Types of roses

(excerpt from Roses for Cut Flower Production a Hay Lane growers Guide)

Hybrid Tea – A cross between hybrid perpetuals and tea roses gave us hybrid teas. The hybrid tea group date back to the mid 1800’s where French growers were working hard to create ever better roses. The Empress Josephine had been passionate about roses and had inspired a desire in the population to possess these wonderful flowers, both in the garden, and on display as cut flowers in the house. Jean-Baptiste Guillot is credited with creating the first hybrid tea rose, La France, in 1867. This rose, which is of significant historical importance is still available to buy today. The Guillot family continue to breed and sell roses to this day.

Most hybrid teas are excellent for cutting, having large flowers, borne singly on long, straight stems. They are often fragrant and repeat flower well. This also makes them an excellent choice for the rose border as they will continue to produce blooms throughout the summer and early autumn.

Our favourite hybrid teas – Chandos Beauty, Elina, Enchantress

Roses ‘La France’, ‘Chandos Beauty’, and ‘Elina’

Polyantha  – small, bushy roses bearing lots of small flowers. They repeat flower and are usually scented. They grow usually only two to three feet tall and so make an excellent rose for growing at the front of herbaceous borders. They can also be used in large post to create a stunning display. The flowers are small in size and borne abundantly in clusters. They don’t have long stems and so are of little use for cutting, apart from for using in buttonholes or creating more natural, delicate displays in bud vases or low bowls.

Our favourite polyanthas – The Fairy, Gruss an Aachen

Roses ‘The Fairy’, ‘Gruss and Aachen’

Floribunda – A cross between polyantha and hybrid tea roses. Very floriferous, with flowers borne in clusters, rather than singly. They repeat flower well, but do not always have fragrance. Less susceptible to disease and hardier than hybrid teas.  Many are very useful as cut flowers, and many have the ‘English garden rose’ look that is very much in demand at the moment.

Our favourite floribundas – Champagne Moment, Koko Loco, Margart Merril, Novalis

Roses ’Champagne Moment’, ‘Koko Loco’, ‘Novalis’

Climbing roses – roses with long arching stems suitable for climbing on trellises and pergolas.  Most have large flowers which are borne on new growth many of the other groups of roses exist also as climbers e.g climbing hybrid teas, such as ‘Cecile Brunner’ or climbing bourbons, such as ‘Zephirine Drouhin’. Many climbers repeat flower well. Climbers can be useful for cutting, in particular their longer branches can be used by florists when creating archways or large urn arrangements.

Our favourite climbers-  Mme. Alfred Carriere, Constance Spry

Roses ‘Mme Alfred Carriere’, ‘Constance Spry’

Rambling roses –  roses which can get very large and are suitable for growing over large structures, or through trees. They flower on last years  growth, so need pruning as soon as the flowers have finished. Most, but not all, ramblers have only one flush of flowers and many have very useful clusters of hips, which persist well into the winter.

Our favourite ramblers – Kiftsgate, Rambling Rector

Roses ‘Kiftsgate’, ‘Rambling Rector’

Damask – very fragrant old roses. Some varieties of damasks are grown commercially for the production of rose oil for use in cosmetics and perfumes and rose water for cooking. Named for Damascus, the capital of Syria, the damask roses were imported from Persia during the crusades. They still play an important part in Middle Eastern culture and cuisine. Most only flower once in the season, but they are excellent for bringing strong fragrance to a mixed border. Essential growing for anyone interested in perfume.

Our favourite damask roses – Ispahan, Mme Hardy

Roses ‘Ispahan’, ‘Mme Hardy’

Gallica – short and busy the Gallica are an old group of roses. They have good fragrance and hardly any thorns. The Gallic or French roses were one of the first types of roses to be cultivated in Europe. They flower only once in the season and are mostly shades or reds, maroons and purples. The historically important red rose of Lancaster is a Gallica.

Example – Cardinal de Richelieu, Tuscany Superb

Roses ‘Cardianl de Richelieu’, ‘Tuscany Superb’

Alba – very hardy old roses, dating from the middle ages. They are particularly resistant to disease and easy to grow. They are also good for more shady conditions. They are very fragrant, but flowering only once in the season, usually during mid-summer. The white rose of York is an alba rose. All are valuable additions to a mixed border.

Example –  Felicite Parmentier, Queen of Denmark

Roses ‘Felicite Parmentier’, ‘Queen of Denmark’

Centifolia – spherical flowers with a strong fragrance, grown in Provence for the production of rose oil. Developed by Dutch breeders in the 16^th century they have a large amount of petals and heavy flower heads. Also known as the cabbage rose. They are hardy and easy to care for. The large flowers are sometimes too heavy for their somewhat weak stems. Excellent for use to add scent to a garden.

Example – Fantin Latour

Rose ‘Fantin Latour’