Last month we discussed the Modern Roses, the Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Grandifloras, and the English Rose. This month we look at the historical roses of the Old World. Old Roses, generally considered to be those bred before 1867, have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Our intent is to give you a brief look at the various varieties of Old Roses as a landscape plant. Many excellent books have been written on the lore of the Old World Rose. There is also a wealth of information available on the Internet such as The Old Rose at http://www.mc.edu/~nettles/rofaq/rofaq-or.html. We suggest taking the time to study the history and beauty of the Old Rose.

• Gallica Rose - A usually short stocky shrub rose, blooms are in shades of red, open flowering, with the stamens exposed, and held on upright stems. Alba Rose - These are large vigorous growing plants with clusters of white to pink medium size fragrant flowers.
• Centifolia Rose - This four to five foot large leafy shrub rose carries medium size white to rosy-red flowers on nodding canes.
• Centifolia Mossy Rose - A rose considered the sport of the Centifolia Rose that bear on their stems’ green to reddish-brown growths that resemble moss.
• Damask Rose - A rose with large upright arching canes holding large few-clustered white to deep pink blooms.
• Canina Rose - This rose is a healthy, hardy tall growing plant with single pink or white flowers produce coral-red hips.
• Foetida Rose - A big arching rose, best know for its shades of yellow blooms.
• Boursault Rose - Boursaults are large pink and red flowering, often climbing, and usually show excellent fall color.
• Agathe Rose - A small flowering compact leafy shrub rose, blooming in shades of pink.
• Hemispherica Rose - A somewhat difficult rose to grow, known for its yellow flowers which are sometimes double.
• Setigera Rose - Tough, hardy climbing rose which produced many early American climbers.
• Turbinata Rose - Very small group of roses known for their large foliage and intense rose-pink blooms.
• Rubigirosa Rose - This rose is best known for it’s open leafy apple scented foliage, blossoms are single pink to white with orange red hips.
• Wichurainana Rose - A rambling climbing rose generally flowering in clusters of single white to red blooms.
• Sepervirens Rose - Another climbing variety, flowers are usually carried in large clusters.
• Multifloria Rose - Large rambling hardy plant with small single fragrant blooms.
• Damask Perpetual Rose - This was one of the earliest re-bloomers with double flowers born on medium size canes, very vigorous and fragrant.
• Pimpinellifolia Rose - A medium size rose with small flowers blooming in a wide range of colors, very hardy.
• China Rose - This continuous blooming rose is best known for its deep red colors, an open bushy shrub rose that can be hard to grow in colder areas.
• Bourban Rose - This is the rose that most often comes to mind when thinking of Old Roses, Large fragrant flowers, a re-bloomer that is very hardy.
• Hybrid Perpetual Rose - Another hardy re-blooming rose with large flat flowers in a wide range of colors born on arching canes.
• Tea Rose - Named for the scent of their open blossoms they are only marginally hardy and are best known for the crosses they have made.
• Pernetiana Rose - A glossy leaved marginally hardy rose best known for its blooms in shades of yellows.
• Rugosa Rose - Another glossy green leafed shrub rose which is extremely vigorous, often grown for its bright red hips.
• Noisette Rose - A rose known for large clusters of medium size flowers born on long leafy canes, sometimes climbing.
• Polyantha Rose - A very fragrant shrub rose with smallish blooms in shades of white born in clusters.

We are sure we have probably overlooked some Old Roses as they have been around a long time. We would suggest looking at Yesterday’s Roses at http://www.Country-Lane.com/yr/, White Rabbit Roses at http://www.mcn.org/b/roses/, and The Roseraie at Bayfield at http://www.roseraie.com/ for further cultural and historic information. They also contain some very good pictures. I hope that our brief discussion will want you at least to look at the various varieties of Old Roses available to the home gardener.

This month’s Yard Talk is on a subject we have been trying to avoid, Rose Gardening. We have been avoiding this subject not because of any dislike for roses, as we have many in our gardens, but because it is such a bold topic. We probably receive more questions on roses than any other plant. The number one question we receive is, “What variety of rose should we grow in our gardens?” Closely followed by, “How does the various varieties differ?” Trying to answer these is really kind of mind boggling, but here goes knowing we will leave out some. 

Roses are generally broken down into two groups Modern Roses and Old Roses. Old Roses are those that existed before 1867 when the first Hybrid Tea “La France” was bred, and Modern after this event. Old Roses are usually once blooming, disease resistant, and require less maintenance than Modern Roses. The following are some Old Roses:

For additional information on many of these Old Roses we recommend visiting Yesterday’s Roses at http://www.Country-Lane.com/yr/. 

Hybrid Tea Roses were the first Modern Roses and easily the most popular today. As a group, they have high pointed flower buds, are excellent repeat bloomers, and have one flower per stem. They come in a variety of clear and blended colors that are excellent for cutting. This is the rose most often found in the Floral Shops and what usually comes to mind when roses are mentioned. They are also the hardest of the Modern roses to grow, subject to many garden pests and diseases, and are only hardy to Zone 5 with protection. 

The next Modern Rose to find their way into the garden was the Floribundas, a cross between the Hybrid Tea Rose and the Polyanthas Rose. Floribundas are a hardy, bushy rose, which usually produces clusters of flowers. The blooms are clear or blended colors like the Hybrid Tea although generally smaller in size. They are at their best when planted in mass. Although they are more hardy then the Hybrid Teas they still require protection in Zone 5. 

The Grandiflora Rose is a cross between Floribundas and Hybrid Tea Roses. They are more hardy then either of their parents, much taller, with the flowers being much larger, and born in clusters. Like their parents, the blooms are available in a wide range of clear and blended colors. Their hardiness makes them the best suited for the novice gardener, particularly in the northern regions. 

The newest of the Modern roses is the English Rose. These are often referred to as the “David Austin Roses” after the English hybridizer who first bred them in 1969. He has tried to combine the form of the Old Rose with their many petalled cupped shaped blooms with the continuous flowering of the Modern Rose. He also wanted to introduce a wider range of colors, while maintaining the fragrance of the Old Rose. The English Rose is a very hardy rose and not as prone to as many pests or diseases as the other Modern Roses, we have seen it growing above Zone 4. 

As you can see the varieties of roses available is mind boggling and we have not even touched on climbing, miniatures, or tree roses. The Old Roses and the David Austin Roses are really popular now. Of course how can one beat the beauty of the Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and the Grandiflora Roses? There are even roses now available which will tolerate the shade garden, for more on this visit Donna’s Roses in Shade at http://www.nbn.com/~holmes/roses.htm. What are our favorite roses? My wife likes the Hybrid Teas, particularly Candy Stripe and Flaming Peace while I like the Floribundas such as Pure Poetry and Impatiens. Whatever variety you choose, you are selecting not only something beautiful but something of historical significance .

Wildflower Gardening has, in recent years, enjoyed an increase in popularity as gardeners have discovered just how versatile our native plants can be. Wildflowers are not only finding their way into the traditional garden but, are being used increasingly as a replacement for the traditional lawn, all but eliminating mowing. States are turning to wildflowers along highways to reduce maintenance costs. Like all gardening though, wildflowers have their own demands.

Successful wildflower gardening requires careful planning, soil preparation, and seeding. Pick your site carefully, preferably not north facing or one that has a history of heavy weed growth. Make sure that the area receives enough sunlight for the wildflowers you will be using. Usually site preparation will take one to two years using a combination of cultivation and herbicide applications to eliminate existing growth, roots, and weed seeds. Your task will be made easier if you choose a site that does not border areas of aggressive weedy plants. You will also have to allow for the soil type in site selection. For example, many plants hate heavy clay soils while others cannot stand to have their feet wet.

Make your seed selection carefully. Look not only for flower type but also purity of seed. We recommend using nothing less then 95% pure seeds. Also, avoid those packaged seeds geared to the tourist trade. It might be nostalgic to use “North Manitou Island Wildflowers” in remembrance of that special moment in your garden, but the chances of them growing into something beautiful are slim. Select a variety of wildflowers including some of our native grasses. You want to have a variety, not only for color but to maintain bio-diversity. By providing plants occupying different parts of the soil, you help insure that wildflowers will squeeze out competing weeds. This is one of the secrets to having a low maintenance garden.

Wildfowers certainly have a place in the garden but, do not expect to buy a packet of seeds at the corner drugstore, sprinkle them around, and magically have a field of flowers. It just does not work this way. With a little planning and some up-front work, you can have something that will last for years with little maintenance. The butterflies and birds will love you too.