Roses - Antique

Dr. William C. Welch

Foreshadowed by modern hybrids, old roses have been overlooked in this century; but now there is a renaissance afoot to restore the older varieties to their place in the garden. Their historic interest, color, fragrance, and form should make old roses as indispensable to today's gardens as they have been for centuries. Many gardeners will attest, the best thing about old roses is that many of them provide all these landscape values without becoming a maintenance burden.

The American Rose Society defines the term "old rose" to be varieties introduced prior to 1867. Others consider any variety that has been in cultivation for 75 or more years or having old rose characteristics for flower form, color and fragrance to be old.

Why Old Roses?

Long before its extensive hybridization, the rose had survived cheerfully in the gardens of history. Early rose cultivars retained the resilience and fortitude programmed by nature, but these qualities have sometimes been neglected in modern hybrids developed primarily for showy blooms. Unlike modern roses which often grow poorly without many hours of devoted attention, most old roses will give today's busy homeowner an appreciated rest from much of the heavy fertilizing, spraying, and nurturing demanded by their younger cousins. Some old rose varieties actually prefer a minimum of pruning. And as specimens found in old cemeteries and abandoned homesites attest, many have survived even without care from human hands.

Old rose varieties tend to be stable, long lived, and sturdy, especially when grown from cuttings. Many show a strong resistance to black spot and other diseases. The unforgettable "true rose" fragrance live in their undiluted form in old roses. Such richness and diversity of fragrance are not found in the modern hybrids. Old roses have an inherent beauty of form, a quality which does not diminish over the years. This makes them especially useful as landscape plants.

The old rose colors tend to be more muted and pastel than in modern hybrids, but many collectors acquire a preference for the softer hues. Some varieties display handsome foliage, while others set attractive hips in the fall which can be harvested for their Vitamin C content.

Landscaping with Antique Roses

Roses were historically planted for garden display as much as for cut flower use. Species roses and early hybrids were more shrub-like and tended to be more insect and disease resistant than their modern cousins. Old roses occur in many shrub and vine sizes making them truly versatile plants.

A brief look at some of the ways old garden roses have been used in landscapes of the past can stimulate possibilities for today's gardens.

Trellises and Espaliers

Trellises can be attractive structures themselves and with addition of climbing roses the effect can be spectacular. Ready made trellises are usually skimpy and out of scale in the landscape. Treated pine, redwood, cedar, or similar long lasting woods are appropriate. Sometimes a frame can be built, then 4' x 8' modules of pre-fabricated trellage used to finish the design.

Roses can be used for espaliers on the walls of various structures. It is important that roses receive plenty sunlight have good air circulation. Walls limit both of these important commodities and may result in problems with mildew, blackspot, and spider mites. Select varieties that have some resistance to these problems to increase your chances for success.

Climbing roses trained around windows or over doorways can be especially attractive. In England, roses are sometimes trained on a wall and allowed to grow on trellage placed on the roof. Only the hardiest roses, however, can tolerate the sun and radiated heat of our Texas summers.

Consider some of the species climbers and exceptionally hardy hybrids such as 'Me. Cecile Brunner' 'Lamarque', 'Lady Banks', 'Fortuniana', and 'Zepherine Drouhin.'

Hedges

Rose hedges can be quite beautiful but are best used sparingly because of their relatively high degree of maintenance. They are best when shaped periodically but not clipped as one would treat boxwood or privet. Sunny locations and good air circulation are needed to successfully grow rose hedges. Relatively low hedges of 3'-4' can be maintained with some of the Polyantha and China roses. 'Marie Pavie' 'La Marne' 'Old Blush', and various red Chinas are good choices.

Hybrid Musks are useful where 5'-7' hedges are appropriate. 'Ballerina' 'Penelope' 'Cornelia' and 'Belinda' are good prospects. For really large hedges some of the species roses are good. The white or yellow form of Lady Banks makes huge mounding plants 15'-20' in diameter and 12'-15' tall while requiring little maintenance.

Thorny roses such as 'Mermaid' and 'Cherokee' may be desirable to form an impenetrable hedge while affording habitat for various bird and animal species.

Staggered plantings rather than straight rows are more appealing if sufficient space is available. Roses for hedges may be spaced as closely as 2' apart for small types and 10' to 12' apart for Banksias, Mermaid, etc

Although it is usually best to use only one kind of rose is a hedge, interesting effects can be, created by using several types. When this is done it is usually more satisfying to use three or more of a kind together.

Specimens

An occasional large rose specimen in a shrub border can be effective. Also, a number of specimens can be used in a lawn area. Large specimens can also be used to screen unsightly areas or to cover dead trees, stumps, etc.

Some roses have a distinctive weeping form. The Swamp Rose' is a good example and can be used effectively as a single specimen.

Arches and Pillar

Arches can be among the most dramatic garden features. Logical locations are at the entrance or exit to a garden area where a path crosses beneath. It is critical that the arch be in scale with its surroundings and be built of compatible materials. Ready made arches sold by mail are often too small to fit into most settings. Sufficient height and width must be allowed to accompany the drape of the rose or other vines used.

The foliage of the rose is equally as important as the flowers. Stiff caned woody climbers are not nearly so effective on arches as they are on fences and walls. Consider Noisettes, climbing Teas and various ramblers

Pillars of roses can be used to enframe a garden or as specimens. The pillars themselves are often made of rustic wood sometimes leaving stubs of branches to support the vines Victorian gardens sometimes connected pillars with chains on which rambling roses were trained.

Three rustic posts may also be installed tepee style and lashed or nailed at the top to provide an interesting effect when covered with roses. An umbrella trained rose can also be interesting. This can be done by training a rose such as the climbing form of 'Me. Cecile Brunner' up a central column and out over an umbrella shaped support.

Pergolas

Another name for a garden pergola is a covered alley. Such structures are fairly common in large formal gardens and can sometimes be used in today's residential landscapes. in small gardens, pergolas can be shortened to 2 or 3 posts, making them deepened archways.

Pergolas are most effective on level ground in straight lines. They can be arranged in a cross with each path leading to separate gardens.

Pergolas may be constructed of rustic timbers, iron, finished wood, or a combination of brick and the previously mentioned materials. I have also seen them created from concrete designed to look like rustic timbers. The path beneath can be grass, stone, brick, or gravel.

Ever-blooming roes may be alternated with once flowering types or a single variety used for maximum impact. Most ramblers or climbing roses are appropriate for use on pergolas.

Banks and Groundcovers

Loose shrubs and trailing roses are sometimes used on banks and other sunny locations as groundcovers. Keeping such plantings weed free while they are becoming established is often a challenge. Heavy mulching can help. Some of the Wichurianas and other ramblers may be used in this manner. Certain of the species roses such as the Banksias, Swamp Rose, and R. Fortuniana can be very effective when allowed to tumble over a wall, especially if there is a pool of water below.

Mixed Borders