Essential insights for cultivating roses:
The enduring popularity of roses, a flower rarely absent from polls for the nation's favorite bloom, remains undiminished, despite their absence in many Chelsea Flower Show gardens. Garden enthusiasts undoubtedly recognize a good plant when they see one, and roses continue to be memorable mainstays, even with a thorn's occasional nip.
Roses, with their diverse shapes, sizes, colors, and scents, are remarkable plants that can evoke olfactory delights for extended periods. With thousands of varieties available, it's no wonder that some boast unusual names, such as the red climber 'Hamburger Phoenix' and the copper-orange floribunda 'Pumpkin Patch'.
For those seeking guidance on cultivating roses, here are some resources:- Five ways to grow better roses- How to grow roses in pots- Ten gardens to visit with roses- Best roses for cut flowers
The cliché that 'roses don't smell like they used to' has been debunked. In reality, many highly-scented old roses remain available, such as 'Rose de Rescht', a magenta-flowered variety from 1840. Newer, highly-scented varieties also abound, including the sweet-scented pink shrub rose 'Maid Marian' and hot pink bush 'Buxom Beauty'.
For those captivated by history, the oldest rose available for purchase is likely to be Rosa gallica 'Officinalis', also known as the Rose of Lancaster or the apothecary's rose, dating back to the 13th century. Its fragrant flowers were believed to have healing properties.
Roses are social plants that thrive when paired with other species, particularly those that enjoy clay soil and full sun, such as perennial wallflower 'Bowles's Mauve', grasses like 'Stipa tenuissima', 'Phalaria' 'Feesey', 'Sisyrinchium striatum', rudbeckias, and hardy geraniums like 'Rozanne'.
The pursuit of a blue rose—comparable in unnaturalness to a blue Smartie—has yet to bear fruit, but gardening enthusiasts can enjoy 'Rhapsody in Blue', a dusky magenta offering, 'Blue for You', a similar shade with generous blooms, or 'Veilchenblau', a rambling rose with hundreds of small cupped blooms in a single flush.
Each year, a new Rose of the Year is crowned based on the judges' evaluations of new varieties over a two-year trial period. The 2023 recipient is the captivating, peach-hued climber 'Peach Melba'.
By preserving some flowers, roses will transform into hips by autumn. These nutrient-rich fruits contain high levels of Vitamin C and lycopene, offering potential antioxidant benefits and inflammation relief. Garden birds would also appreciate a share of these harvested hips.
Bare-root roses, purchased in winter and planted towards the end of the season, represent a thrifty, cost-effective method of gardening. By taking the time to observe and note preferred varieties, one can ensure a successful, disease-resistant rose garden. Choices include the Coral Drift Rose, Oso Easy En Fuego Rose, Flavorette Pear’d Rose, Lady of Shallot Rose, and Eden Climber Rose.
Gardening enthusiasts might be interested in exploring home-and-garden resources specifically focused on roses, such as guides on how to grow roses in pots or tips for cultivating roses in different environments. Furthermore, those intrigued by the history of roses can consider adding the home-and-garden staple Rosa gallica 'Officinalis', also known as the Rose of Lancaster, to their lifestyle for its unique heritage and potential medicinal properties.
