July 16, 2015

Rethinking Roses

Copyright Bob Osborne

Roses still rank as the most popular plant in the world, yet many are afraid to even contemplate growing them, as their reputation as a fussy and delicate plant has turned off people who are thinking about plants for their garden.

This reputation is due, in large part, to the introduction of the hybrid tea roses in the early twentieth century.  Tea roses originated in China and were first brought to Europe in the late 19th century.  They were called tea roses because their scent was said reminiscent of the smell of tea.  These roses re-bloomed and had interesting forms and colours, including yellow.

The tea roses were crossed by breeders with the hybrid perpetuals, the most popular group of roses at the time.  The results were initially known by only a few rosarians but the introduction of an orange-yellow cross called Soleil d’Or changed people’s perception of the possibilities of these crosses and soon many were produced, including the world’s most popular, called Peace.

What made these roses difficult to grow was their predilection to disease, their lack of hardiness and their upright, rather sparsely foliated growth habit.  Despite these drawbacks, they became prized as show pieces for rose shows, and were further developed by the greenhouse industry, as they lasted better than most other types of roses as a cut flower.

The modern gardener need not bother with these roses at all, unless so tempted.  Before the hybrid teas there existed many tough, hardy and productive roses.  The alba roses are an ancient group that included many superbly fragrant roses in both semi-double and double forms.  Such roses as Maiden’s Blush and Queen of Denmark are icons of this group.  The soft pink, very double bloom of Maiden’s Blush is the epitome of the old garden rose, and has been popular for over 500 years. This rose was called Nymphe’s Thighs before the Victorians arrived and decided the French name was far too scandalous for proper ladies and gentlemen.

Other older roses include the gallicas, many of which have bold red and purple colouration.  They also are often intensely fragrant.  Like the albas, they are remarkably tough and will last for many decades here if tended.  In fact some of the gallicas are a bit weedy, spreading outward with their suckers, but oh what a sweet weed!

What is perhaps most exciting in the world of hardy roses is the exponentially growing number of new varieties that are continuous blooming and disease resistant.  Diseases such as blackspot and mildew can spoil the aesthetics of a bush, and in some cases can cause defoliation.  Finding resistance to these diseases has been the goal of many modern breeding programs.

Canada has been at the forefront of these efforts.  The now famous Explorer series and the later Canadian Artist series made disease resistance a prime attribute of the releases.  Although not all are completely resistant (if there is such a thing), they are far healthier than many of the older offerings. The new Campfire rose is a prime example of a new Canadian rose that is hardy, healthy, prolific and gorgeous, with its yellow/red flowers that age to deepest pink.

European breeders have also had an important role to play in this quest.  The famous Kordes family of Germany has stressed disease resistance in all its work.  Although not all their releases are easily accessible in Canada, many can be found.  One of most interesting is a series called the Vigorosa series.  These are unbelievably prolific bloomers that are very healthy.

One of the most ambitious programs is now taking place at the Vineland Research Station in Vineland, Ontario.  This is now a partnership between the Ontario government and private investment.  They now own the rights to much of the material that came out of various breeding programs initiated by Agriculture Canada, which is no longer funding breeding on non-edibles.

Crosses are being made each year using the most promising material.  The seedlings are tested for disease resistance in the lab and only those that pass the test are released for further testing.  Several nurseries across Canada are testing these new seedlings in hopes that a few will turn out to be superior plants in every regard.

So do not be afraid to include roses in your garden.  There are so many excellent choices out there today.  You can plant one of the super tough rugosas and never have to deal with it again, or choose amongst a host of both old and new roses, hardy plants that will add brilliance and interest to your garden all season.