Rose Descriptions
   In Alphabetical Order

 Text written by Patricia Stemler Wiley, Dorothy Stemler and Guinivere Vestal Wiley.

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Abraham Darby.  David Austin.  (1985)  5 to 8 feet (if left to climb).
                              Flowers Repeatedly. Zones 5-9.
     Large cupped blossoms that are pink tinged with apricot and yellow.
They bloom throughout the season on this disease and mildew resistant shrub.
This popular plant is well suited as a free standing shrub or can be trained as a
low climber.  The blooms have a strong, fruity fragrance and the foliage is
dark green and glossy.


Agnes.  Hybrid Rugosa. (1922) 4-6 feet. One profuse annual flowering, then
occasional blooms. Zones 4-9.
      The offspring of two very hardy roses, a Rugosa and Persian Yellow, and itself
completely winter hardy.  Intense dark green ribbed foliage is a beautiful backdrop
for the buds and globular, fully double, 3 inch flowers of pale harvest moon yellow
that cover the arching canes like a scattering of stars, and emit a sweet scent with a
tangy overtone.
     Deborah Bodner, Rollinsford, New Hampshire, wrote, “Special praise to Agnes,
which has survived 2 years of almost no snow cover, and being driven over by a
snow plow, and still keeps going strong . . . and our plant of Agnes was 1 1/2 grade!”


Alchymist.   Climber.  (1956)  10-15 feet.  One long annual flowering. Zones 4-9.
  Karen Kaufman,  Pittsboro,  North Carolina, wrote  "Every shade of peach
in existence finds its way into the blossoms,  which are beautifully formed
at every stage...and such energy of growth!  It is a masterpiece!"
     Although peach tones are evident in deepening hues toward the center,
the blooms give the overall impression of a delightful, soft yellow.  The
spring bloom is extended from early May to mid June here in California and
comes on cascading, arching canes from a strong plant with good disease
resistance.


Alfred de Dalmas.  (Mousseline)  Moss.  (1855) 2-3 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(al-FRED duh dahl-MAH)  Zones 5-9.
     A healthy, compact, low growing plant, excellent to use for a border.  It blooms
like a floribunda.
     Small, well mossed buds open to dainty, altogether charming flowers.  Its other
name, "Mousseline," describes it best, for the crisp blush pink to white blooms have
the quality of fine French muslin.
 

Aloha, Climbing. Climbing Hybrid Tea.  1949.  8-10 feet.  Zones 5-10.
A beloved climber with well shaped and sweetly fragrant buds that become large full blooms
of  two-toned pink roses with a backdrop of  dark green disease resistant leathery leaves.
It needs heat for best color and form.
 

Climbing Altissimo.  (1966)  6-8 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     A vigorous, heat tolerant, and disease resistant climber with long
lasting large single flowers with seven deep blood red, velvety petals with
bright yellow stamens.  The blooms last long and make beautiful cut flowers.
Easily trained to grow along a fence or on a pillar or up a tree,  as well
as a freestanding, upright plant.


Ambridge Rose  David Austin. 1990. 4 feet.  Apricot Pink. Fragrant. Blooms Repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     This is one of two (Fair Bianca is the other) of Oprah's favorite roses for her
bedside table.  The apricot pink rosettes have a deliciously strong rose fragrance and the
medium size blooms with 50-100 petals bloom repeatedly on a medium size bushy
plant with medium green colored foliage.


Climbing America.  Large Flowered Climber. 1976. 10-12 ft.  Repeat bloom.  Zones 4-9.
An award winning climber with well formed large coral pink buds and blooms
that have a strong spicy fragrance.  Cli. America's parentage is the wonderful bright yet
creamy orange "Fragrant Cloud" and "Tradition".  AARS rated 8.3 as it is a proven
performer which blooms on new and old wood.
 


Angel Face.  Floribunda.  (1969)  3-4 feet.  Repeat bloom.  Zones 5-9.
     Angel Face comes from two of our favorite lavender roses, Lavender Pinocchio (x Circus)
and Sterling Silver.  A low rounded plant with dark, leathery, glossy foliage and fully
double ruffled lavender blooms edged in purple exuding a strong citrus fragrance.  In
2001, Angel Face was the James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal Winner, which
is awarded to very fragrant roses by the American Rose Society.


Angel Face, Climbing.  Climbing Floribunda.  (1981)  10-12 feet. Zones 5-9.
     Climbing Angel Face is a  sport of the well proven bush, and has the same ruffled
lavender flowers and strong citrus fragrance.  It can be trained along fences or walls
but it should be noted it blooms on old wood only and established plants give more
bloom.   Customers have been raving about Angel Face this year so we decided to
add the climbing version as well to our selection.

Applejack.  Shrub by Griffith Buck.  (1972)  5-8 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.
     Long, pointed buds of bright pink and 3 to 4 inch semidouble flowers with petals
that curl and flare, showing glowing pink on the underside, pearly pink on the inside,
ornamented at the center by a thick boss of golden stamens.  Delightful apple scented
foliage.



Austrian Copper.  Rosa Foetida Bicolor.  (Prior to 1590)   4-5 feet.  One
annual flowering.  Zones 3-9.
     The fanfare announcing the opening of the rose season.  Most
brilliantly colored of all roses...the 1 inch single blooms, orange on the
upper side of the petals, yellow on the reverse, literally cover the plant.
I have seen huge old plants in Illinois,  Wisconsin and Minnesota completely
winter hardy without protection. Dislikes being fussed over, and shows its
independence by dropping spent petals, leaving only the gold stamens on the
plant.
     Everyone wants this rose when it is in bloom in our garden and we
seldom have enough plants to supply the demand.
     Special note on pruning of the foetidas, Graham Stuart Thomas remarked,
"Pruning seldom improves the results."

Baby Faurax.  Polyantha. (1924)  8-12 inches. (BAY-bee foh-ROCKS)
     A dwarf plant that puts all its energy into flowering.  Blooms in clusters of
tiny buds opening to reddish violet 3/4 inch double flowers, enlivened by a
touch of white at the center and yellow stamens.  A cluster smaller than one's
hand will have over 50 buds in it . . . a miniature bouquet arranged by nature.
     Introduced in 1924 . . . yet still one of the best lavender toned border roses.



Ballerina. Hybrid Musk.  (1937)  6 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     I've long wanted to add this lovely rose to our collection of Hybrid
Musks, those roses so valuable to the modern garden with their tolerance to
filtered light and disease resistant qualities.  This one is palest pink
with a white center in a five petaled bloom continually flowering in large
bunches.


Banksia Lutea.  Yellow Lady Banks Rose.  (1824)  15-20 feet.  One annual
flowering.  Zones 8-10.  (BANK-see-ah LOO-tea-ah)
     Rosa Banksia Lutea is the yellow banksia which blooms in large clusters of tiny
pompons, only slightly larger than pieces of popcorn.  Its thornless canes create a
welcome respite as they grow over a shaded seating area in the garden.  It is a valuable
landscape plant for hillsides or fence covers as they are dormant only a very short time
in the winter.  As this variety must be grown under special culture techniques, it must
be shipped when as dormant as possible, so we do not recommend them to be shipped
later than March 1st, nor should they be planted in any climate where you cannot
plant before March 1st.  Little fragrance.



Baron Girod de L'Ain.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1897)  3-4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(bah-RONH zjee-ROH duh L’AHN)  Zones 5 -10.
     Baron Girod de l'Ain belies my statement Roger Lambelin is unique, for it, too,
has petals edged white, but the color is ruby red, instead of maroon.  A healthy,
upright plant with large, medium green foliage, few thorns and 3 inch, handsomely
cupped flowers with an intense old rose fragrance.


Baronne Prevost.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1842)  4-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
                             (bah-RAWN pray-VOH)  Zones 4 -10.
     Of the many Hybrid Perpetuals grown and named in the mid 1800s, Baronne Prevost is one of the earliest, one of the finest and most prolific.  My favorite Hybrid Perpetual, probably because it has the classic form of the best of the old roses. . . big, flat open flowers with many small, tightly packed petals of rose pink with silvery reverse, richly perfumed.  One of the first Hybrid Perpetuals to bloom, and it never stops until frost.  A strong, healthy, hardy, compact plant.  This rose is irresistible to rose show judges who regularly name it  “Dowager Queen.”
     Anita Titus Terzian, of Forest Hills, New Jersey, wrote, “What a wonderful, vigorous plant - healthy leaves and gorgeous blooms!  The powerful perfume does not dissipate and the plants kept on blooming until November.”
 


Belinda.  Hybrid Musk.  (1936)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5 -10.
     A great rose with a strong constitution.  Literally covers itself with large trusses of lightly
fragrant, bright pink, 1 inch semi double flowers, and it does this in filtered light
as well as sun.  Has healthy, clean foliage under all conditions.  One of the best Hybrid
Musks for hedgerow use, or as a fountaining pillar, supported by a post.  If you want
a rose that takes little care and fussing, and is one of the most beautiful and
colorful, Belinda is your answer.


Belle de Crecy.  Gallica.  (Prior to 1848)  4 feet.  One annual flowering. Zones 5-9.
(bell duh cray-SEE)
     The 3 1/2 to 4 inch flowers open wide and flat, with many petals and a green
eye at the center, much like the classic Madame Hardy.  When newly  open he
petals are cerise pink, shaded with violet, their reverse silvery blue violet.  Then
the outer petals quickly change to blue violet.  The canes are rather lax and may
be pegged over in an arched position which causes upright blooming stems to
break all along them, or otherwise given them support.  Graham Thomas, who
I believe knows more old roses intimately than anyone, writes in his fine book,
The Old Shrub Roses,  “Belle de Crecy is supreme among all old roses, and
for the fragrance it is hard to beat.”


Belle of Portugal.  Hybrid Gigantea.  (1903)  20-30 feet.  One annual flowering. Zones 8-10.
     Belle of Portugal grows all over California in places where it gets no care at all,
and blooms in great profusion late in April and during May.  Also called “Belle
Portugaise”, it is a great favorite with many memories.  Its long canes are highly
adapted to “tree climbing,” and the very long, pointed buds open to 4-5 inch flesh
pink, loose blooms with long petals.  Nicely fragrant, with long cutting stems.
     Belle of Portugal dislikes too much fertilizing with nitrogen rich fertilizers - feed
once after the spring flowering using a good all around rose food, then follow with
monthly feedings of a fertilizer that is richer in phosphates and potash than nitrogen.

Belle Poitevine. Rugosa.  (1894) 4-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly. (bell-pwo-tuh-VEEN)
     No roses beat out the Rugosas for garden ornament.  The hardiest of all, they create
beautiful pictures, are resistant to rose pests, mildew, rust and blackspot, and need no
pruning, except to remove dead wood.  However, they do not mind being trimmed to
any shape and size desired.
     Belle Poitevine produces a constant parade of double lilac pink, 4 inch blooms with an
intense fragrance that bees and humans love.  After the petals drop large red heps form
that are high in Vitamin C.
     Jean Schubert, Boonville, Missouri, wrote, " . . . this year I planted Belle Poitevine
in a new shrub border and I think it has won over my heart . . . for pure visual beauty
in a landscape it takes the prize."

 

Bewitched.  Hybrid Tea. (1967)  4-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-9.
     By request of Len Edwards, a long-standing customer from Los Altos Hills,
we have added this cotton candy pink rose to our list of Hybrid Teas.  Rich damask
fragrance and long, strong cutting stems on a vigorous bush make this Hybrid Tea
a classic.  Established plants give the best bloom, and this rose particularly enjoys
a good drink of water regularly to support all of those wonderful large blooms it
produces all season long. Holds its color in midsummer heat although best size
and color are in somewhat cooler conditions.



Blanc Double de Coubert.  Rugosa.  (1892)  3-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(blahn DOO-bluh duh koo-BEAR)  Zones 3-9.
     Handsome rugose foliage, hardy anywhere...the best of the few white
Rugosas in existence.  Cycle after cycle of large, purest white, fairly double
flowers, followed by Vitamin C rich hips that ripen to a glowing red.
     Mary Hamre, of Molalla, Oregon, wrote about Blanc Double de Coubert,
"My two bushes of 'Blanc' are among the first to bloom in the Spring and
have lovely clusters of pure white blooms continuously until Fall frost.
They are easy to care for...no pruning, spraying or winter protection is required.
Fragrance is like French talc and wafts all around them...no contest when
compared to any other rose.


Blaze Improved, Climbing.  Large Flowered Climber. 1932.  12-14 feet.
Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     One of the most popular climbing roses, this consistent performer
produces abundant clusters of pure scarlet red flowers.  Semi double
medium size blooms (2 to 3 inches across) in large clusters have a light
tea fragrance and bloom on old and new wood. Easy to grow with a
vigorous upright habit that is easy and quick to train on fences, arbors,
pillars, and porches.
 


Blush Noisette.  Noisette.  (Prior to 1817)  5-10 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.
                               Zones 6-10. (nwah-ZETT)
     Famous in England for the astounding flushes of white bloom with
pale pink blush.  Long canes arch gracefully bearing their load of fragrant
flowers with aplomb.  This rose is wonderful, whether used as a climber
against a wall or fence, or as a self-supporting plant.  I can just picture it in
front of a white picket fence, by a country cottage surrounded by a garden
full of pink cabbage roses and perennials!


Buff Beauty  Available as a 36" Standard Tree or 60" Tree Rose for pick up only.
Buff Beauty.  Hybrid Musk.  (1939)  5-7 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-10.
     The very full 3 inch blooms have a translucent quality, like light shining through
sheer fabric.  Its apricot yellow buds and old gold to cream colored flowers, blooming
in clusters, are delightful.  A valuable rose for banks, fences, or low retaining walls.
     From Irene McKinney, Lompoc, CA came this comment.  "Buff Beauty has been
out of this world this season, it's third year.  A solid wall of clusters of flowers,  They
have a marvelous inward glow, shining with great beauty. . . very creamy/peachy/buff.

Burgundy Iceberg.  Floribunda. 3-4 feet.  (2007)  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-9
     Discovered in Dural, New South Wales, Australia, in the fall of 1998, Burgundy
Iceberg is a descendant of Brilliant Pink Iceberg, Iceberg and Robin Hood, from
which it receives its burgundy color.  The pointed burgundy buds unfold deep purple
petals with a lighter reverse on nearly thornless stems.  The stamens and anthers
are burgundy red and at the end of the bloom cycle a white eye appears at the base
of the petals. The blossoms have a mild honey fragrance that some may find hard to detect.
      Like Iceberg and Robin Hood, Burgundy Iceberg makes a great landscape plant.
It is a prolific bloomer with a rounded, bushy habit, as well as disease resistance and
cold hardiness.

            The Roses

See Bareroot Roses Available to Order


Cardinal de Richelieu.  Gallica.  (1840)  4-5 feet.  One annual flowering.  Zones 3-9.
                                   (kar-dee-NAHL duh reesh-LYUH)
     This is a great companion rose in the old fashioned rose garden.  Planted in an area
with several Albas and Damasks, it cannot be beat for bringing life to all colors in its
vicinity.
     Fat, rounded buds open an unusual coppery rose with violet overtone, deepening to the
richest violet imaginable.  The reverse of the petals is rosy silver.  As the blooms age they
get an almost metallic silvery blue color mixed with the velvety purple.  The plant is one of the
best of the Gallica family with few thorns and dark foliage.  Fragrance appears as petals dry,
an unusual feature of an unusual rose.


Carefree Beauty.  Floribunda.  (1977)  2-4 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 4-10.
     Carefree Beauty is a floribunda in habit and style, with long buds in small clusters, hybridized
by Griffith Buck.  He was a master of creating hardy, disease resistant, repeat blooming,
and fragrant roses.  See more about him at Iowa State University's web site:
http://www.exnet.iastate.edu/pages/hancock/hort/educ/GBRoses.html
     Carefree Beauty is excellent as a bushy ever blooming shrub. It is useful as a bedding
plant with herbaceous perennials and annuals.  The flowers are semi double, rich pink, 4 1/2 - 5
inch and slightly cupped with a pleasant rose fragrance.  Carefree Beauty has
leathery, dark green foliage that is resistant to black spot and powdery mildew, and
is very winter hardy.  It has an AARS rating of 8.7.
 


Carefree Wonder Shrub, by Meilland. (1991)  4-5 ft. Blooms repeatedly.
      Carefree Wonder is an award winning shrub, with an AARS rating of 8.0, probably
due to it's excellent disease resistance, proven consistent performance, and hardiness.
Large flowers of radiant hot pink with a white center and cream reverse bloom
almost all season long, on a neat, self-sustaining rounded shrub.  Excellent as
a medium tall, rounded and bushy shrub with it's abundant bright green foliage.
It is an excellent shrub for colder climates and has a light fragrance.
 


Cecile Brunner.  Polyantha.  (1881)  3 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
(say-SEAL BROO-nur)
     This old-fashioned favorite has very pretty flowers and makes an
extremely ornamental and versatile garden plant.  The blooms, at
their fullest, are 2 1/2 inches across with a sweet, clear perfume.
Its low-thorned stems, fragrance, and dark green leaves make it
a natural for boutonnieres.  It is suitable for the front of a border,
a small place in the garden close to a sitting spot,  for a pot, and
countless other places. Andy Wiley recommends planting Cecile
Brunner below Cli. Cecile Brunner for a full top to bottom look.
 


Climbing Cecile Brunner.  Climbing polyantha.  (1894)  15-20 feet.
Intermittent bloom.  Zones 4-9.
     The charming "sweetheart rose" which is especially fine in climbing
form.   A mass of bloom in the spring (We have a plant here that is climbing
into a redwood tree - it will climb into almost any kind if given the chance!)
continuing through the summer with always some bloom on the plant.  Perfect
pink buds open to 2 1/2 inch double reflexed flowers, borne in loose clusters
where each bloom has a good stem. Vigorous...needs room to be at its best.
Andy Wiley recommends planting Cecile Brunner below Cli. Cecile Brunner
for a full top to bottom look.

Celestial.  Celeste.  Alba.  (1759)  4 to 6 feet.  One annual flowering.  Zones 4-9.
     An historically important rose, also called by such names as “Aurora” and
“Minden Rose”.  Planted along the road, where it gets very little sun, our plant
is a graceful, self-supporting shrub about seven feet high, but I do not feel it would
be quite as tall when grown in full sun.  Its grey-green foliage is a perfect foil for
the clear pink, semi double blooms that are exquisite in each stage of opening.
Fragrant.


Celsiana.  Damask.  (Prior to 1750)  4-5 feet. One annual flowering.  Zones 4-9.
(sell-see-AH-nah)
     The subject of one of Redoute’s most beautiful rose portraits, and a rose to
inspire any artist.
     Leigh Barr Stamler, St. Louis, MO, says, “Celsiana is incredibly beautiful -
arching canes loaded with soft, lovely roses in the most perfect shade of pink!
I sit on the grass in front of her for long minutes every spring, drinking in her
beauty.”
     A graceful plant with smooth, grey-green foliage and clusters of 4 inch warm
pink flowers . . . which open wide with a special crisp twirl of crinkled petals
showing tall yellow stamens.  True damask fragrance . . . if you plan to make
potpourri, this rose should be included in your order.


Chapeau de Napoleon.  (Crested Moss) Rosa Centifolia Cristata. (1827) 4-5 feet. One annual flowering.  Zones 4-9.
     Sepals, thick and heavy like deep piled velvet, enfold the many clear pink petals of the
good sized blossoms.  These exquisite, heavily scented flowers bloom for over two
months each year and you will not want to miss the magic of one of them!
     William Christensen, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, wrote that Crested Moss won an
important award in the Old Rose section of the local rose show - “From a plant only
three months old!”


Charles de Mills.  Gallica. (Early 1800's)  4-5 feet.  One annual flowering.
(sharl-duh MEEL)  Zones 4-9.
     This, my friends, is a rose you will have to see to believe!  Well
established plants will be 5 feet high and 4 feet in diameter.  In California,
it starts to bloom in May, and from then until late June produces hundreds
of flowers...flat, 4 inch blooms full of petals of deep rose pink in which
one may see colors from deep purple through every shade of lavender, and
some of them swirl and twirl exposing the silvery lavender of the reverse.
No other color imparts such sparkle to the garden of old roses - there are
many other Gallicas, of course, but Charles de Mills is truly exceptional.
One would expect it to have strong perfume, and it does!
 


Chestnut Rose.  Rosa Roxburghii.  (Prior to 1814)  5-8 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     Fernlike foliage, angling, arched branches that shed their bark as they age,
buds that resemble chestnut burrs, and wonderful deep pink, very double blossoms
that are present on the plant from early spring through late fall.  This is one of the
most desirable and interesting roses we grow - nothing really like it in all of
rosedom!
 


Comte de Chambord.  Portland.  (1860)   4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
Zones 5-9. (KAWM duh shahm-BORE)
     A performer of rare beauty that deserves the following comments...from
Elsie Earing,  Schenectady,  New York, "Everyone who has seen my plant
of Comte de Chambord wants it!  Constantly in bloom from mid June until
late October."  And, from Alexander Mesrobian,  Bath, Maine, "Comte de
Chambord was spectacular, receiving raves from my neighbors.  Graceful,
pointed buds evolve into old-fashioned loveliness, releasing a delicious and
heady fragrance.  One blossom converted my drab office into Eden!"
We really don't need to say more, but you might want to know the color,
which is strong pink - the foliage is medium green on a plant that stays
compact and neat.
 
 
 


Cornelia.  Hybrid Musk.  (1925)  6-8 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     As I plan the catalog,  I begin collecting comments from some of you
who write to us about your particular favorites.  One such comment came
from Carol Cunningham in Carmel Valley, CA.  "I simply had
to write you about one of the roses you sell, Cornelia.  Her coral buds open
to delicate pink, with a touch of gold at the base of each petal...but it's the
fragrance I love!  It is a mixture of heliotrope and narcissus,
something I've never smelled in a rose!"
     As with all the Hybrid Musks, Cornelia has disease resistant foliage
and is happy in full sun or filtered light.
 


Crested Moss. (Chapeau de Napoleon) Rosa Centifolia Cristata. (1827) 4-5 feet. One annual flowering.  Zones 4-9.
     Sepals, thick and heavy like deep piled velvet, enfold the many clear pink petals of the
good sized blossoms.  These exquisite, heavily scented flowers bloom for over two
months each year and you will not want to miss the magic of one of them!
     William Christensen, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, wrote that Crested Moss won an
important award in the Old Rose section of the local rose show - “From a plant only
three months old!”


Dainty Bess.  Hybrid Tea.  (1925)  3-4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     A classic among Hybrid Teas, known and loved by almost everyone.
Long, slim buds open to 4 inch blossoms of dusky  pink with five graceful
petals surrounding long maroon stamens.  Exceptionally long lasting on the
plant and in bouquets.  A stand-out in our garden, always in bloom.

Delicata.  Rugosa.  (1898)  3-4 feet. Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 3-9.
     All the Rugosa roses are perfect subjects for the organic gardening enthusiast.
They are extremely hardy, disease resistant, beautiful and fragrant garden roses,
and produce large hips with the highest Vitamin C content of anything grown, even
oranges.
     Delicata's large, semidouble, lilac pink flowers on short stems surrounded by mint-
like foliage have a tantalizing fragrance.  When the flowers are spent, hips the size and
color of crabapples form.  While the hips are ripening, often a flowering stem will grow
from just below them, so the plant is producing flowers and hips at the same time.  Quite
a feat for a rose!


De Meaux.  Centifolia.  (1789)  3 feet.  One annual flowering.  (duh-MOH) Zones 4-9.
     James K. VanHouten, of Frankfort, South Dakota, told us, “Your plants
are fantastic.  However, your catalog description does not do justice to the
incredible charm of De Meaux!”
     Tiny buds, not as large as my little fingernail, open to reveal hundreds of pale
to deep pink petals, all contained in a flower that is about 1 inch across when fully
opened.  Intensely fragrant, its tiny buds, small petals and whole blooms make
a valued addition to the best potpourris.


Distant Drums.  Griffith Buck.  (1985)  3 to 4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-9.
     A novel rose from among the hardy roses hybridized by Griffith Buck.
Distant drums has medium large, ruffled, double blooms which are rose
purple to orchid pink tinted golden tan in the center, and fading to pale lavender and
tan with age.  Distant Drums is a vigorous and bushy erect plant which
blends well in a formal or relaxed garden, and has an intense myrrh fragrance.
 

See Bareroot Roses Available to Order
Don Juan, Climbing.  Large Flowered Climber.  (1958)  12-14 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     One of the best of the fragrant, dark red climbing roses with large, shapely full
blooms and glossy dark green leaves.  Deep velvety red flowers have a strong
rose fragrance.  Blooms on new and old wood.
 


Dortmund (climbing).  Kordesii.  (1955)  10-15 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
(DORT-moont)
     Mrs. R. C. Gibbons,  Richardson, Texas, wrote,  "You should put an
extra note in your catalog recommending Dortmund as a fine landscape fence
or bordering rose.  The glossy strong foliage rivals the best holly, with the
bonus of beautiful flowers, too!  When some of my modern "Award of Excellence"
roses are producing foliage with no enthusiasm and are limping lazily along
in the 100 plus degree weeks, the Dortmund stands proudly erect, thriving
despite the scorching days."  That's a wonderful recommendation, and I can
only add that Dortmund's blossoms are luminous, brilliant red with a touch of
white at the center, and they are delightfully fragrant.  There is no urgency to
cut old bloom as the petals fall cleanly and lovely bunches of bright orange hips
form, with the plant still putting out lots of bloom.


Double Delight.  Hybrid Tea.  (1977)  3-4 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     After so many requests for this popular variety, we have decided to add it to
our catalog.  With several important qualities in a rose - strong rose fragrance,
eye-catching color, and good cutting stems, Double Delight serves well in
the garden, as a prolific free flowering bush with well formed, creamy pointed buds
that blush red in the sun.


Dublin Bay, Climbing.  (1976) Large Flowered Climber.   8-12 feet. Blooms repeatedly. Zone 4-10.
      Large, fully double true red flowers bloom on old and new wood, with lots of
deep green disease resistant foliage.  Is suitable for training as a pillar, and blooms well even in
cold weather and takes the heat well, too.  The blooms have a moderate fruity fragrance,
good form, and not only last well, but bloom repeatedly throughout the season.  I don't think
I have seen the potted roses this season ever be without blooms.


Eglantine.  Sweetbrier.  (Ancient)  10-14 feet.  One annual flowering. Zones 4-9.
(EGG-lahn-tyne)
     One of my happiest memories of Brown's Valley will always be the delightful
odor of crisp green apples that greets me on dewy mornings from the plant of
Eglantine that grows along the driveway leading to our home and office.
     A big, strong shrub or climbing rose, is more contained in cold climates than
here in California where it sometimes reaches the height of climbers.  Used
extensively in England for big hedges, and brought to America by the early
settlers to remind them of home.  The small, single flowers, like “exquisite
rose pink jewels hung on soft, crumpled green leather,” are followed by a
big crop of oblong orange hips.

Electron.  Hybrid Tea.  (1970)  2-4 feet.  Flowers Repeatedly.  Zone 5-11.
        Electron is a wonderful landscape plant not only for its large, high centered,
deep pink, fragrant roses but because it blooms prolifically from summer to fall
and it has excellent disease resistance.   It is well branched and bushy, covered
with abundant dark green, glossy leaves.  A strong rose with a strong fragrance,
hybridized by McGredy.

Elizabeth Taylor. Hybrid Tea.  (1985)  4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     Elizabeth Taylor is a great performing hybrid tea with long stemmed and long-lasting
flowers, both in the garden and when cut for a vase. The blooms are blended dark pink
on the edges and lighter pink towards the middle and bottom of the petals and they have
a spicy fragrance.  The bush is vigorous and blooms in flushes throughout the season
with a lot of nice foliage that stays relatively disease free.

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Erfurt.  Hybrid Musk.  (1939)  4 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 4-10. (EHR-foort)
     “Blooms, blooms, blooms!  It’s January, and it still has blooms on the plant.
It’s losing its leaves, has hips and still it blooms!”  That comment came from
Clare Walker, Vallejo, California - I couldn't have said it better!
     A sweet musk fragrance is present in the cherry pink edged blooms with ivory
centers and a lovely boss of golden stamens.  The blooms are in clusters on very
strong stems, with foliage that is bronzy maroon when new.  Moderately thorny
canes on a plant that is more wide than tall - a good subject for a low wall or fence,
since it supports itself with its exceptionally strong canes.

Etoile de Hollande, Climbing.  Climbing Hybrid Tea.  (1931) 12 feet. Flowers Repeatedly.
                                                 Zones 5-10.
     Well remembered from my childhood in Riverside, where we had a plant adorning an orange
tree in our backyard.  Clean and vigorous, the velvety red blooms were always a surprise when
they showed themselves among the oranges and the deep green leaves of the tree.
     The fragrance of the blooms is intensely Damask, and a bouquet picked for the house
lasts for days.  Quite hardy.


Eugene de Beauharnais.  China-Bourbon.  (1838) 3 feet. Repeat bloom. Zones 4-9.
     Quartered purple-crimson flowers bloom repeatedly on this small bush that is well
suited to the smaller garden.  With its strong fragrance and very double flowers born
singly on straight stems, it makes an excellent cutting rose.

Eureka.  Floribunda.  (2003)  3 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 6-10.
     A prolific blooming golden apricot floribunda from Kordes, this rose is a great performer
that is suitable for a container.  Clusters of double apricot yellow flowers bloom repeatedly
on a bush that grows upright and spreading.
     Ann Vestal from Clayton, CA says,  “Eureka is a great performer;  it’s very pretty, fragrant,
and has a wonderful depth of color.  Mine is in a container, and I prune it back about 1/3 of its
size and it comes right back with lots of blooms.”

Evelyn.  Shrub.  David Austin.  (1991)  4 to 5 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
      A descendent of Graham Thomas and Tamora, this rose has their qualities of fragrance,
color, and form, in a winning combination.  Large cupped apricot blooms with a strong
fragrance bloom repeatedly on this shrub that gets 4 to 5 feet, but like many of the Austin’s,
can double that size and climb if left unpruned.  The large blooms do not last as well in unrelenting
sun and the rose may do better in cooler climates or a spot that has some shade part of the day.


Fair Bianca.  David Austin. (1982)  3 to 4 feet.
     Old rose form with white shallow cupped petals and a green eye at the center.
Blooms have a spice scent and fragrance is strong.  This rose, along with Ambridge
rose, are two of Oprah’s "Favorite Things".
 


The Fairy.  Polyantha.  (1941)  2-3 1/2 feet. Repeat bloom.  Zones 4-9.
     In 1956 Will Tillotson wrote...“In ten successive catalogs, the writer has
offered to 'match this beautiful Polyantha against the field and take all bets.'
Except under the desert blistering sun, where its mid-summer blooms fade to
white, The Fairy is unexcelled for vigor, spreading growth, perfect health and
hardiness, and its super ability to produce those charming pink rosette type
blossoms in constant abundance...each fair flower, crisp and waxen like a
pink sea shell.'
      Polyanthas come and go, but The Fairy will be with us long after many of
todays favorites are forgotten. Needs full sun for blooms to open.

Felicite et Perpetue. Seven Sisters. Hybrid Sempervirens. Rambler.  (1827)  8-10 feet.  
One long annual flowering. (fell-e-see-TAY ay per-pet-OO)
     The most evergreen of the descendants of Rosa Sempervirens, having small, smooth leaves.  
Excellent for growing over a stump, low wall or bank.  Clusters of buds touched with crimson
open to flat, milk-white flowers of many small petals, delicately perfumed. 
    According to www.helpmefind.com  Felicite et Perpetue is also known as the white/blush pink
version of 'Seven Sisters.'


Felicite Parmentier.  Alba.  (1834)  4-5 feet. One annual flowering. (fay-lee-see-TAY
par-mon-TYAY)  Zones 4-9.
     A big plant with grey green foliage, its canes weighted over with clusters of from
3 to 5  clear, pale pink flowers which open with a swirl of many small petals, then reflex
to make a 2 1/2 inch ball showing a green eye at the center.  Deliciously perfumed and
one of the loveliest of the charming Alba roses.  Excellent rose for hot, dry climates.
     Jim Dickinson, Surry, Maine, thinks I shouldn't restrict it to hot, dry climates, when
he says, “I have planted Felicite Parmentier in a group along the south side of an ocean
front home in Blue Hill, Maine, and it has withstood the wind and cold, coming back with
flowers even after a winter with the temperature dropping to minus 20 degrees.”

F.J. Grootendorst. Hybrid Rugosa.  (1918)  5 feet. Blooms repeatedly.
Zones 3-9.
     This rugosa hybrid is a good grower with a bushy, upright habit with
clusters of small, crimson, carnation-like flowers. Though lacking in
fragrance, it is easy to grow with good disease resistance and tolerant
of seaside conditions.


Fourth of July, Climbing.  Large Flowered Climber. 1999. 10-14 feet.  Repeat bloom. Zones 5-10.
     A free flowering vigorous plant with sprays of long lasting, large, semi double blooms
striped velvety red and bright white.  Glossy green foliage, vigor, and hardiness add to the
fortitude of this variety.  It is also the first climber to take the coveted AARS award in 23 years.
     A visitor to the garden remarked that in twenty years of gardening with roses, this rose has
given her the most enjoyment of all.

Fragrant Cloud.  Hybrid Tea. (1967)  4-5 feet.  Repeat bloom.
Zones 5-10.
     In 1963 Ned Irish wrote me from London...“Flash! I popped in
the Autumn Show of the Rose Society on Harry Wheatcroft’s adjuration
not to miss the rose of the Century.  It's Tantau’s newest:  Harry named it
Fragrant Cloud because of its pronounced true rose scent.  Color? Hmm.
When it won a Gold Medal the citation called it cinnabar.  Harry calls it
vermilion.  It is undeniably a deep coral-rose...like a half cup of vermilion-
to which a half cup of shocking pink and a generous dash of cream has
been added."  There are times when it appears some coffee has been
added, too."
     All this glorious fragrance and color is in large, beautifully formed,
many petaled blooms on a vigorous plant with lush bronzy foliage.


Francis E. Lester.  Hybrid Musk.  (1946)  12-20 feet.  One long bloom.
Zones 6-10.
     Named after an early rose conservationist and one of the founding
father's of this rose business. This very fragrant rose with trusses of white
singles edged with pink, like apple blossoms which leave small orange hips,
can be easily trained along a fence, up a tree,  or over an embankment. The
scent travels a wide area.


Frau Dagmar Hastrup.  Rugosa.  (1914)  2-3 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 3-9.
     The very epitome of simple beauty.  Three inch, five petaled, satiny, clear pink
flowers shine like stars from the handsome rugose foliage.  Large red hips form
when the petals fall and the plant goes right on blooming.  The hips on this Rugosa
are quite exceptional - do not cut off the bloom as you do other types of roses or
you will sacrifice them.
     Bees always congregate around the Rugosas, and I rarely can take a photo of
Frau Dagmar Hastrup without a bee in the middle of the flower - wonderful fragrance
is the attraction.


Frau Karl Druschki.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1901)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
(DREWSH-key)
     This is the great white lady of rosedom!  Sometimes known as the “Snow Queen”
because of her pure whiteness and queenly form.  Free flowering, tall growing and for
all round virtue and beauty combined, still unbeatable in white roses.
     John E. Hogan, Los Angeles, wrote, “Frau Karl Druschki deserves a solitary show
place in the center of a large yard...75 magnificent blooms and almost as many buds on
her strong branches.”

General Jacqueminot.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1853) 4-5 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
                                     (ZHOK me-noh)
     “General Jack” is praised in every book that mentions Hybrid Perpetuals;  from Dean Hole's
“Book About Roses”, published in 1865 . . . “A glory and a grace, its petals, soft and smooth
as velvet, glowing with vivid crimson, and its growth being free and healthful.”
     This is another of the Hybrid Perpetuals that benefits by “pegging” the long canes down
to increase the bloom.  Can be treated like a climber when planted along a fence, and is also
good as a free-standing shrub as its canes are strong and vigorous.

Gertrude Jekyll.  Shrub.  David Austin.  (1986)  4-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
                        Zones 5-10.  (GEE-kuhl)
     Voted the most popular “English Rose” in England, Gertrude Jekyll has large
double quartered clear pink blooms with a rich damask fragrance that wafts through
the air.  The blooms are borne on sturdy stems and open well without balling even
in wet weather despite its large amount of petals.   Prune regularly to encourage
more flowers as it blooms on new wood.  It grows fairly upright and is less sprawling
than most David Austin roses and it is fairly disease resistant.  Gertrude Jekyll is a
direct descendent of Comte de Chambord which it resembles closely.
     In hot climates, this rose can climb to 9 feet.

Gipsy Boy.  (Zigeunerknabe) Bourbon/Rugosa. (1909) 5’h-10’w. One annual flowering. Zones 4-9.
(tzee-GOY-nur-knob)
     The rose everyone wants when they see it in bloom as they enter the garden
gate on their way to the potted roses for sale.  The wide and full shrub is covered
in small clusters of fragrant, fair-sized double flowers of deep crimson purple, with
white in the center and yellow stamens slightly hidden.  Shade tolerant, as well as suited
to poorer soil conditions, this is a splendid shrub with orange red hips in the fall.
With it's arching (prickly!) stems, Gipsy Boy can be trained as a small climber.


Gloire de Dijon.  Climbing Tea. (1853)  15-20 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
                                        Zones 6-10. (glahwr duh dee-ZHAWN)
     One of the more hardy of the old Tea roses, but still not hardy enough for
areas where the winter temperatures get below 20 degrees for long periods.  In
constant flower in sun or shade, its deep buff yellow blooms have overtones of
pink and apricot in warm climates and have a rich rose fragrance. It needs the
support of a fence or wall.
     Dr. Denise Andersson, our friend in Sweden, successfully grows Gloire de Dijon
in Orebro, and she feels I should tell you it can be grown much farther north
and in colder climates than we have.  She has prepared a book for publication
on growing old and rare roses in the northern climates - maybe it will open
our eyes to varieties we thought could not grow in colder regions.


Climbing Golden Showers. 1956.  12-14 feet. Blooms repeatedly. Zones 4-9.
   Climbing Golden Showers has abundant clusters of daffodil yellow 4" blooms
with lightly fringed petals which open to red tipped stamens.  This award winning
climber has a sweet lemon fragrance.  In hot sun open flowers fade
to ivory but in partial shade flowers will be fewer but will hold their yellow color.
Golden Showers is good for pillars, trellises, walls and fences, and as cut flowers.
It is somewhat disease resistant and semi-hardy and blooms on old and new wood.
 
 


Golden Wings.   Shrub. 1956. 5-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     Very large (4-5 inch) single yellow, long pointed buds open with prominent stamens
in the center.  Lightly fragrant, profuse blossoms come throughout the spring and into
fall on handsome bushy plants that are very hardy.
     We have had many requests from customers and garden visitors to add this delightful
rose to our listings.
 


Graham Thomas.  David Austin. 1983. 6 feet. Yellow. Fragrant. Repeat bloom. Zones 5-10.
     Named for the most knowledgeable rosarian in the world today, this rose is a fitting
tribute.  David Austin, the hybridizer, has added other varieties to an ever growing list
of "Heritage Roses", bringing new color tones and fragrances to the world of roses,
but this gorgeous variety is incomparable.
     A color difficult to describe, it all begins with buff/peach tight buds that open to
cupped flowers of deep, creamy yellow.  A pervading fragrance is apparent while
standing six feet from the plants - wonderful!  The plants grow tall, with stems to match,
that produce multiple stems of continuous flowers.  I hear that in England the plants
are many times used as climbers, with the long canes pegged down in an arched
position, thereby increasing the number of blooms.  Good disease resistance.


Green Rose.  Rosa Chinensis Viridiflora. (1843) To 8 ft. Green. Repeat bloom. Zones 7-10.
     Will Tillotson wrote of Green Rose, “Certainly this rose is an interesting novelty
. . . but for beauty, it has only ‘ugh!’ It’s flowers are no flowers at all but a strange
and quite unexplained freak of foliage; the green buds open to double, leaf green
‘flowers’, edged with bronze.” Striking in flower arrangements.
 


Gruss an Aachen.  Floribunda. 1909. 2-3 feet.  Repeat bloom. Zones 5-10.
(groose ahn AH-ken)
     In all the world, there is no Floribunda to compare with this one!  My favorite of
all, this rose has attributes of no other.
     The strong, spreading plant grows no more than three feet tall, and produces the most
luscious shell pink to creamy white buds and flowers imaginable.  In Europe Gruss an
Aachen is described as creamy white and the combination of pink and cream makes a beautiful picture in the garden panorama.  The well shaped buds open to wide, very double blooms
that are flat-topped and 3-5 inches across.  Fragrant.  An excellent hedge subject since
the plant never grows long, ungainly canes above the other growth.
 


Gruss an Teplitz.  Hybrid China.  (1897)  3-4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 7-10.
(groose ahn TEPP-lits)
     One of the best deep red garden roses available for the warm climated garden
Very free, perpetual bloom on a large arching shrub.  Clean, bronzy new foliage
quickly changes to deep green.  The nodding flowers can be in clusters up to
8 blooms, and the plant, in ideal climates, can get as tall as 6 feet in time.
Marvelous China/Bourbon fragrance.
     William Ryan of Charleston, South Carolina, told us,  “Gruss an Teplitz is
excellent in hot, humid weather - does not succumb to black spot or mildew.”

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Hansa.  Rugosa.  (1905)  5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 3-9.
     A tall growing Rugosa with typical thick, ribbed foliage.  The double
flowers are vibrant purple red and have a sweet fragrance accented with clove.
Large, red hips ripen after petals fall.
     Wrote Wendy Bie, Rolla, Missouri,  “Just wanted to put in a good word
for Hansa...came through a month of sub-zero temperatures followed by
severe black spot infestation unscathed.  It was the only rose that didn't die back,
the first to leaf out, and the first to bloom...a paragon of good health and hardiness
beside being beautiful and fragrant.”


Harison’s Yellow. Hybrid Foetida.  (1830)  6-8 feet. One annual flowering. Zones 3-9.
     A native of Asia and a member of a large family of yellow species roses.  The
flowers are brilliant yellow, about 2 1/2 inches across, and are cupped and double.
Among the most fragrant of its group, the blossoms are borne on short stems
all along the very thorny canes.  The foliage is small and fernlike.
     Often called the “Pioneer Rose” because of the stories of plantings all along
the 49’er Trail where it still exists, it is a rose of history.


Hawkeye Belle.  Shrub-Grandiflora.  (1975)  4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     “Honeysuckle white” best describes the color of Hawkeye Belle, another of the
great hybrids from Griffith Buck.  A slight blush pink is seen as the bloom ages, and
an intensely sweet fragrance is apparent at all stages of opening.  Vigorous, disease
resistant growth on an erect, bushy plant.
     Doris Hatschek of Rhinebeck, New York, wrote,  “Rose growing in our area of the
Hudson Valley is difficult for amateurs.  Hawkeye Belle is an outstanding exception
with no traces of black spot.”

Heidelberg.  Shrub or Climber.  (1959)  6-8 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-10.
     Plant, foliage, color and performance are spectacular.  The large, double, high centered
flowers on long, strong stems are a color difficult to describe, but Graham Thomas in
his book, Shrub Roses of Today, does a good job of it . . . “glowing crimson scarlet,
overshot flame.”
     Everyone admires it in the garden and I have cut many bouquets of it that are just
right with the warm gold, dark coral and soft flame colors I use in my home.


Henri Martin.  Moss.  (1863)  5-6 feet.  One annual flowering.  Zones 5-9.
(ahn-REE mar-TEAH)
     The closest to clear crimson you will find in the Moss roses.  Symmetrical, camellia
shaped, 2 1/2 inch flowers open from nicely shaped, well-mossed buds.  Very good
cutting rose, richly perfumed.  The plant is arching in habit with medium green, fine
foliage, and prickly canes.
     This is one of our favorite moss roses for cutting.  Opens well in the house, dispersing
its wonderful perfume throughout the rooms.  A good candidate for Dowager Queen
in rose shows, too!

Henry Nevard. Hybrid Perpetual. (1924) 4-5 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
    “A real he-man of a rose, inspite of his rich perfume,” wrote Margaret Bevington,
Niagara Falls, Canada . . . and from long time customer and friend, Joe Trombetta, in
Edgewater, Florida, came this comment, “This is a wonderful rose!  Large, full, rich red;
well-shaped bush, with attractive foliage that is remarkably blackspot resilient - that's
saying a lot in this area where blackspot is rampant!”
     We have had many comments from other customers about Henry Nevard - that it is
hardy everywhere, and exceptionally good in hot weather seems to be repeated often -
this rose is one of our all-time favorites!


Heritage.  David Austin. 1984. 4-5 feet. Shell Pink. Fragrant. Repeat bloom.
                                    Zones 5-10.
     A robust grower with a bushy, upright habit which has cupped blush pink flowers
borne in clusters with a rich scent that is a blend of myrrh and lemon.  This fairly
disease resistant plant is a fine addition to beds and borders, or makes a wonderful
hedge with a long season of cut flowers.  The foliage is dark green and semiglossy.


Honorine de Brabant.  Bourbon.  (Introduction date unknown)  4-6 feet.
Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9. (oh-no-REEN duh brah-BAHN)
     Blooms early and late for me, most profusely in June...and such
blooms!  No two exactly alike.  Big, cupped and quartered flowers, with
many petals of blush white, mottled and striped with violet and mauve.
Says Al Mesrobian,  of Bath, Maine, “Honorine de Brabant had no die
back during the winter, is a six foot vase shaped plant holding an amazing
display of peppermint candies.”
     Planted here in our display garden are three plants nestled against an
old redwood stump.  The blossoms and the disease resistant medium green
foliage make a nice color combination with the weathered wood of the stump.

Hugh Dickson.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1905) 5-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
     Many fine Dickson roses are still with us, almost a century since the Dicksons
hybridized so many to add to all the family of roses.  This is one of their finest;
double, deep crimson blooms, well formed and very fragrant, are perpetually on
the plant until hard frost.
     Raymond Houck, of San Francisco, said, “This has to be the greatest of the
Hybrid Perpetuals, and it may be the greatest red rose.  One bush of it, with
perpetually renewing basal canes, effortlessly fills the darkest and most difficult
side of our yard, free of disease and nearly always in bloom.”



Iceberg.  Floribunda.  (1958)  4-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-9.
     This is the finest white Floribunda I know.  Nothing can surpass its
cleanliness, constancy or pristine quality of bloom.  The white flowers
have a blush pink tone on the buds in cool weather, but otherwise, they
are snow white.
     Dorothy Spencer,  Kentfield, California, says, "Iceberg has created a
sensation here on our street - it can be seen from the boulevard below us
and we have many people stop to ask us about it."  And, from Mrs. W.
L. Embree of Prairie Village, Kansas, "Iceberg is the best white rose I've
found for constant bloom and bouquets."
 

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           Top


Iceberg, Climbing.  (1968) 8-10 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     The climbing sport of the wonderful bush Iceberg, this is identical in
bloom, foliage and disease resistant qualities, except that it is larger in every
way.  Best when planted against a fence so that its canes can be arched in a
fan position - it is so prolific in bloom that you will be able to cut large bouquets
for the house, yet seldom see where you have cut.

Intrigue.  Floribunda.  (1982)  4-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     Incredible plum-purple medium large double blooms (25-30 petals) adorn
this bushy rounded plant with dark green leaves. The blossoms have a strong perfume of
rose and lemony citrus. More blooms and best color on established plants.  This is
thirsty plant that is somewhat disease resistant.

Ispahan.  (Rose d'Isfahan or Pompon des Princes) Damask. (Before 1832)
                 5-6 feet.  One very long annual flowering.
     From the trading routes between Shiraz and Ispahan in Iran, where it grows
wild and blooms in great masses at the same time as the wild pink Persian lilac,
Ispahan came a long way to our gardens.
     Very fragrant, fully double, perfectly formed symmetrical blossoms open showing
a deeper pink in the center, and when full open are a soft, uniform pink.  The full,
arching plant is best in an area where it does not have to compete with other closely
planted roses or shrubs, so allow it room and it will reward you with a spectacular
display each spring.


Jacques Cartier.  (Marquise Bocella)  Portland. (1842)  2-4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(JOK-car-TYAY)      Zones 5-10.
     Whether Portland or Hybrid Perpetual, this rose is worthy of any garden or
rose show.  It is best to enter it in a rose show under the name "Marquise Bocella"
as you can use the date eligible for Dowager Queen (before 1867).  The date given for
Jacques Cartier is 1868, not eligible.  The name, "Marquise Bocella", has been
officially adopted by The American Rose Society.
     A compact, erect plant with closely spaced, light green foliage that encircles the blooms...
Graham Thomas calls it, "that high shouldered look."  Clear pink, 3-4 inch flowers with
an intense fragrance, have so many petals they make me think of fluffy powder puffs.
One of my favorite roses in the garden and for bouquets...and very long lasting.


Joseph's Coat, Climbing.  Large flowered climber.  (1964)  6-8 feet.  Blooms
repeatedly.
     Under the guidance of Armstrong's Roses, many wonderful roses were
hybridized, this one by Herb Swim.
     Beautiful clusters of 3-4 inch blossoms in yellow, rose and red cover
the breathtaking plant most of the year.  I've seen this rose in the driest,
hottest conditions of the San Joaquin Valley and it still makes me gasp.
I've long wanted to add it to our catalog so more of you can enjoy it.

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Just Joey. Hybrid Tea.  (1972)  3 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     It took this lovely rose over ten years to get across the Atlantic Ocean
from England, where it was hybridized, and it created a sensation the moment
it arrived.  Extremely fragrant, very large, (7 inch), double blooms.  Fantastic
creamy buff/orange color always stops the foot traffic in our garden.


Kathleen.  Hybrid Musk.  (1922)  6-15 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     An unusual and unforgettable rose!  Vigorous and healthy with disease
resistant foliage on a plant with upright growth - ideal for training into a
tree form.  Large clusters of tiny, pointed, china pink buds and single, blush-white
flowers with stiff yellow stamens that closely resemble apple blossoms, so richly
perfumed they attract the bees.  The blossoms drop cleanly and orange hips, in large
clusters, form.  As it blooms repeatedly without removing the hips, there are flowers
and hips on the plant late in the fall.  Blooms well in slanted and filtered light.



Kathleen Harrop.  Climbing Bourbon.  (1919)  6-8 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     This rose has grown in our garden for many years and was once listed in
our catalog.  A sport of Zephirine Drouhin, the double, pale pink blossoms are
identical to its relative, except for the tone of pink and have the same wonderful
fragrance.  Planted side by side the colors complement one another, an their
thornless canes make them a desirable addition to deck plantings and along
walkways.
     Writing in November, Mary Yee, of Silver Spring, Maryland, wrote,  “There
was almost no evidence of disease at any time in the season, and now the plant
remains clothed in leaves when black spot has defoliated most of the other roses
in the garden.”

Kazanlik - See
Rosa Damascena Trigintipetala (Kazanlik)
Damascena. (Prior to 1700) 3-4 feet. Rose Red. Very Fragrant. One annual bloom. Zones 4-9.


Konigen von Danemark.  (Queen of Denmark) Alba. (1826) 4-5 feet.
One annual flowering.  (KUR-neekin fone DANE-uh-mark)  Zones 4-9.
     This, like all Alba roses, is extremely weather tolerant.  The clarity of the color
of pink in the flowers is perfectly complemented by the blue-green foliage of the plant.
The buds of  the 3 inch double flowers have fair size outer petals, quartered centers
when fully open, and are intensely perfumed.
     This is a good rose to use as a background in a mixed bed of perennials or as
a hedge - also wonderful for potpourri.  Will tolerate poorer soil and is shade tolerant.
 


Lady Hillingdon.  Tea.  (1910)  4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 7-10.
     Sent to us by Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, California.  This is an
exceptional older Tea rose that "goes" well with the modern colors, all the
while softening them.
     The loosely double blooms are full of apricot tones, softened by cream.
 The growth habit of the plant is rather arching and the canes are pliable for
training.  In bloom from early Spring to Fall frosts, but not considered hardy
enough for the colder climate areas.  The long pointed buds which open to
semi double fragrant blooms are beautifully offset by the bronze foliage.

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Lavender Lassie.  Hybrid Musk. (1958)  6-10 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     Michael Donnally, of New York City, wrote about Lavender Lassie, “At the
top of the stairway her blooms are seen against the ocean.  Whether the sea is
slate grey, green or aquamarine, those cool pink blooms work beautifully
with the watery background.  Beginning in late May, the candelabras of her buds
show their pink and open to perfume the air for the rest of the summer.  She is a
“doer”, a good self-groomer with her blooms, vigorous with clean, medium
green foliage.  Thus far, she has required no spraying for pests or disease.”
     Lavender Lassie has upright growth to 5 or 6 feet, then trailing growth to
10 feet with few thorns, making it a good subject for training along a fence, or
trailing over a low wall.

Lavender Pinocchio.  Floribunda.  (1948) 2-3 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
     An exuberant, healthy plant in growth and bloom . . . its clusters of fragrant,
large, double flowers are saffron to brown to lavender tones . . . among the rarest
shades in rosedom.  Another of those individuals one would never mistake for
something else.  For those of you who appreciate the subtle and uncommon things
in life . . .
     Brigitte Pitkin, Seattle, Washington, wrote us, "I wanted to let you know I am
tickled lavender by your Lavender Pincocchio . . . if I had an extra inch left in
my yard, I surely would plant another one!"
 


Leverkusen.  Kordesii.  (1954)  8-10 feet. Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
(lay-fur-KOO-zun)
     One of the most beautiful climbing roses I know, with glossy foliage and sprays
of long pointed buds and large, crisp looking double flowers of clean, light yellow,
with a fruity fragrance.  They have such a special quality Mrs. Lee Strong wrote
from Kalamazoo, Michigan . . . “I ‘flipped’ over the first bloom, and it’s covered
with them.” . . . and Robert Kimberly, Rowe, Massachusetts says . . . “The flowers
are a poem in petals.”
     This is similar to Dortmund, but much fuller and yellow - a wonderful landscape rose.
 

Lilac Rose.  David Austin.  (1990)  4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
      Medium to large flat lilac colored rosettes with 50-100 petals bloom repeatedly on this
medium size bushy plant.  The blooms exude a strong fragrance and the leaves are a
medium green.  This is another of the David Austin roses that mixes as well with Hybrid Teas
as old fashioned varieties;  suitable to the formal garden and the cottage garden.

Lilian Austin.  Shrub. David Austin. (1973)  3-4 feet.  Repeat bloom.  Zones 6-10.
     Named for David Austin’s mother, this low growing shrub grows almost like a ground cover,
with low spreading branches that would be lovely flowing over a low rock wall or trained as a
hedge with several bushes planted together.  The blooms are borne either singly but more often
in small clusters and they are salmon colored with an apricot center.  Globular buds open to
double cupped rosette blossoms that are approximately 3 1/2 inches wide.  The blooms have
a rich sweet scent that is reminiscent of its fragrant parents, The Yeoman and Climbing Aloha.
This rose is rated “outstanding” by the American Rose Society and according to “The Ultimate
Rose Book,” this is one of the most desirable David Austin English roses.  Quite disease resistant.
See Bareroot Roses Available to Order
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Louise Odier.  Bourbon, 1851. 5 ft.  Deep pink. Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
(oh-dee-EIGH)
     Deep pink, very double, cupped blooms are reminiscent of those of La Reine
Victoria, but are more flat and wide when fully open.  The plant has the fine light
green foliage of the Bourbons, compactly arranged.  In flower from early June
to October, with a pungently strong fragrance.  A good-keeping cut flower.
     From John Hand, Tustin, California, came this good comment, “Louise Odier
has been in my garden for two years and has been a constant source of enjoyment -
she is almost always able to supply a bouquet for a special occasion, and elicits
many exclamations over her beauty and fragrance.” “To take in her scent,
just walk past her,” says Claire Crockett of Cleveland, Tennessee...“One would
think she had been dipped in the most expensive perfume.  Her tissue paper
blooms are full and round - she is truly a fun rose.”



Madame Alfred Carriere.  Noisette.  (1879)  12-20 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
                                                  (car-ee-AIR)  Zones 5-10.
     Double 3-4 inch blossoms of white, flushed with pale pink tightly curled petals
in the center.  Intensely fragrant, and more hardy than most of the Noisettes.
A graceful large shrub to plant at the top of a gentle slope, but equally good when
used as a climber.  Constantly in bloom in milder climates, and a rose to admire in
any planting -  we have it planted below our deck at the old office.  The deck is
10 feet off the ground, the railing is 3 feet high, and Madame Alfred has 6 foot canes
above that - I'd say this rose is a good candidate for tree climbing!  Wherever it is,
planted or in a bouquet, it is the rose you will never forget.
 

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Madame Hardy.  Damask.  (1832)  4-6 feet.  One annual flowering.  (are-DEE)  Zones 4-10.
     From tight buds with beautifully flared sepals, through all stages to
the fully open, large, very double, flat snow white flower with a pronounced green
point at the center,  Madame Hardy is a thing of rare beauty. The blooms are in clusters,
the center buds opening first, and often when partly open there is a flush of pink,
quickly changing to pure white, exquisitely perfumed.  A sturdy bush with
canes that benefit from pegging or shortening to promote side shoots and blooms.
     Robert Janes, Ionis, Michigan, says, "Madame Hardy is a study in
feminine elegance."



Madame Isaac Pereire.  Bourbon.  (1880)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-9.
(ee-SOCK pay-RAIR)
     Possibly the most powerfully fragrant of all roses.  The flowers are large,
of intense rose-madder, shaded magenta, bulging with rolled petals, quartered
and opening to a great saucer-face.  Big, bold foliage and a fine bush.  “When
it is well grown, on a good deep soil, it has no peer”, writes Graham S. Thomas
in his book,  “The Old Shrub Roses”.  Such a fine description from one who
is familiar with more old roses than any other, is strong endorsement.
     Another endorsement came from C.B. Waldron, of Henderson, North Carolina,
who said,  “Madame Isaac Pereire did not bloom, she exploded!  More than 25
flowers at at time in all stages of bud and bloom!”
 
 


Madame Pierre Oger. Bourbon.  (1878)  5-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(pee-AIR-oh-ZJAY)  Zones 4-10.
     A sport of La Reine Victoria.  I think of them as mother and daughter...
the mother deep pink, the daughter opening creamy flesh, then blushing rosily
in the sun.  Both charming and wearing the same delightful perfume.  The erect
plants, with smooth, light green foliage, constantly produce new flowering shoots
throughout the spring, summer and fall.
     Says Anna Daniels, San Diego, CA, "My hands down favorite is Madame
Pierre Oger.  I pegged down the long canes as recommended and sure enough,
there are buds all along the canes.  As I write, there must be over 50 buds and
flowers on this magnificent bush.  The flowers stop all who pass by with their
fragrance and delicacy.

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Madame Plantier.


Marguerite Hilling.  Shrub (1959) 3-5 feet. Flowers repeatedly.
     A bright pink sport of the great shrub rose, Nevada.  In the many years it has grown
in our garden the plants are 4 feet high and 5 feet through, with gracefully arching canes
covered with large 4 to 5 inch semidouble flowers in cycles of profuse bloom, and in
between there are always some flowers.  Its sweet fragrance is attractive to bees.  One of the
most beautiful shrubs we have and it blooms extravagantly.


Mary Rose. David Austin. 1983.  5 feet. Pink. Fragrant. Repeat Bloom.
     A strong tall grower with clear pink roses in the appearance of damask roses
and with a damask fragrance. It tends to send out long tall shoots, in the habit of
a robust twiggy shrub, and foliage is medium green and fairly disease resistant.
Mary Rose is one of the first and last to bloom.  David Austin named the rose in
honor of the recovery of Henry VIII’s flagship from the Solent, after more than 400 years.
More suitable to a larger garden, unless pruned regularly, as it can grow quite tall
with neglect.


Michelle Meilland.  Hybrid Tea.  (1945)  3 to 4 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.
     This is one of those Hybrid Teas that has a color difficult to describe - pale pink,
translucent quality, with overtones of cream and apricot.  Long strong stems,
vigorous growth, prolific bloomer - what more could you want in a garden rose?
In the fall of the year the blooms are more pale apricot than pink, but always have the 
classic shape of the exhibition rose, and it has been the winner of many blue ribbons.
     Says Nancy Harper, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, “Michelle Meilland has as much
color and beauty as anything we grow.  The colors at any time of the season blend
well with so many roses, old and new, that you can always count on this rose
to brighten up a mixed bouquet or make a stunning arrangement of its own.”
     Writes Mrs. Lois Corrill from Boulder, Colorado . . . “I think I must always have
Michelle Meilland.  It is something dreams are made of.”  And Jeanne Marshall, who
put in many years here at Roses of Yesterday and Today, exclaimed, “They look like porcelain!”


Mister Lincoln.  Hybrid Tea.  (1964)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
Zones 5-10.
     A beautiful rose for the formal garden, or for anywhere you would like
to have reliable deep red roses which are also fragrant and excellent for cutting due
to their long strong stems. Red-black buds open to beautiful 4 1/2 inch to 6 inch velvety red
long lasting blooms.  Does well in beds and borders and has been disease
resistant in our garden here in the redwoods.
 


Mrs. John Laing.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1887)  5-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-10.
     One of the best known and most popular of the big, pink, richly fragrant Hybrid
Perpetuals.  Winter hardy just about anywhere . . . profuse and recurrent bloom.
Says master word artist, Dean Hole . . . “Not only in vigor, constancy and abundance,
but in form and feature, Beauty's Queen.”
     One November, Mrs. George E. Shields, Alexandria, Virginia, wrote . . . “Mrs.
John Laing has been literally covered with buds and flowers for the last month.  The
other day there were a dozen huge, fragrant blooms, making it look like a big bouquet.”
And Mrs. Jonathan L. Brusch, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, said, “Across the kitchen are
four blossoms from Mrs. John Laing.  The fragrance makes me want to sit her 24 hours
a day!”
 

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Mutabilis.  Rosa Chinensis Mutabilis.  (Prior to 1896)  5-8 feet.  Flowers
repeatedly.  Zones 7-10. (moo-TOBB-il-iss)
     A species rose from China, but there is no exact recorded date of its
discovery.  The sun lighting up a plant of Mutabilis, with its red leaves and
canes, is a thrilling picture. One sees color in the play of light and shadow
from copper to red mahogany.  The 3 inch single flowers in clusters open
yellow, then turn pink and gradually deepen to dark red...and they are fragrant.
     Sylvia M. Plytas, of Novato, CA, wrote, "I put Mutabilis at the side of
the house where it can be seen from the dining room.  It has been a constant
bloomer in all seasons.  I personally enjoy haw the colors change from day
to day and hour to hour - it demands I glance at it often!"



Climbing New Dawn.  Large Flowered Climber.  (1930)  12-15 feet.  Flowers
repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     A sport of Dr. W. Van Fleet, with all its parent's attributes, plus repeat bloom.
Glossy disease free foliage, which is dark green, makes a perfect foil for the pale pink,
fragrant flowers.  Blooms more in clusters than Dr. W. Van Fleet, but with the same
long stems.
     Elizabeth Robinson wrote us, "Just a note to say that we have had New Dawn in
our garden for many years, and it is extremely hardy in our very cold winters.
 

See Bareroot Roses Available to Order
 


Newport Fairy.  Rambler.  (1908)  One long annual bloom. Potted Only.
Not available for shipping.
     Whether trained along a fence or braced against a post, the rate of
growth and the amount of bloom on even a young plant is astounding.
One of the few single roses that keeps very well in flower arrangements.
The blossoms are deep pink on the edges with white toward the center
surrounding bright yellow stamens. Our plant in the display garden is now
three years old and is one of the most exciting roses there.  I stopped
counting when I got to 60 stems of bloom, and there were almost as many
again if I had kept counting.  A very hardy variety too.


Old Blush.  China.  (1752)  3-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 7-10.
     The date given for this variety is when it was first brought to Europe from
Calcutta, but it was brought to Calcutta from China long before that.  Many people
believe it to be the rose Thomas Moore wrote of in his song, “The Last Rose of
Summer”.  One of the first roses to bloom and one of the last “left blooming
alone”.
     The semidouble 2 1/2 inch clear pink flowers are borne in clusters, the color deepening
in the sun . . . a characteristic of most China and Tea roses.  The fragrance is fresh and
sweet.  One of the main attributes of this lovely shrub is its ease of care - it will have a
first flush of bloom, then put on some growth and bloom as much again - just shape
up the plant after each bloom, and do not prune severely - its beauty is in the profusion
of bloom on a medium size plant.

Olympiad.  Hybrid Tea.  (1984)  3-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-10
     With an ARS rating of 9.1, and abundant 4 to 5 inch true red
blooms borne singly or in clusters on long, sturdy stems, this rose is a
winner for both cutting and exhibition and is very long lasting.  We chose
this red rose for the bouquet for the catalog this year, and it was
the last rose standing in the bouquet, ten days later.  Little fragrance.


Othello.  David Austin. 1986. Tall to 6 feet. Crimson darken to shades of purple. Fragrant. Repeat Bloom.
                 Zones 5-10.
      A very vigorous plant with velvety, deep crimson blooms which darken to shades of purple.
The large, cupped blooms have a strong rose fragrance and are elegant in contrast with the dark green foliage.
Othello is considered an 'English rose' hybridized by David Austin and it is one of many we offer
this year (The Prince, The Squire, Graham Thomas, Tamora, Abraham Darby, Mary Rose, and Heritage)
which suit the formal garden, as well as cottage garden, and it is a fine addition among roses, evergreens,  perennials, and bedding plants.
 

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Pat Austin.  Shrub.  David Austin. 4-5 feet.  (1995)  Repeat bloom.  Zones 5-10.
     David Austin hybridized this rose with two of his best roses, Graham Thomas and
Abraham Darby, and named it after his wife, Pat.  Beautiful large, cupped, coppery
orange blooms with pale yellow on the reverse, have a strong fruity fragrance.  Disease
resistant even in high humidity, this rose makes a hearty shrub with plentiful blooms all
season long.

Paul's Lemon Pillar.  Climbing Hybrid Tea.  (1915)  12 feet. One long annual flowering.  Zones 7-10.
     Huge flowers of pale lemon-yellow, tinged at the base of the petals with green, turning almost
white when fully open.  A hybrid with two famous parents, Frau Karl Druschki and Marechal
Neil, this rose has many of the attributes of both.  Heavy blooms that tend to nod, make it
desirable to plant in a situation where you want to look up at the blooms and have them available
for a sniff or two - very fragrant.  Its parentage makes this rose not liable to be dependably hardy.


Paul Neyron.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1869)  5-6 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.
                       (pol-nay-ROHN)  Zones 5-9.
     I am often asked, "Do you have a cabbage rose?"  When I explain Centifolia roses area sometimes
commonly called cabbage roses, and name a few, I'm told, "No, what I want is a huge, very fragrant rose
pink bloom that has hundreds of petals."  Then I say, "You must mean Paul Neyron."
     Simon Roberts, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, took me to task about the foregoing description of
Paul Neyron, saying,  "With its beautifully proportioned cup shape, rich colour and unique scent full
of citric overtones, I am often inclined to consider it the most perfect rose I encountered - and I say
that being familiar with the contents of Sackville-West's gardens at Sissinghurst."


Pax.  Hybrid Musk.  (1918)  6-8 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 6-10.
     Ivory white, semi double blooms are intensely fragrant and are borne on a disease
resistant plant with dark green foliage.  Tolerant of filtered light and a good color to
show up among foliage plants.  Nice cutting stems - fragrant - in bloom from early
spring to frost.  A candidate for tree climbing as it has done in an apple tree here
in the garden.

Peace.  Hybrid Tea.  (1945)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     No two blooms exactly alike, Peace's very double,  large 5-6 inch blooms,
vary in shades of pale to golden yellow with shades of apricot and pink
and have a mild fragrance. A very vigorous grower, it delights with variations
in color with changes in temperature and light, and is a good choice for beds
and borders.  Borne singly and in clusters, it's strong stems make it a good
choice as a cut flower. Glossy green foliage and fairly disease resistant.
 


Penelope.  Hybrid Musk.  (1924)  5-8 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
      Through Graham Thomas, Penelope has been in our garden for several years.
Ophelia is one of its parents, which accounts for its exquisite soft coloring . . .
salmon buds that open creamy white and in cool weather, palest pink.  The large
clusters of 2 1/2 to 3 inch flowers and buds have a musk fragrance, and the foliage
is excellent and glossy.  The fall hips are unlike any I have ever seen . . . pale,
apple green, changing to coral pink . . . one of the most beautiful features of a
very beautiful rose.
     Mrs. David Albrecht, San Jose, California, wrote, “Just wanted to tell you
Penelope is the most beautiful rose in our garden.  It is always covered with
blooms . . . and requires little or no care.”



Persian Yellow. Rosa Foetida persiana.  (Before 1837)  5-6 feet.  One annual
flowering. Zones 3-9.
     A famous parent of today's yellow roses, and one which should be in every
collector's garden.  Chrome yellow, very double flowers on short stems bloom
all along canes that are the reddish brown common in this class of roses.  Moder-
ately thorny.  The licorice scent is also typical of the class,  the same as Austrian
Copper and Harison’s Yellow, which are both close relatives.

The Pilgrim.  Shrub.  David Austin.  (1991)  4-5 feet.  Zones 5-10.
    Beautifully formed, large, quartered soft golden yellow blooms open flat
with many small petals, that are paler yellow around the edge.  The shrub can
climb in temperate climates to 10 feet but it can be kept shorter if pruned after
it blooms. The growth is strong, healthy, and upright. The leaves are medium
green and blackspot and rust resistant, although it can be susceptible to mildew.
The blossoms exude a strong fragrance that is a blend of tea and myrrh.

Pink Grootendorst.  Rugosa.  (1923)  5-7 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 3-10.
     Completely different in flower to all other rugosas - the soft-pink double blooms
in large clusters, resemble closely,  small, pink carnations.  Foliage is rugosa at its
handsome best - tall growing, hardy and completely disease resistant - always in bloom
- making them a good candidate for landscaping in cold climates or by the seashore.



Prairie Princess.  Buck.  Shrub.  (1971)  5-6 feet.  Intermittent repeat flowering.  Zones 5-10.
     Has profuse bloom,  rests awhile to put on growth, and then blooms in a great mass
again. . . if your season is long enough, Prairie Princess will do the same thing again
and again.  Excellent as a cut flower, with beautiful long pointed buds in clear pink
that open semi double.

The Prince.  David Austin.  (1990)  3 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     Velvety deep crimson to rich purple roses have a strong fragrance and bloom
abundantly on short, bushy plants with dark green foliage.  This rose makes an
excellent small hedge and is suitable for a container.

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Quatre Saisons.  Rosa Damascena Bifera.  Autumn Damask.  (Ancient)  3-4 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-9.
(cat-ruh sez-AWN)
     Praised by Virgil and Ovid . . . widely known and grown in Roman times . . . this is one
of the few repeat blooming roses recorded in ancient history.  Brought to the “New World” by
the Spanish, who called it Castilian, or Rose of Castile.  The intense damask fragrance, prized in
the Middle East for its perfume, makes it valuable for the preparation of potpourri and rose oils.
     Clusters of several pink buds with long, graceful sepals, open one by one into 3 1/2 inch, very
double flowers of soft, clear pink.  The foliage is exceptional . . . about it Mr. and Mrs. Gene
Thompson, of Malibu, California, wrote, “The late afternoon light shining through the leaves
turns the leaves to thin-cut jade - magnificent!”
     A beautiful and vigorous upright bush that is ornamental with it’s blossoms of curly petals
with smaller petals at the center that partly hide the golden stamens.

Queen Elizabeth.  Grandiflora.  (1954)  5 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     Named for England’s beloved monarch, Queen Elizabeth is a vigorous grower with
upright growth and long strong stems that make it a good cutting rose for a tall vase.
Some list this rose as a Floribunda, in England in particular, as the blooms sometimes
come in clusters.  Blossoms are medium pink, large, double, high centered, with a moderate
tea fragrance, and come in flushes throughout the season.
     Queen Elizabeth makes a good hedge but it can also climb to 8 feet if you allow it.
Prune lightly to encourage more bloom.  A longtime favorite for its bloom color and
form, as well as its vigor and fairly good disease resistance.


Queen of Denmark. (Konigen von Danemark)  Alba. (1826) 4-5 feet.
One annual flowering.  (KUR-neekin fone DANE-uh-mark)  Zones 4-9.
     This, like all Alba roses, is extremely weather tolerant.  The clarity of the color
of pink in the flowers is perfectly complemented by the blue-green foliage of the plant.
The buds of  the 3 inch double flowers have fair size outer petals, quartered centers
when fully open, and are intensely perfumed. It is a summer blooming plant, and it is rumored
to repeat bloom.
     This is a good rose to use as a background in a mixed bed of perennials or as
a hedge - also wonderful for potpourri.  It will tolerate poorer soil and is shade tolerant.


Reine des Violettes.  Hybrid Perpetual.  (1860)  5-8 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(wren day vee-oh-LETT)  Zones 5-9.
     A beautiful rose!  I think of pastel crayons from pink through lilac and blue to
deep magenta, smeared one over the other to achieve the delightful smoky effect of
its color.  The pink is predominant in the color - in some soils the blue tones are not
so evident and usually can be helped along by feeding the plant chelated iron.  It makes
a lovely rounded shrub when pruned minimally, and can climb if supported.
     Kansas City resident, Kelley Yeats, said,  “As I write I am intoxicated by the scent
of a vase full of Reine des Violettes . . . they have, as always, come through this
summer’s drought simply ‘smelling like a rose.’  They are perfection!”


Robin Hood.  Hybrid Musk.  (1912)  7-8 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. zones 6-10.
     Cherry red clusters of 1 inch blossoms with the familiar ring of flat petals
making an almost single flower, but with the addition of half-petals surrounding the
stamens - a very interesting rose, and very fragrant.  Good for hedging, borders or
covering banks with its astounding mass of blooms that keep on coming.
     As I write this the Spring bloom is mostly gone in our display garden, but
Robin Hood has burst forth with new blossoms so quickly that it is freshly in
bloom again.
 


Rosa Damascena Trigintipetala. (Kazanlik)  Damascena.  (Prior to 1700)  3-4 feet.
One annual flowering.  (. . . dahm-ah-SAY-nah tri-gin-ti-PET-ahla) Zones 4-9.
      Urn-shaped, shiny red hips adorn the upright, almost thornless plant in fall - one
of my favorite additions to Thanksgiving arrangements.  The spring flowers are cherry
red, have soft “wavy” petals and a heavy perfume.  Very clean, disease free plant.
Historically important in the collector’s garden.
     Excellent for potpourri and attar of roses preparation as the color and perfume stay
with the petals for a long time.


Rosa Gallica Officinalis (Apothecary Rose)  (before 1300)  3-4 feet.  One annual flowering. Zones 3-9.
(GAHL-ee-kay oh-feess-e-NAHL-iss)
     One of the noted varieties used for attar of roses and fine potpourris, and a good garden
rose, too.  Light crimson blossoms with intense perfume are semi double and borne freely
in late spring.
     This is the “Red Rose of Lancaster”, carried with aplomb as the badge of the Lancasters
during the Wars of the Roses.
     Rosa Gallica Officinalis sports very readily, and one can expect one or more variations
on only one plant.  We have one in our garden that is half lighter pink, half light crimson as
described above.  Rosa Mundi is also one of its sports, and is a striped rose . . . another plant here
is half Rosa Mundi and half Rosa Gallica Officinalis.  Do not fault us if your plant develops
sports . . . it is its nature.
 
 


Rosa Mundi. (Rosa gallica versicolor)  Gallica.  (Prior to 1591)  3 feet.  One annual
flowering. Zones 4-9.
     The oldest striped rose on record, this is the sport of the Red Rose of Lancaster,
Rosa Gallica Officinalis.  Very few books written about roses can be found without
a description of this lovely rose.  Low and sprawling, it is at its best in the foreground
of the rose bed, where the red strips over pink ground make a lovely combination
with spring bulbs or perennials, and other old roses.  The blossoms are large and open
wide with flaring petals, showing their yellow stamens in the center.  Light fragrance.


Rosa Paulii.  (Rosa Xpaulii)  Ground cover.  (Prior to 1903)  12 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-10.
(PAUL-ee-eye)
     For those of you who want a good, thorny barrier and an excellent ground cover.
Excessively clean, light green foliage.  The strong shoots first look like they are going
straight up and then lie flat on the ground with successive shoots gradually mounding
up to 3 feet in height.  The flowers have a distinct personality among single roses.  Each
snow white petal flares widely, standing apart from the next, making the flower four inches
wide, with showy stamens in the center.  Blooms in clusters of 6 to 8 blossoms following
one upon the other.  Light, spicy fragrance.
     Wrote Leland W. Strong, Galesburg, Michigan, “Rosa Paulii wintered with flying colors
- no freeze-back. There is no word I know to describe the profusion of blooms - each entire
cane is in bloom!”


Rosa Rugosa Alba.  Rugosa Species.  (Very Old)  4-5 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 3-9.
(roo-GO-sah AHL-bah)
     Pristine white, single flowers with ivory stamens in the center, and a marvelous
fragrance. . . one cannot ask for more than that, but this lovely rugosa sets edible hips,
very high in vitamin C, and is a fine addition to any rose petal preparation, too.
The plant is compact and thorny with shiny, crinkly rugose foliage, and is extremely
hardy.


Rosa Rugosa Rubra.  (Before 1799)  4-6 feet.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 3-9.
(roo-GO-sah ROO-brah)
     An excellent garden plant with good, disease resistant rugose foliage,
more arching in habit than most rugosas.  The 3 1/2 inch perfumed flowers
have five petals the color of "vin rose" wine, each standing separately like
the points of a star, and accented at the center by cream colored stamens.
Large orange hips when the petals fall, providing food for the local wildlife.
Likes Northern Coastal conditions.
 


Roseraie de l'Hay.  Hybrid Rugosa.  (1901)  5-6 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 3-10.
(ruz-ehr-AYE)
     I can just hear the sighs of happiness!  We finally have this lovely Rugosa hybrid
back again!
     Dense, luxuriant rugose foliage covers the entire plant, and the color is a deep
purplish red with rosy overtones.  The petals fold over one another and it shows light
yellow stamens in the center of the 4 1/2 inch bloom.  Don't stick your nose in the
middle of the blossom without looking for a bee first!  There almost always is one
down in a flower fold.  If you have a perennial bed, this is a good rose to combine
with blue and pink flowers.

Royal Sunset, Climbing. Large Flowered Climber.  (1960)  8-10 feet.
Zones 5-9.
      Small clusters of long elegant apricot buds with a fruity fragrance open to
large full  blooms that fade to a soft peach.  Can be kept as a shrub
or trained to climb a roof or trellis.  Does especially well in the Northwest
with the best color and size in cooler climates.

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Sally Holmes.  Shrub.  (1976)  6-7 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-9.
     A show stopper in our garden - visitors gasp and cross the garden to
get a closer look at a rose that has bloom trusses of a size that are truly
unbelievable!  At least 40, 3 1/2 inch, single ivory/white flowers to each
strong branch.  And the bloom is continuous throughout the season on a plant
with dark green, shiny, disease resistant foliage.  Has a light fragrance that
attracts bees.
     A shrub of large proportions, this is not for the small garden. Wonderful
when placed against a fence, wall, or is allowed to send its tall shoots into a
small tree.

Seafoam.  Shrub.  (1964)  3-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     Old-fashioned creamy white blooms with pale blush pink tones are carried on
long trailing canes which have dark green disease resistant foliage.  Seafoam
is a hardy shrub and useful as a groundcover or to spill over an embankment or wall.  It is
a seedling from White Dawn and Pinocchio.  The blooms are medium sized
fully double, and come in clusters.

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Sombreuil.  Climbing Tea.  (1856)  7-12 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(som-broo-EE)  Zones 7-10.
     The finest ivory climber in the rose world - flat blossom, full of
petals and fragrance enough to fill a room.
     Mary Marsden wrote us some years ago from her home in Garden City, New
York, "It is breathtaking! The beauty of the flowers just thrills me every time I
walk by - I just can't tell you how much pleasure this rose has given me!"
 


Souvenir de la Malmaison.  Bourbon. (1843)  3-5 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-9.
(duh lah mahl-may-ZAWHN)
     An historic rose, from France to our gardens. Full, tight perfect buds open slowly
to show many tightly curled petals full of fragrance.  Palest pink opening almost
white.
     Factually it is very hardy...no freeze-back even in the coldest Pennsylvania;  a moderate
grower, but a profuse all-season bloomer.   A sunny protected position is best, as well as a
garden with low rainfall, as wet weather can keep a bloom from realizing its glory.
 
 


Souvenir de la Malmaison, climbing.  Bourbon.  (1893)  10 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 5-9.
(duh lah mahl-may-ZAWHN)
     I find it difficult to select the right words, for this is not just another old-fashioned
rose, or can you describe its many subtle qualities with the usual catalog superlatives.
Factually it is very hardy...no freeze-back even in the coldest Pennsylvania;  a moderate
grower, but a profuse all-season bloomer.  Flower is large, many-petalled - a pearly
soft flesh-pink.   Full, tight buds open slowly to show many tightly curled petals full
of fragrance.  A sunny protected position is best, as well as a garden with low rainfall,
as wet weather can keep a bloom from realizing its glory.  This rose is well suited
trained over an arbor, providing a lovely canopy for a bench.
     An old-world rose which speaks of history, romance and nineteenth century
“Paris in Spring.”


Sparrieshoop. Shrub or Climber. (1953)  10 to 12 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(SPAHR-ees-hoop)  Zones 4-10.
     A vigorous plant, with strong canes that bear 3 to 4 blooming stems with clusters
of fragrant, bright pink buds and 3 inch soft pink almost single flowers, whose
large wavy petals are bright pink on the reverse side.
     From the owner of Wendover Farm, Old Chatham, NY, came this comment about
Sparrieshoop. “I cannot utter enough words of praise for the beauty, vigor and
disease resistance . . .”
 

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Stainless Steel. Hybrid Tea.  (1997)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-9.
     An excellent cutting rose with classic form and  easy to grow and care for.
Long-lasting richly perfumed pastel lavender blooms on long stems with deep green
large leaves on a tall vigorous plant.  Flower size and color best with some
cooler temperatures. Fashionable for bouquets and a good contender for awards.


Sterling Silver.  Hybrid Tea.  (1957)  4 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.  Zones 6-9.
     The famous ancestor for nearly every modern lavender variety, many know
Sterling Silver as it has often been used in bouquets.  Shapely pointed buds, that
open to sweetly fragrant flowers reminiscent of citrus blossoms and fruit bloom
repeatedly, novel for its silvery hues.  The foliage is glossy green and plants
once established give blooms of better size and color.


Tamora.  David Austin.1987. 3 feet. Apricot. Myrrh Fragrance. Repeat bloom. Zones 4-10.
     This compact grower is a fine addition as a border plant with three to four inch
apricot blooms with a strong myrrh fragrance and medium green foliage that is
fairly disease resistant.  The blooms are fully-petaled, deeply cupped, and almost
peony-like.


The Fairy.  Polyantha.  (1941)  2-3 1/2 feet. Repeat bloom.  Zones 4-9.
     In 1956 Will Tillotson wrote..."In ten successive catalogs, the writer has
offered to 'match this beautiful Polyantha against the field and take all bets.'
Except under the desert blistering sun, where its mid-summer blooms fade to
white, The Fairy is unexcelled for vigor, spreading growth, perfect health and
hardiness, and its super ability to produce those charming pink rosette type
blossoms in constant abundance...each fair flower, crisp and waxen like a
pink sea shell.'
      Polyanthas come and go, but The Fairy will be with us long after many of
today’s favorites are forgotten. Needs full sun for blooms to open.
conditions.  Also available, Pink Grootendorst with soft pink
flowers.

The Pilgrim.  Shrub.  David Austin.  (1991)  4-5 feet.  Zones 5-10.
    Beautifully formed, large, quartered soft golden yellow blooms open flat
with many small petals, that are paler yellow around the edge.  The shrub can
climb in temperate climates to 10 feet but it can be kept shorter if pruned after
it blooms. The growth is strong, healthy, and upright. The leaves are medium
green and blackspot and rust resistant, although it can be susceptible to mildew.
The blossoms exude a strong fragrance that is a blend of tea and myrrh.


The Prince. David Austin. 1990. 3 feet. Rich Purple. Very Fragrant. Repeat Bloom.
     Velvety deep crimson to rich purple roses with a strong rose fragrance, bloom
abundantly on short, bushy plants with dark green foliage.  This rose makes an excellent
small hedge.

The Squire. David Austin. 1977. 5 feet. Dark Red. Strong Fragrance. Repeat Bloom.
      Large double blooms are dark red and filled with creamier red petals inside
these almost quartered roses which have a rich old rose fragrance.


Therese Bugnet.  Shrub.  (1950)  4-6 feet.  Flowers repeatedly.
(tay-RESS boo-NAY)  Zones 3-9.
     Classed also as a Hybrid Rugosa, this extremely hardy rose was
developed by George Bugnet, of Alberta, Canada, where it gets very cold.
     Clusters of from 3 to 5 buds with graceful slim sepals, open to good
sized, fragrant, lilac pink very double flowers.  The crinkled petals are distinctly
veined.  Makes a handsome plant with healthy foliage in a lovely shade of
blue/green.  Very few thorns on the green shaded red canes.

Tiffany.  Hybrid Tea.  (1954)  3-4 feet.  Flowers Repeatedly.  Zones 7-10.
     A Hybrid Tea deserving of its lasting popularity, and highly rated for its color,
form, fragrance, and frequency of bloom.  Large, double, high-centered blossoms,
are shell pink blended with gold towards the center and have a strong fruity fragrance.
Blooms are borne singly and are good cutting roses.  A great performer in the garden,
as it is vigorous, disease resistant, and blooms generously.  The upright bush can grow
tall (6-8 feet) in warmer climates if you do not keep it cut back.  Tiffany is a descendent
of Charlotte Armstrong.

Topaz Jewell.  Hybrid Rugosa.  (1987) 3-5 feet.  Flowers Repeatedly.  Zones 4-8.
     Alos known as the "Yellow Frau Dagmar Hastrup,"  this is one of the few, if only,
repeat blooming yellow roses of the rugosa family, which are known for their cold
hardiness, disease resistance, and fragrance.  This bush benefits from a harder pruning
than what most rugosas need.  The shrub can kept anywhere between 2 to 5 feet high,
and can get 7 feet wide if you let it.
     Beautiful medium yellow open faced blossoms have approximately 20 petals and they
have a strong fragrance with a clove scent, similar to Hansa.  Not as vigorous as most rugosas
to start.  Once established, they can be pruned regularly to half their size.  This rose is a
descendent of Belle Poitevine and Golden Angel.

Tour de Malakoff.  Centifolia.  1856.  3-5 feet.  Strong fragrance.  One annual bloom.
     As a family, the Centifolias are fast disappearing from commercial growing fields.
Desirable roses, they are not easy to mature to harvest since they have a sprawling
habit of growth.  For that reason we seldom have enough plants to satisfy the demand.
     The plant is vigorous and arching, and it bears its blooms all along the canes.  Pink,
with violet shadings, the blooms have flared petals that are almost translucent, and are
very fragrant.  A very fine addition to the perennial bed, and just the right coloring.


Tuscany Superb.   Gallica.  (Prior to 1848)  3-4 feet.  One annual flowering. Zones 4-9.
     A sturdy plant with trim, dark foliage, almost thornless strong stems and flowers so
rich in depth of color the effect is like draped, blackish crimson velvet, catching light
in its folds.  Large, flat and full of petals brightened by yellow stamens at the center,
the flowers are exquisite and intensely fragrant.  Excellent for colorful potpourri.
     John Brayton, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, says, “Tuscany Superb was
covered with huge, deep-shimmering purple, fragrant blossoms this year - I expect
an even bigger show next year.  These are the most unusual blooms I have ever seen -
no photograph that I have seen does them justice.”


Variegata di Bologna.  Bourbon.  (1909)  5-8 feet.  One annual flowering, occasional Fall blooms.
Zones 4-9.  (var-ree-eh-GAH-tah dee boh-LOW-nyah)
     A distinct rose personality!  There are other striped roses, of course, but not one
like this one.  Fat buds, in clusters of 3 to 5, open to large, cupped, very double flowers
of white with well defined stripes of dark magenta to purple, and a really “ravishing”
fragrance.  A year old plant, trained on 8 foot fencing reached to the top and for several
months was covered with hundreds of blooms . . . stopping all visitors in their tracks.


Veilchenblau.  Hybrid Multiflora Rambler.  (1909)  One annual bloom. Zones 4-10.
(FILE-ken-blou)
     Large clusters of cupped semi double violet fragrant blooms, streaked with white
coming from the center of yellow stamens, can be trained to climb a pillar or fence and is
well suited for a trellis as it has few thorns.  The violet blooms fade to blue-gray with age.
Will tolerate partial shade without forfeiting color and is drought resistant.  Prune sparingly,
to clean up dead wood, in the spring.


Westerland.  Shrub.  (1969)  8' to 12'.  Blooms repeatedly.  Zones 5-10.
     Broad blowsy blooms of apricot-orange are produced repeatedly throughout
the season on this disease resistant shrub.  Moderately fragrant and very
showy in the garden, it can climb in warmer climates.
 


White Dawn, Climbing.  Large Flowered Climber.  (1949)  10-12 feet.  Blooms
repeatedly.  Zones 4-9.
     Snowy white, camellia-form blossoms that last a long time on the plant
are in great abundance from early spring to late fall.  The plants are arching
and trailing in nature, so are good planted in a border situation or on a bank.
Equally good when planted on a medium height fence where it can be trained
up to the top and then be allowed to fall gracefully over the other side.  The
foliage is shiny, dark green and disease resistant.


White Pet.  Polyantha.  (1879)  2-2 1/2 feet.  Blooms repeatedly. Zones 5-10.
     A customer sent me budwood of White Pet and it is one of the loveliest things
to come my way in a long time.  Blooms in clusters of perfectly formed tiny buds,
not white but having a delicate flush of pink, turning white when fully open.  The
center bud opens first and I like to pinch it off, leaving a natural bouquet of the
slightly fragrant buds that last for days.
     Barbara Latimer, Weaverville, NC, writes, "I would like to report to you that
White Pet, however delicate it may look, was the only polyantha in my garden that
completely resisted a number of infuriating plagues.  It should be adopted by the
women's libbers as their official flower."


Wild Ginger.  Griffith Buck.  Grandiflora.  (1976)  4 feet. Flowers repeatedly. Zones 4-10.
     Soft orange tones, suffused with yellow and tan, are seen at all stages of an opening
bud of Wild Ginger.  Deep bronze foliage gives an interesting color contrast to the
usual green of other roses.  This is a modern color, much admired by our visitors,
that is really exceptional when planted in a bed of blending colors, such as with Just
Joey, Abraham Darby, Fragrant Cloud and Lady Hillingdon.
     Admired by Alexander Mesrobian, Bath, Maine, he wrote of Wild Ginger,
“. . . vigorous and prolific, with buds and blooms showing many shades of orange/pink/
yellow/buff.  Its strong fragrance was an interesting blend of nutmeg and banana.  Buds
and foliage survived a series of fall frosts, extending our Maine summer.”


York and Lancaster.  (R. damascena versicolor) Damask. (1551) 5 feet. One
annual bloom. Zones 3-9.
     Clusters of bloom, lovely in all stages, are blush white, pale pink, or variegated in
shades of those colors. Many would-be historians have written about its alleged part in the
“Wars of the Roses,” where it got its name from the two factions involved.
     One of the best roses for potpourri, since it produces bloom very heavily and for
a long time in the spring.  Nice, arching plant which benefits from pegging the long
canes to increase bloom, or rather severely shortening the long canes immediately
after blooming has ceased.
 


Zephirine Drouhin.  Bourbon. (1868) 6-8 feet.  Blooms Repeatedly.
                                     (zeff-ur-een DROO-han) Zones 5-10.
     Beautiful in every stage, from bud to semidouble open bloom, the flowers are big,
clear bright pink, with a delicate but strong perfume.  Can be used as a large shrub
or small climber and is valuable for close quarters because it has no thorns.  Disease
free, rich green foliage.
     Zepherine does not grow large canes in the growing field and one must realize the
plant you receive may not be as vigorous looking as other types of roses - give it time
and care and it will reward you ten fold!
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