There is little doubt that roses are a beloved landscape plant. Despite their thorns, these ever-popular shrubs are prized for their enchanting blooms and fragrance. While newer hybrids offer a wider range of color and a more uniform growth habit, many old garden rose varieties have stood the test of time in terms of beauty, dependability, and resistance to disease.
Though some types of roses will bloom only once per season, several cultivars of repeat bloomers are available to home gardeners. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular types of old-fashioned roses that can be found online and at local plant nurseries.
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Best Old Roses to Grow…
Whether you're just learning how to grow roses or are a seasoned pro, you are bound to fall in love with one of these stunning new varieties. Invest in pot plants or learn how to plant bare root roses to reduce the cost of cultivating a gloriously romantic rose garden.
For Scent
Old-fashioned rose varieties are among the most fragrant roses available to growers. While many possess a more “classic” rose-like scent, others may produce citrus or tea notes.
Damask roses, specifically, are known for their exceptional fragrance and unique ability to repeat bloom throughout the season. The best scented varieties of damask rose include:
- ‘Autumn Damask'
- ‘La Ville de Bruxelles'
- ‘Leda’
- ‘Summer Damask’
- 'York & Lancaster.’
For Blooms
Though much of the heritage of old roses can be traced back to species types, their blooms are not without beauty. Bourbon varieties of rose, which date back to the 1800s, are sure to enchant gardeners with their large flowers.
Vigorous growers, these plants can quickly spread to cover large areas of the landscape, producing a beautiful display while in bloom. Varieties known for their extraordinary flowers include:
- ‘Coquette des Blanches’
- ‘Louise Odier’
- ‘Reine des Violettes’
- ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’
- ‘Zephirine Drouhin’
For Hedges
When it comes to old garden roses, varieties growing to shrub form make an excellent addition to the landscape. Those that can be pruned and trained to create a rose hedge afford growers both beauty and privacy.
China and tea roses are a good choice for gardeners looking to add roses to compact spaces or near borders. Ideal rose cultivars for use in hedging include:
- ‘Archduke Charles’
- ‘Gloire de Dijon’
- ‘June Anne’
- ‘Old Blush’
- ‘Narrow Water’
For Trellises & Arbors
A robust growth habit makes old-fashioned roses ideal for use on arbors and trellises. Spreading quickly, sprawling plants produce an abundance of blooms that are sure to stop passersby in their tracks.
Polyantha roses, for example, are known for their impressive size. Popular varieties for the home garden include:
- ‘Caldwell Pink’
- ‘Cecile Brunner’
- ‘Clotilde Soupert’
- ‘Kendyl Marie’
- ‘Lauren’
For Shady Gardens
Most roses are adaptable and are able to grow in beds that receive part shade throughout the day. Though shade may be beneficial to plants during the hottest parts of the afternoon, reduced sunlight may negatively impact the plant’s ability to produce flowers.
Fortunately, some old rose varieties are able to tolerate these conditions better than others. Centifolia, or cabbage roses, are one of the best roses for shade. Popular varieties of cabbage rose include:
- ‘Dutch Provence’
- ‘Juno’
- ‘Justine Ramet’
More Rose Inspiration
- Discover when to prune roses with our guide to getting the timing right for every variety.
- Is black spot becoming a problem? Try these 6 natural black spot remedies for roses.
- Find out the 8 things rose experts always do to grow the best flowers.
- Browse roses in the Gardening Know How Shop – handpicked by experts for their beauty, performance, and disease resistance.
