Rosa

(Ro'sa)

DESCRIPTION: This is the group from which the Rosaceae family takes its name. It consists of a large number of species or wild types from many parts of the world. From them have been developed the Roses of all kinds that are grown in our gardens today. (See Rose.) Many of the wild kinds are of great value themselves, especially in a large garden, for they need a substantial amount of space. Their full beauty is displayed when they are allowed to grow naturally with little or no pruning. The species are single-flowered and bloom in bunches. Most of these plants bloom only once a season, but Rosa borboniana and Rosa chinensis are exceptions. They are great for planting in isolated spots on the lawn, in a shrub border or any place where they can be treated as an individual specimen. The term Shrub Rose is generally given to the Rosa species and their hybrids, such as the hybrid Moschatas (Hybrid Musks). For a fuller discussion of the hybrid kinds, see Rose. These wild types of Rosa and their common names are described in more detail below in the varieties section.

POTTING: These shrubs can grow in open, sunny spots in regular soil that has been deeply dug and enhanced with well-decayed manure, compost and wood ash. Good topsoil should be mixed in if the soil is poor. If it's peaty, a dressing of lime may be given. When working with wet or heavy clay soil, brick rubble from a builder's yard or fine coal cinders (not fine ashes) is good to add. Planting may be done in early autumn or early spring. Mulching with decayed farmyard manure or garden compost is advantageous. When pruning these Shrub Roses, useless or overcrowded branches should be thinned out rather than cutting them back. This should be done in winter or early spring, when the hips (fruits) are gone. Thinning consists of cutting out old, worn out branches, either down to the ground or back to healthy shoots on the main stems. Pruning shears or a sharp knife should be used to shorten extra long shoots, which spoil the uniformity of the bush. The thin and unripened ends of the shoots should also be cut off. The thinnning and shaping of the Rose bushes is important; along with improving their appearance, it allows sunshine and air to penetrate the main branches and ripen the wood.

PROPAGATION: Seeds, layering or propagation.

VARIETIES: The following are especially good for growing in lawn beds and shrub borders: R. Moyesii; R. Hugonis; R. Willmottiae; R. Webbiana.

These are valuable for their handsome foliage: R. Hugonis; R. virginiana; R. Willmottiae; R. Webbiana; R. rubrifolia.

Next are those that produce the prettiest fruits: R. Moyesii; R. Davidii; R. rugosa; R. pomifera; R. pendulina; R. Sweginzowii.

These are good for informal hedges: R. Eglanteria; R. spinosissima; R. Hugonis.

The following varieties are especially suited for cultivation in small gardens: R. gallica varieties, R. centifolia varieties and R. spinosissima varieties, especially Stanwell Perpetual.

Some of the best kinds are described below: (L) leaves (F) flowers. Their common names are shown in italics.

Rosa Banksiae - the Banksia Rose, too delicate to grow in the North, great for mild climates, (F), varieties have double yellow (no scent) & double white (fragrance resembling that of violets), require little pruning.

R. blanda - few or no thorns, grows 3 to 5 ft. tall, (L), consist of 5-7 leaflets; (F), pink usually several together, 2-2½ in. across.

R. borboniana - the Bourbon Rose, is of hybrid origin, the result of crossing R. chinensis and R. gallica. (F), red or purple-red, semi-double or double, about 3 in. in diameter, (L), usually have 7 leaflets, blooms late & is hardy as far north as New England. The Bourbon Rose, crossed w/ R. gallica, R. centifolia & R. damascena produced a group or Roses called Hybrid Bourbons and these crossed with R. chinensis produced the hardy Roses of the group called Hybrid Perpetuals. (See Rose.)

R. bracteata - the Macartney Rose, evergreen trailing or climbing shrub grown in mild climates, not hardy in the North, (F), large, white, 3-4 in. across, produced singly in succession from June to September.

R. canina - the Dog Rose, grows 6-10 ft. high, used mainly for budding in Europe.

R. carolina - the Pasture Rose, forms a bush, 3-6 ft. tall, spreads by suckers, (L), made of 5 leaflets, (F), 2-3 in. wide, rose-pink in June or July.

R. centifolia - the Cabbage Rose, (F), soft pink, very fragrant, grows 3-5 ft. tall. The variety muscosa, the Moss Rose, is even more popular because it has given rise to a number of named varieties of the Moss Roses (See Rose.), especially Blanche Moreau (white) and Crested Moss (deep pink).

R. chinensis - the China Rose or Bengal Rose, erect-growing shrub, up to 3 ft. tall, semi-evergreen, few or sometimes no thorns, (L), 3-5 leaflets, (F), long-stemmed, individual or several together, about 2 in. each in diameter, red, pink or nearly white, little or no scent. The wild variety of this plant is distinguished by the name R. chinensis variety spontanea. The China Rose is not hardy in the North, but some of its varieties are. One of these is R. chinensis variety viridiflora, the Green Rose (See Rose.). This kind has leaf green, petal like bracts that take the place of petals. It is grown more because it's interesting rather than for its beauty. This kind is hardy as least as far north as southern New York.

R. chinensis variety minima - the Fairy or Pygmy Rose, types vary in height from 4-15 inches, (F), pink, white or red.

R. chinensis variety mutabilis - (F), open yellow and change to orange, red and crimson, these different colors may be seen on the plant at the same time. R. chinensis variety semperflorens, (F), deep red, produced singly. The China Rose is especially important because it is a parent stock of many garden Roses. Crossed with R. moschata, the Musk Rose, it produced the Noisette Roses, R. Noisettiana. This group includes the Rose known as R. Manetti, the Manetti Rose, which is used as an understock. The China Rose, hybridized with other kinds, also gave rise to the group of Roses called Baby Ramblers.

R. cinnamomea - the Cinnamon Rose, an erect shrub, 4-6 ft. tall, (F), red or purplish, fragrant, 2 in. across, (L), usually 5-7 leaflets, occasionally 3, in May or June. The variety plena of R. cinnamomea has double flowers.

R. damascena - the Damask Rose, (See Rose.), one or more of its varieties supplies the attar of Rose perfume. This Rose is one of the parents of the Hybrid Perpetual type. The variety versicolor is the York and Lancaster Rose. (F), white petals striped w/ pink or red. Omar Khayyam, (F), blush-pink.

R. Davidii - one of the Chinese Roses, upright bush, 6 or more feet high, (F), large corymbs, rose-pink in July, orange-red fruits.

R. Dupontii - It is said to be a hybrid between R. moschata & R. gallica, active grower, forms a bush, 6-8 ft. high, (F), large, white tinted w/ pink, late June.

R. Ecae - rare Rose from Afghanistan, forms a bush, 3-4 ft. high, having thin, extremely thorny branches w/ small (L) made up of 5-9 leaflets, (F), buttercup-yellow, inch across, easily increased by layering, usually grown under the name R. Primula.

R. Eglanteria (rubiginosa) - the Sweetbrier, foliage has lovely aroma, red fruits succeed the pale pink flowers. R. Eglanteria variety duplex, double flowers. The Penzance Hybrid Sweetbriers resulted from crosses with R. foetida bicolor and the Hybrid Perpetuals.

R. foetida - the Austrian Brier, (F), deep yellow, single, about 3 in. in diameter, unpleasant odor, grows 5 to 10 ft. tall. The yellow-flowered R. foetida is often known as the Austrian Yellow Rose. There is a counterparts of the Austrian Yellow known as the Austrian Copper Rose, which differs in having its petals brilliant copper-red above and buff colored below. Botanically, the Austrian Copper Rose is Rosa foetida variety bicolor. Yet another variant, R. foetida variety persiana, the Persian Yellow Rose, has double yellow blooms. All of these are lovely plants but are very subject to black spot disease. The bright yellow, orange and flame colored modern garden Roses have R. foetida and its varieties as ancestors.

R. gallica - the French Rose, (F), fragrant, deep pink to crimson, grows 3-4 ft. tall. The variety versicolor or Rosa Mundi has light pink (F), sprayed and striped w/ crimson.

R. Helenae - a vigorous Chinese Rose, 12 ft. or more high. (L), large, composed of 5-9 leaflets, reddish beneath & dark green above, (F), fragrant, blush white, produced abundantly in large terminal corymbs late June and July.

R. Hugonis - a Chinese Rose that grows, 8-9 ft. high, elegantly arching branches are clothed with (L), made up of 5 to 11 leaflets, stems are often equipped with large, threatening thorns, (F), yellow, about 2 in. across & they start to open about mid-May, easily raised from seed & by rooted suckers.

R. laevigata - the Cherokee Rose, not hardy in the North, vigorous grower, evergreen and high climbing, (F), white and pink (but rarely, 2½ to 3½ in. in diameter & fragrant, (L), consist of 3 or 5 (rarely) leaflets. Hybridized with R. Banksiae, the Cherokee Rose, is a presumed parent of the double white-flowered R. Fortuneana. It also gave rise to the much hardier garden variety named Silver Moon.

R. macrophylla - vigorous shrub, 7 to 9 ft. high, w/ arching branches & (L), large, 6-8 in. long, consisting of 7 to 11 pairs of leaflets, (F), large, warm pink, 2½ to 3 in. across, followed by clusters of brilliant red, bottle shaped fruits.

R. moschata - the Musk Rose, one of the tallest of climbing Roses, (F), large clusters, cream-white w/ yellow centers bloom in late June and early July, permeates the breeze with a musky fragrance. This Rose has several varieties. One is Brunonii, the Himalayan Musk Rose, which (L), gray-green; variety plena, tall bush, 8 or 9 ft, (F), double, white. A race of vigorous-growing Roses has been raised by crossing the Musk Rose with some of the Hybrid Teas. The Musk Roses and Himalayan Musk Roses aren't hardy in the North.

R. Moyesii - grows 10 or more feet high, stems are armed w/ large spines, (L), consist of 7 to 13 leaflets, (F), rose-red or wine-colored, 2 to 2½ in. across, fruits are pear-shaped & orange-red. Seedlings of this Rose vary considerably in the color of the flowers and for this reason the best forms are propagated by budding because cuttings don't root easily and layering takes a long time. The variety Geranium is especially good.

R. multiflora - It has been called "Living Fence" because used as a hedge plant, it soon forms an impenetrable barrier. It isn't suitable for most home gardens because it spreads widely and takes up a substantial amount of room. The stems of this Rose are recurved, climbing or scrambling. They may grow 6 to 8 ft. (L), consist of 7 to 11 leaflets, (F), white, fragrant, produced in clusters, usually partly double, followed by small, spherical, brilliant red fruits. Rosa multiflora shows considerable variation, variety nana is dwarf, compact and bushy.

Following are more very good varieties:

R. nitida; R. Noisettiana; R. odorata; R. omeiensis pteracantha; R. pendulina, the Alpine Rose; R. pomifera, the Apple Rose; R. Primula; R. rubrifolia, the Red-leaved Rose; R. rugosa, the Japanese Brier; R. setigera ,the Prairie Rose; R. Soulieana; R. spinosissima, the Scotch or Burnet Rose; R. Sweginzowii; R. virginiana; R. Webbiana; R. Wichuraiana; R. Willmottiae.

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