The Romans and Greeks worshipped this aromatic flower, using it to fragrance themselves and their homes.
Rose petals were strewn over the floors on special occasions and sprinkled in their bathwater.
Believing the rose to be an aphrodisiac, they also sprinkled the petals in their wine and beer.
Source
The Crusaders brought many species of rose to Europe from the East.
The Damask rose is named for the ancient city of Damascus.
Meanwhile, in England, the rose was chosen as the national emblem.
Discover the Differences Between Types of Roses
Dont know a tea rose from a shrub rose?
Here is how to tell the difference.
There are so many varieties of roses it is difficult for the backyard gardener to sort them into categories.
It all gets confusing so lets take a stab at simplify.
TheFloribunda Rosesare bushy have large blossoms with clusters of three to fifteen blossoms on a stem.
The colors of the flowers are generally the most vivid.
These look great in large plantings of different colors and will stop traffic when everything is in bloom.
TheHybrid Tea Roseis the jot down you get at the florist in dozens or half dozens.
When one talks about a rose, this is the perfect one you may think of.
The single bloom usually grows on long, tall stems.
The bloom has a high center with other petals curling and twisting behind it.
These roses have a delightful fragrances.
A cross between a hybrid tea and floribunda is called a Grandiflora.
These plants are tall, up to 6 feet tall, and bloom all season long.
The blossoms grow in clusters with stems slightly shorter than the hybrid tea and longer than the floribunda.
Landscape Roses or Shrub rosesare highly disease resistant and dont require much babying to provide you with showy blossoms.
Many gardeners use these roses as ground cover because they tend to grow close to the ground and spread.
Multiple roses grow on stems and will cover an area relatively quick.
Some of these roses have single petals.
Plant several colors together to make a carpet of roses on a hillside.
You will need a trellis or a wall for the Climbers to grow on.
Miniature Rosesare sweet and beautiful and can be grown indoors.
These roses only grow six inches to a foot or two tall.
Some of these roses have about five petals radiating from a raised center.
They come in all colors and are very disease resistant.
The flowers mostly grow in clusters and some will climb.
They are also called wild roses and some have very deep roots.
This is the variety that produce the lovely red hips that make for interest in the winter garden.
Another set of old roses come from Europe and have really wonderful scent.
It has been used for perfume for years.
Source
Some of these old roses are called Cabbage Roses because they look like a head of cabbage.
Their petals repeat and they resemble more of apeonythan a rose.
Go to your local nursery to find out what kind of roses do well in your area.
Species Roses
These are the original wild roses, from which all the others are descended.
They are the only roses which grow true to seed.
Most but not all have very intricate, densely double flowers and many are sweetly scented.
They vary in height from 3 7 feet.
A number of different species and their hybrids are still widely cultivated.
Lending themselves generally to formal plantings, they are mostly small to medium deciduous shrubs 2-3 feet in height.
They come in almost every shade and colour including even blue, and many are fragrant.
Floribunda Roses
The floribundas carry dense clusters of rather smaller, generally single, flowers.
Discovered by Cants of Colchester (United Kingdom, 1968.)
Sport of Iceberg, floribunda.
Height of 8 to 12 feet.
Zone 4b and warmer.
Do not prune in the spring.
Most modern shrub varieties, and the rugosas, make very good hedging.
All go well in a mixed border, and the larger varieties make spectacular specimen plants.
Patio roses are slightly bigger, most varieties being a cross between miniature and floribunda roses.
Most grow from 8 -12 feet tall, but the most vigorous may reach 30 feet and more.
A white rose is always a standout in a garden.
Dont ever for a moment think that a white rose wont be noticed.
Joseph Hardwick Pemberton (United Kingdom, 1913).
Creamy white Hybrid Musk with yellow centers.
Height of 8 to 10 feet.
Zone 6 and warmer.
Grows best where it can spread out.
it’s possible for you to grow it on a pillar, but limit the canes to three.
Joseph Hardwick Pemberton (United Kingdom, 1919.)
Height of 8 to 10 feet.
Zone 6 and warmer.
Grows best where it can spread out.
you’re able to grow it on a pillar, but limit the canes to three.
Bred by Brownell Family (United States, 1954.)
Height of 8 to 10 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Fully double, tea rose fragrance, pure white non-stop blooms.
Will bloom from top to bottom.
Does best where it can spread out.
Excellent choice for growing on a fence.
Bred by Alexander M. Cocker (Scotland, 1969.)
Height of 6 to 7 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Looks best grown on a pillar or arbor where it can grow upright.
Repeat bloomer with a nice fragrance.
Makes a good cut flower.
Good choice for a small space.
Bred by ONeal (United States, 1951.)
Height of 8 to 12 feet.
Zone 5a and warmer.
This rose will be the first and last rose to bloom in the garden.
Fragrant Hybrid Tea punch in blooms.
The center is a deeper pink then the petals on the outside.
Yes, it will even out sell New Dawn.
Does well on a pillar, large arbor or fence.
Train the canes when young and flexible.
Bred by Ogilvie (Canada, 1991.)
Height of 8 to 10 feet.
Zone 3b and warmer.
This climber will be covered with fragrant medium size deep pink blooms.
A good repeat bloomer.
Does well on a fence or tall arbor.
Bred by Svedia (Canada, 1978.)
Height of 6 to 8 feet.
Zone 2b and warmer.
Can be grown on a pillar or fence.
Mild fragrance, and a good repeat bloomer.
Good for a small space.
Bred by Svedia (Canada, 1986.)
Height of 6 to 8 feet.
Zone 2b and warmer.
Can be grown on a pillar or fence.
Mild fragrance, and a good repeat bloomer.
Good for a small space.
Bred by Kordes (Germany, 1959.)
Height of 5 to 12 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Lavender Lassie is a Hybrid Musk grown as a large shrub or climber.
This rose is best grown on a fence or large arbor.
Give the canes plenty of room.
This rose is a traffic stopper.
Clusters of hundreds of fragrant medium pink blooms.
Once this rose gets started you wont be able to see the leaves for the flowers.
A good repeat bloomer.
Bred by Kordes (Germany, 1962.)
Height of 9 to 12 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Fragrant apricot-pink blend, with a hybrid tea like bloom.
A lovely Victorian looking rose, which is good for cutting.
Bred by Dreer (United States, 1930.)
Height of 10 to 20 feet.
Zone 5b and warmer.
New Dawn has become a very popular rose.
Fits in perfectly in a Victorian or Cottage garden.
verify you have plenty of room to grow this rose.
Best grown on a tall fence or arbor.
Pale pink fragrant blooms will cover this bush.
Bred by Boerner (United States, 1953.)
Height of 7 to 10 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Very fragrant deep pink blooms.
Grows best when allowed to grow upright.
Good choice for a smaller space.
Bred by Poulsen (Denmark, 1994.)
Height of 9 to 10 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Has a cabbage rose look.
Will do well growing on a fence or large arbor where it can spread out.
Bred by Schmidt (Germany, 1905.)
Height of 8 to 12 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Blooms in many shades of pink.
Have no fear; Tausendschon is not as vigorous as the wichuraiana ramblers.
Will flower from top to bottom.
Prune after flowering, so the canes have enough time to set next years flower buds.
If you prune in the spring you will cut off all the new season flowers.
Bred by Svedia (Canada, 1983.)
Height of 7 to 10 feet.
Zone 2b and warmer.
William Baffin looks best when allowed to grow as a large shrub along a fence.
You will still need to tie the bush to the fence.
Very showy and a good repeat bloomer.
Bred by Bizot (France, 1868.)
Height of 6 to 10 feet.
Zone 5b and warmer.
Bourbon rose grown as a climber or tall shrub.
Thornless with a strong fragrance.
Its sometimes advertized that it will grow in shade.
This is not true.
It still needs some amount of sunlight, even if its filtered.
Bred by Joseph W. Kallay (United States, 1932.)
Christening, Graduation and Wedding pictures were taken under the heavily filled trusses of the Blaze rose.
Blaze is a repeat bloomer with a mild fragrance.
Best grown on a fence or arbor where it can spread out.
There will be more flowering from lateral canes.
Height of 10 to 15 feet.
Width of 8 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Bred by Gareth Fryer (United Kingdom, before 1990.)
The flowers are large, and blooms singly or in clusters.
Repeat bloomer with a light scent.
Grows well on a fence, arbor or pillar.
Height of 6 to 8 feet.
Zone 6 and warmer.
Bred by McGredy (Ireland 1975.)
If you only have room for one red rose, then choose Dublin Bay.
Looks best grown on a pillar or arbor where it can grow upright.
It can be grown on a fence, but the canes must be trained when young and flexible.
Repeat bloomer with a mild scent.
Good choice for a small space.
Height of 6 to 8 feet.
Zone 6 and warmer.
Bred by Reimer Kordes (Germany, 1961.)
This is a strong grower.
Would make an excellent tall hedge along a fence.
Good repeat bloom with a lovely fragrance.
Needs plenty of room.
Height of 8 to 10 feet.
Width of 5 feet.
Zone 5b and warmer.
Bred by J. Benjamin Williams (United States, 1975.)
Youll swear that youre looking at velvet when you see this rose.
Large, deep dark velvet red blooms.
Don Juan and Blaze are its parents.
Red Fountain has the beauty of Don Juan and the disease resistance of Blaze.
Continuous bloom with good fragrance.
Height of 9 to 10 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Bred by Reimer Kordes (Germany, 1964.)
This rose is a beauty.
Grows best on lateral canes.
The lateral canes are long, and look lovely when grown at a height where they can cascade down.
Large Hybrid Tea blooms with a strong fragrance.
Repeat bloom throughout the season.
This is an excellent candidate togrow Clematison to hide its bare legs.
Height of 10 to 12 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Bred by Wilhelm J.H.
Kordes II (Germany, 1954.)
Repeat bloom, mild fragrance.
Height 8 to 9 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Bred by Reimer Kordes (Germany, 1959.)
Repeat bloom, mild fragrance.
Height 6 to 8 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Bred by Reimer Kordes (Germany, 1960.)
Repeat bloom, strong fragrance.
Height 8 to 10 feet.
Zone 6b and warmer.
Ground Cover Roses
These are low growing shrubs with a thickly branching, spreading habit.
They carry clustes of small flowers in most of the normal shades, but few are scented.
The different colors of roses, among other things, give clues to their meaning.
According to Teleflora, red roses symbolize love and are known as the lovers rose.
Yellow roses have had various meanings throughout the years.
In Victorian times, the yellow rose stood for jealousy.
The yellow color of the flower also had negative meanings for many flowers, such as carnations.
Today, it is used to represent friendship, joy, warmth, gladness, and affection.
White roses are also known as the bridal roses.
Representing humility, purity, and innocence, these roses are often used in bridal bouquets.
The white rose can also mean young love and young marriage, truth, loyalty, and reverence.
In general, pink roses can be used to mean gentility, femininity, elegance, and refinement.
They can also be used to convey admiration, attraction, passion, and excitement.
Purple or violet colored roses are the hardest to find out of the solid colored roses.
This color of rose can also urge a recipient to proceed with caution.
Other Meanings of Roses
Different color combinations or kinds of roses also have special meanings.
