January Newsletter

January Gardening

Lets talk about roses. When you say rose most people think of hybrid teas the large flowered, long blooming plant beloved by florists. But roses are so much more. Hybrid teas are a fairly modern evolution. (the first modern tea ‘La France’ was hybridized in 1867)

The first roses were species roses. Forms of roses developed naturally on most of the continents. The well known vine, lady banks rose, is actually ‘Rosa Banksiae’ a species rose from China. Other species roses such as rugosa, foetida, and mutiflora are heavily used by breeders to develop new roses. The earliest bred roses are now referred to as old garden roses. The last 10-20 years has brought a renewed interest in old garden roses. Many breeders are combining some of their traits into new roses. (English and Palace roses) Here is breakdown of rose classifications

Gallicas are some of the oldest roses. Used in ancient Rome, they come in shades of mauve, blush and pink. They are lightly scented, fairly thorn less, bloom only in the spring and grow 3-5 foot high. The very quarter, purple crimson ‘Charles de Mills’ is quite typical of Gallicas

Damasks come from Gallicas and are extremely fragrant. They have thorns and come in pink or white. Most grow just 5-6 feet tall and bloom just once a year. Some such as ‘Rose de Rescht’ grow only to three feet and repeat bloom. The fragrance of Damask roses, makes them worth a spot in the garden.

Albas as their name would suggest are white, they also come in pink. The fragrant flowers bloom once a season in a cluster. The plant is upright and grows 5-8 feet tall. Their main attribute is they are tolerant of shade. ‘Alba semi-plena’ is white with yellow stamens with late spring blooms.

Centifolas are the intensely fragrant very full flowers we think of as the ‘cabbage rose’. Flowers range from white to mauve. The bush has thorns and grows 6 foot tall. Mosses come from Centifolas.

Chinas (from R. Chinenensis) brought the repeat blooming characteristic to European roses, and roses were never the same. The small plants grow only 3-4 feet tall. The lovely ivory pink ‘Irene Watts’ makes a good cutting rose.

Portlands grow only 3-4 feet tall, with very fragrant, very double flowers. They repeat bloom. The pink ‘Comte de Chambord’ is easily available.

Bourbons combined Chinas with Damasks. They grow larger than the Portland’s and come in shades of pink, white, red and purple. Some people consider the Bourbon ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’ to be the most fragrant of all roses.

Noisettes-produce clusters of musk scented flowers on long canes. They make wonderful climbers and repeat bloom. ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’ with its beautiful pink flowers is a great example of the class.

Hybrid perpetuals some are thornless some are quite thorny. Large, very full, very fragrant, flowers come in shades of white, pink and maroon. The plants are huge and need pegging to get maxim flower production. ‘Reine des Violettes’ is a good example of the type.

Old garden roses take longer to get started. They really don’t produce much until they have been in the ground for three or four years. But once establish watch out. These are the roses of fragrance. They also require a lot less pruning and care.

MODERN ROSES

Hybrid teas-are the large single stem flowers we think of as roses. They come in a complete range of colors. They are the most popular roses in America. Most have no scent but some such as the deep coral ‘Fragrant Cloud’ are very fragrant.

Polyanthas produce small ever blooming flowers on small bushes. The pale pink ‘Cecil Brunner’ (also available as a climber) is a nice example of the class. Polyanthas come in a whole range of colors.

Floribundas combined the traits of Polyanthas with a bigger flower. Floribundas produce flowers in a cluster that is suitable for cutting They make great landscape shrubs. They bloom constantly and need very little care. The ‘Simplicity’ series of roses are actually Floribundas, as is ‘Iceberg’.

Gradifloras are hybrid teas on steroids, they grow 6 foot or more tall. The most famous grandiflora is ‘Queen Elizabeth’. You prune them the same way you do hybrid teas

Miniatures are wonderful, behind that little flower is a very strong plant. Most grow 2 to 3 foot high they can be used in front of larger roses or in pots. Amazing enough they can stand up to our summer heat in a pot. Sun or shade they just grow. ‘Black Jade’ is a deep red long bloomer.

Climbers are a mixed bag. They range from sports of highbred teas to ones that look like species roses. You have to train them to get maximum bloom but they provide the garden with walls. Here in the desert the eastside of a wall is the best spot for them. The deep red with black edges ‘Don Juan’ is a old favorite, it stands up to our heat and blooms and blooms.

Ramblers are more pliable climbers and have more laterals. Ramblers such as the pale yellow ‘Alberic Barbier’ bloom once a season but are really covered in blooms. They come in all colors.

Shrubs is the catch all classification. Coming in all colors and shapes their claim to fame is easy care and good looking plants. More and more shrub roses are being introduced as America finds the gardening bug. ‘Knock out" a arrs winner several years ago comes in deep red and is a winner in your garden.

January is the month to plant bareroot roses. Most of the interesting roses are only available bare root. It is also the month to prune your existing roses.