consider those old roses species and modern shrub types, which are obtainable from at least one or more growers. Unfortunately, lack of publicity has thwarted a true appreciation of their worth.
Admittedly some of these roses flower once a year, but since we are satisfied with a comparative seasonal display by other shrubs, why should we expect a rose to bloom repeatedly?
Surely the profusion, duration, and beauty of bloom are surpassed by few other shrubs.
As an added attribute, many of the shrub roses produce brilliantly colored fruits of various hues and forms that add beauty to the fall and winter garden display.
Not only do they attract birds, but they are exceedingly attractive in dried and fresh flower arrangements.
The simplicity and natural beauty of the usually live-petaled flowers and their attractive foliage also appeal to the flower arranger.
Blooms are remarkably long-lasting if cut in the bud stage (the evening before they open) and placed immediately in warm (110° degrees Fahrenheit) water, allowed to cool gradually to room temperature.
When they open completely on the plant, the blossoms of the species shatter within a few hours after cutting.
Hardy Shrub Roses
Most shrub roses are dependably hardy throughout the country. They have a bushy habit and are more resistant to diseases compared to hybrid teas.
They would further score high in competition for overall value with shrubs of any other genus.
Father Hugo’s rose (Rosa hugonis), or the rose Spring Gold, for example, is far superior to forsythia as an early yellow-blooming shrub.
R. spinossissinut altaica, a variety of the Scotch rose, definitely surpasses members of the mock-orange family as a white flowering shrub. In addition, several shrub roses flower again as freely as the hybrid teas.
Virtues Of Shrub Roses
Failure to publicize the virtues of the shrub roses has handicapped their distribution. However, have you ever stopped to think that these roses have several uses in landscape planting?
However, do not be misled to believe that roses of this type should completely replace those of other classes.
Rather, they may be planted to advantage in combination with them because they require no more attention than many shrubs.
Generally speaking, the annual removal of dead and exceedingly old canes and cutting back rampant growth will usually suffice.
Drastic Pruning
More drastic pruning may increase the size of the individual blossoms and perhaps improve the plant’s symmetry, but there will be fewer flowers. Frequently the natural shape of the plant is spoiled in too severe pruning.
Heavy feeding is unnecessary, although plants grow and bloom better if fed occasionally. care
On the other hand, species of roses tend to sulk or produce lush foliage at the expense of flowers if fed too generously.
As wild roses of the world, they are not accustomed to highly fertile soils or pampering in their native environments.
How Shrub Roses Thrive
Home gardeners are beginning to discover that shrub roses thrive where other shrubs merely exist.
They appreciate their sturdiness, dependability, and decorative value under adverse conditions.
List Of Roses
Compiling a list of these roses is a difficult task since many desirable ones are presently unobtainable in this country.
They are gradually, however, appearing in increasing numbers in our catalogs, and this trend will be accelerated as they attain the popularity they deserve.
If you are fond of roses and do not have time to care for the more temperamental hybrid teas, shrub roses are for you to consider.
- Agnes — 5- to 8-foot R. rugosa hybrid, with double, fragrant, pale amber and gold blossoms.
- Austrian Copper (R. foetida bicolor) — A breathtaking rose under some environments. Large five-petaled blossoms are vermilion-red on top and yellow on the reverse. 4- to 5-foot plants are somewhat temperamental but still worth a try.
- Autumn n Bouquet — A large, fragrant, pink hybrid tea-like blossoms, borne intermittently throughout summer on 4- to 5-foot plants. Give winter protection if winters are severe.
- Blanc Double de Coubert — generally considered the best double white flowering rugosa, with occasional repeat bloom all summer. Plants average about 5’ feet.
- Blanche Moreau or White Moss — one of most attractive of old moss roses, with compact habit. Mossed, double-white buds and blooms are abundant in early summer on 4- to 5-foot plants.
- Cardinal de Richelieu — bushy shrub rose, 6’ to 8’ feet, with double, rich, dark violet and maroon flowers. Originated in 1840 and is still popular, always a “conversation piece.”
- Crested Moss or Chapeau de Napoleon (R. centifolia cristata) — fringed and frilled sepals and rich pink petals of partially open buds develop into large, full blooms.
- F. J. Grootendorst — double red flowers resembling carnations, appear throughout summer on sturdy, 6 -foot plants. Grootendorst Supreme, an improved form, and Pink Grootendorst differ in the blossom color.
- Golden Wings — A new variety, like a single hybrid tea, noted for hardiness and vigor. Large sulfur-yellow flowers with prominent amber stamens are produced all summer freely on this gem, which received one of the highest ratings ever accorded a variety by the American Rose Society.
- Fragrant Beauty — Similar to Autumn Bouquet, except flowers are carmine-red.
- Harison’s Yellow (R. harisoni) is a favorite of grandmother’s garden, requiring much space, moderate feeding, and minimum pruning. Semi-double, rich yellow flowers top hardy 6- to 8-foot plants, which do not bloom again.
- Maiden’s Blush — An old-timer for semi-shade, with fragrant, semi-double soft pink flowers.
- R. alba — though leggy, this 6-foot species produces numerous fragrant, semi-double white flowers in early summer. Scarlet fruits are persistent and attractive.
- Old Blush or Common Monthly — considered the variety that Thomas Moore immortalized as the “last rose of summer”, as well as the “first rose” of summer. Semi-double pink flowers appear on hardy plants—repeat freely. Unless pruned, plants may reach 5’ feet.
- Rosa Mundi (R. gallica versicolor) — more desirable than much overrated York and Lancaster rose, it makes a desirable two- to three-foot hedge. Large, semi-double flowers are broadly striped red, or dark roses, on a white or pale pink background.
- R. Spinosissima Altaica — A large, single white-flowering native of Siberia, compact and prolific in flower and fruit. Height of this superb rose is 6’ feet.
- R. damascena ‘Trigintipetala’ — Fragrant semi-double red blooms, on hardy three- to four-foot plants, are major source in commercial production of attar of roses.
- Golden Rose of China or Father Hugo Rose (R. hugonis)—except for the Japanese rose (R. multiflora), the most widely distributed species rose, with single white clusters in early summer on gracefully arching canes. Plants take a starvation diet and often attain 8’ feet on extremely poor soils. Showy red fruits appear in early fall.
- Moyes rose (R. moyesi) — A temperamental beauty, either a sensation or a disappointment. Preferring poor soil and minimum pruning, it has attractive foliage and two-and one-half inch, single, blood-red flowers on 6-foot plants.
- Rose des Peintres — large deep rose-pink, with well-formed fragrant blossoms, popular with early Dutch painters. Plants average four-and one-half feet.
- Salet — most dependable of repeat moss roses, with massed buds and large, rosy-pink blossoms. Height is 5’ feet.
- Spring Gold or Fruhlingsgold — sturdy, vigorous plants, 8’ feet or more, produce quantities of large, semi-double, creamy yellow flowers, with center mass of golden stamens, in late spring.
- Stanvell Perpetual — old variety, with intermittent blooms throughout summer. Hardy, low-growing, compact plants, not over four feet, support well-formed double and flesh-pink blossoms.
- Variegata di Bologna — Fragrant, cabbage-rose-like blooms in clusters of three to five, are white, with purplish-red stripes. Plants average 6’ feet.
44659 by Roy E. Shepherd