Roses are the nations favourite flower and have captivated human hearts for centuries serving as symbols of passion, beauty, and love. The genus has over 150 species including shrubs, perennials and climbers that were originally cultivated in North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. The earliest cultivated roses appeared in China around 5000 BCE and have played a significant role in various cultures. The Roman Empire harnessed their beauty using petals for perfumes and decorations while their increased cultivation during the Middle Ages allowed them to spread across Europe.
In the UK roses became particularly popular when the Wars of the Roses made them a national symbol. The red rose represented the Lancastrians while the white rose stood for the Yorkists.
In the 19th century the introduction of hybrid varieties transformed the way roses were cultivated leading to an explosion of types, colours, and fragrances. This period marked a definitive turn in rose breeding establishing the foundation for modern rose gardening.
Roses are widely categorized into 2 main groups and various sub groups. The main groups are Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses. Old Garden Roses include the Bourbons, China, Damask and Moss types while the more frequently planted are the Modern Roses and include Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Climbing Roses, Shrub Roses, Patio and Groundcover.
Hybrid Tea Roses have large blooms produced singly on long stems making them perfect as cut flowers. They are a classic double rose shape and are often rich in fragrance. Try growing Nostalgia, highly fragrant with creamy petals edged with red, and Buxom Beauty, with large magenta flowers and a very strong scent. These roses thrive in sunny locations and require careful pruning to maintain their shape.
Floribundas are loved for their clusters of smaller flowers making them ideal for garden decoration. Varieties like classic Iceberg, pure white, Sweet Honey, soft apricot, Belle De Jour, orange yellow, and Lovestruck, cherry red are all popular choices to grow. Try the open and frilly red of Cheerful Charlie too if you want to attract pollinating bees. These roses are hardy and require less care when pruning than Hybrid Teas.
Climbing and Rambling Roses are perfect for trellis, walls and arbours showing off their long arching stems well. They build a vertical dimension in gardens and offer a stunning display over time. Notable varieties include New Dawn scented pink and Pauls Scarlet, pure red.
Shrub Roses are very popular these days and are a mix of the charming and highly scented old fashioned types and the bolder and more disease resistant moderns. Try varieties such as Leah Tutu which is bushy, repeat flowering and highly fragrant with golden yellow double flowers.
Patio Roses are popular too as their dwarfing nature makes them great for small gardens and growing in pots. The petit but flamboyant Ancona Chick with masses of wine red and white striped blooms and Amber Sweet Dreams with golden amber double flowers are good varieties.
The best time to plant roses is in Autumn or Spring when the temperatures are mild. Prior to planting, select a sunny spot that receives at least six hours sunlight daily. The soil should be well drained and enriched with a good quality compost or soil improver. Dig a hole about twice the width of the root ball to allow the roots to spread and place the rose in the centre, ensuring the graft union is 5cm below the soil surface. Fill the hole with soil stomping around to eliminate air pockets and to firm the soil down around the roots. Water thoroughly.
Roses require regular watering especially during dry periods. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture while feeding with a balanced rose fertilizer in early spring will support healthy growth and blooming. Feed again in July after the initial flowering to encourage a second flush in late Summer early Autumn.
Pruning is another vital aspect of rose care. In late November, when there is no imminent threat of frost, prune the bushes to half their height. This reduces “wind rock”. Roses like to be very firmly anchored in the soil. In early spring complete pruning by reducing the plants to 3 buds about 15cms in height removing any dead or damaged wood at the same time leaving 4 to 6 stems per plant creating an open centre for better air circulation and to help prevent disease.
Roses will remain for a long time a delightful favourite in gardens. I make my rose borders more interesting all through the year by under planting the roses with lots of dwarf early flowering Daffodils and Crocus followed by Tulips, Puschkinias and Scillas with Busy Lizzies as Summer ground cover.
Roses are the nations favourite flower and have captivated human hearts for centuries serving as symbols of passion, beauty, and love. The genus has over 150 species including shrubs, perennials and climbers that were originally cultivated in North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia.
The Patio Tubs that have provided a colourful display all summer are now looking tired and overgrown so it’s time to replant them with Autumn and Winter colour.
As the days shorten, the weather cools and our tubs and hanging baskets are starting to look tired its time to fill them again with colour.
