Roses

For millennia, roses have beguiled humans. The first cultivation of these flowers dates back more than 5000 years in China. Fossil records suggest that roses may have been around for more than 30 million years. Regarded as the ultimate icon of love, grace, beauty and elegance, roses continue to be the subject of art and poetry across the world.

Leaves, petals, hips and roots all have medicinal properties. Rose hips (fruits) are rich in vitamin C and make a wonderful “rose apple” jam; rose-petal elixir calms the nerves and lifts the spirit.

Each year, we aim to offer a diverse selection of unusual and antique varieties. Unlike hybrid tea roses, these roses are all vigorous, cold hardy and on their own roots. The antique varieties grow slowly compared to newer hybrids and tend to be more difficult to propagate. You may notice when you receive your order that some of these roses have small root systems and little top growth. Don’t be alarmed by this—it’s just the nature of these old varieties. We can attest that they perform just as well as the others. If roots are tangled, cut them back to 6" or so and spread them out in the planting hole.

Roses are native to temperate regions throughout the world.

Old-fashioned Roses

Roses grown in Europe before 1800 are referred to as “Old World” roses, including the cultivars of Rosa gallica. Their pink colors ranged from the deepest dark purple of ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ to a faint pink blush like that of ‘Chloris’. There were no reds among these antique roses and, though rich in fragrance, they bloomed only once per season. In the late 1700s red roses with repeat blooming tendencies were introduced from China, shifting the focus of rose breeding toward those traits. Demand for the aromatic and medicinal qualities of the Old World roses declined, supplanted by flowers that lasted long through the season. The hybrids created since the 1820s are called “modern” roses and are much more commonly seen in gardens today.

Rosa gallica is considered the oldest rose, steeped in history, legend and myth, and still grows wild in some places in the Caucasus, the mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas, where it originated. Its exact origin is unknown but it can be traced back fourteen centuries when it was considered a symbol of love by the Persians. The aromatic petals hold their scent better than any other rose and have long been considered medicinal. This species contains hundreds of different cultivars, some very similar and others unique. Most have compact shrub habits and are generally very hardy. Most modern-day roses are presumed to be descendants of the gallicas.

Rosa rugosa hybrids

We no longer offer straight Rosa rugosa seedlings. Many wonderful old and new roses carry rugosa in their parentage (sometimes of an undetermined amount), and we have not observed these hybrids to be harmful to the environment. However the State of Maine legally requires us to include this statement: “R. rugosa: Invasive species, harmful to the environment. Do not plant in coastal environments, especially on or near sand dunes. Alternatives: Virginia rose, bayberry, red chokeberry, and beach plum.”

For more info:
About Rosa rugosa

Growing Roses

• Soil: Well-drained soil with a good amount of organic matter.
• Sun: Full sun, but some will tolerate part shade. Pick a site with good air flow, but avoid sites with cold northwest winds.
• Spacing: 4–6' apart.
Sun: Full sun, but some will tolerate part shade. Pick a site with good air flow, but avoid sites with cold northwest winds.
• Planting: Plant as early as soil can be worked. The roots of roses don’t spread beyond the original hole, so dig a bushel-sized hole, as deep as 2' or more. Mix soil with liberal quantities of well-rotted manure and compost. Add a coffee-can of rock phosphate or bone meal.
  • Prior to planting, prune plants back to 3–5 of the best canes.
  • Keep roses well mulched to retain moisture and reduce weeds. Add 2 shovelfuls of compost to each crown annually in late fall.
• Pruning: Other than clipping out any dead wood, shrub roses and climbers require little pruning.