Many people grow roses for the abundant beauty they bring to the garden; others keep a few rosebushes around simply for their heavenly fragrance. A single whiff of a favorite variety can take you back in time, conjuring a pleasant memory of Grandma's perfume or a special bouquet.
Interestingly, it is often the old garden roses (OGRs) that have the most notable fragrance, although the scents of many modern roses do successfully mimic those of the old-timers. According to rosarian Mark Nelson, a guest on HGTV's Way to Grow old roses are generally considered to be those varieties introduced prior to 1850. Modern hybridization, he says, started in the late 1800s and is marked by the 1867 introduction of the hybrid tea known as 'La France'.
Old Garden Roses
In addition to having a characteristic heady fragrance, old garden roses, or heritage roses, are said to be more disease-resistant and require less pruning than modern varieties. Although they have taken a back seat to emerging modern hybrids over the last century, these persistent plants still hold strong appeal for a number of gardeners who recognize the value of the "original landscape roses," as they are sometimes called. Some familiar types of old garden roses:
- Alba
- Bourbon and climbing bourbon
- Centifolia (cabbage roses)
- Damask
- Hybrid China and climbing hybrid China
- Hybrid gallica
- Hybrid multiflora
- Hybrid Sempervirens
- Moss and climbing moss
- Noisette
- Portland
- Tea and climbing tea
Modern Roses
Hybrid teas are considered the benchmark of this class of roses, with their high-centered buds and long stems so popular for cutting and arranging. In addition to their form, however, modern roses are known for their bright colors such as orange, yellow and apricot, hues not normally found among the pinks and creams of old roses. Often bred to be compact repeat bloomers, modern roses include the following types:
- Floribunda and climbing floribunda
- Grandiflora and climbing grandiflora
- Hybrid musk
- Hybrid rugosa
- Hybrid tea and climbing hybrid tea
- Miniature and climbing miniature
- Polyantha and climbing Polyantha
- Shrub
Resources Information on Fragrant Roses
Edmunds' Roses
6235 SW Kahle Rd.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Phone: 503-682-1476
Toll Free Phone: 888-481-7673
Email:
edmunds@edmundsroses.com
URL:
www.edmundsroses.com
The Ultimate Rose Book
by Stirling Macoboy (ISBN: 0810939207)
Harry N Abrams, (September 1993)
Order this
title.
Guests Mark Nelson
Rose Gardener and Co-Owner, Nelson Nurseries, Inc.
2300 Sheeler Rd.
Apopka , FL 32703
Phone: 407-886-3111
Fax: 407-886-1489
URL:
www.nelsonsfloridaroses.com
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