1838

5 to 7 feet    Z7-11 R Fr mp 

Peter Beales of England has identified this rose as ‘Adam’, which is believed to be the first of the Tea roses, thus the name is quite appropriate. It has fully doubled, salmon-pink blooms with hints of apricot and buff. ‘Adam’ can get quite large in comparison to other Teas and would be best if used in the back of a planting or as a short climber. The more we study this rose, the more we like it.

Prior to 1837

3 to 5 feet    Z7-11 R Fr rb

Thomas Rivers called 'Archduke Charles' "changeable as the chameleon". The full, very shapely flowers open with crimson outer petals and neat pink centers, then darken to solid crimson. The heat of the sun speeds the process: what appears to be a bi-color hedge in spring and fall will be all red roses in mid-summer. The neat, erect bush and constant bloom help make this one of our most popular varieties.

Prior to 1819

4 to 5 feet    Z5-11 R Fr mp

This is quite probably the plant that writers in antiquity described as the Four Seasons Rose of Paestum. 'Autumn Damask' is the only one of the Old European roses to repeat its bloom, and some rosarians have suggested that it is a species hybrid with R. chinensis, created where the far edges of their ranges touch. Its garden value is undeniable, with richly fragrant flowers occurring in abundance on a compact, hardy shrub in spring, followed by scattered blossoms through the summer and fall. Light pink and double, this ruffled rose contains a good measure of Damask scent, possibly the finest perfume in the rose world.

1842

4 to 5 feet    Z5-11 R Fr mp

Large, flat, and very double blossoms of a rich soft pink are highly fragrant. ‘Baronne Prévost’ blooms fairly often during the growing season on a chunky, erect shrub. It is one of the most rewarding Hybrid Perpetuals in the garden, resembling the famous ‘Paul Neyron’, but has a slightly smaller flower and is more remontant.

1817

4 to 8 feet    Z6-11 R Fr w

As fragrant as 'Champneys Pink Cluster', this first rose to bear the Noisette name is charming in its own right. The blush white flowers are cupped and double, appearing frequently throughout the growing season but especially in great abundance in the fall. William Paul, the 19th-century nurseryman reported, "I have seen these roses blooming unchecked amid the early storms of winter." 'Blush Noisette' is one of the few Noisettes which maintains a nice bush form while displaying blousy flowers for which Noisettes are known. This rose is ideally suited as a free-standing specimen or as a pillar rose.

1835

4 to 6 feet    Z7-11 R Fr dp

If you are looking for a darker accent color for your garden, perhaps ‘Bon Silene’ is the rose for you. Loose, double flowers of a deep rose pink unfurl from the classic long-pointed buds. The broad, multi-branched bush provides sweetly scented blooms throughout the season.

1858

8 to 15 feet   Z6-11 R Fr ly 

'Celine Forestier's' flowers are "chameleon-like" as they radiate from pale pink centers to soft yellow outer petals. The knotted flower center and distinct green eye also add to its uniqueness. Once it has become established, the stiff canes of the vigorous climber can easily reach 15 feet. This rose is best grown as a pillar or fanned out against a wall or high fence to display its flowers throughout the season. A strong, spicy scent accompanies the lovely flowers that can appear in every season.

1811

4 to 8 feet    Z6-11 R Fr lp

After being lost to commerce for many years, this earliest Noisette was re-identified from a plant sent to the Huntington Botanical Gardens of California in the early 1970s. The clusters of small, light pink, double flowers of 'Champney's Pink Clusters' carry one of the sweetest perfumes in the rose world. Our plant puts up vigorous shoots with narrow, graceful leaves that are occasionally susceptible to blackspot. It makes a handsome, rather mounding shrub, or it can be displayed on a pillar, fence, or trellis. Any garden would be enriched by the beauty, scent, and history of this rare old Southern antique.

1759

5 to 15 feet    Z7-11 O Fr w

A native of southern China and Taiwan, this rose was introduced early to North America and has now become thoroughly established here. It was first botanically described from a specimen growing in Georgia and is that state's official flower. 'The Cherokee Rose' is a mounding bush to about 5 feet, or a thickly foliaged climber to 15 feet with neat, apple-green leaves. In the spring, fragrant, pure white, 5-petaled flowers appear and cleanly drop their petals to disclose star-shaped sepals. It is one of the best for naturalizing in the South since it does not sucker (unlike the 'Macartney Rose', with which it is often confused) and offers an outstanding floral display in return for very little care.

Prior to 1814

5 to 7 feet    Z6-11 R H mp

Also known as the ‘Chinquapin Rose’ and ‘Burr Rose’, this very double, garden form of R. roxburghii was introduced before the wild, single form because the interior of China was inaccessible to Europeans in the early 1800s. William Roxburgh, an assistant surgeon to the East India Co., came across this rose in a garden in Canton, China, where it had been grown for generations as ‘Hoi-tong-hong’. He sent it to the Calcutta Botanic Garden. From there it reached England in 1820 and quickly traveled on to America. We find it lingering in many old Southern gardens. The ‘Chestnut Rose’ is unique in many ways. The pink, lightly fragrant flowers open from mossy-looking buds irregularly throughout the growing season and are followed by bristly, globular hips that resemble chestnut burrs. The odd, pale brown bark of the branches, combined with leaves divided into many small leaflets (as many as 15), makes this rose a fascinating specimen plant, especially if allowed to reach its mature size.

1832

3 to 6 feet    Z7-11 R Fr mr

This fine old rose has velvety, rich crimson flowers with a silvery reverse and a deliciously fruity fragrance. The double, cupped form of the blossoms is distinctive, keeping with the rounded shape even when fully open. Like all true Chinas, it is very nearly everblooming in a warm climate. The leaves are small, neatly shaped, dark green, and very healthy. The plant has an upright habit and, if left unpruned, will slowly grow to over five feet tall and equally wide. 'Cramoisi Superieur' or 'Agrippina', as it is sometimes still called, is one of the old roses that can often be found in country gardens of Texas and the South. It is a valuable and beautiful landscape plant that provides almost continuous color.

1857

4 to 6 feet    Z7-11 R Fr lp

Teddy Roosevelt made 'Duchesse de Brabant' his favorite, often wearing a bud or flower as a boutonniere. It is very nearly our greatest favorite, too. The cupped pink flowers have a cabbagey roundness to them, as if they were picked from a luscious old rose painting.

1860

3 to 5 feet    Z5-11 R Fr lp

Silvery pink, very double blooms of 'Enfant de France' contains an excellent fragrance. The bush seldom reaches three feet at our nursery making it ideal for gardens with limited space. Because of its rather small size, this rose can be kept very full retaining the traditional upright habit of all Hybrid Perpetuals.

Prior to 1835

3 to 4 feet    Z7-11 R mr

Believed by some authorities to be a cross between China and multiflora, ‘Fellenberg’ is now taking its place as one of the very few red Noisettes. It is very free-flowering, with clusters of loose, rosy scarlet blooms. Healthy foliage decorates a plant of spreading habit and it is best used as a shrub or container rose. The autumn color is especially good, as the rose blooms take on a scarlet hue.

1845

8 to 15 feet    Z8-11 O Fr yb

'Beauty of Glazenwood', 'Gold of Ophir' these flattering names for this rose give an idea of its popularity, even though it is not very cold hardy. Gertrude Jekyll describes its delightful spring performance as "loaded with...glorious loose copper-colored bloom". Seen up close the double flowers are a rich apricot-yellow with a blush of rose or crimson on the outer petals. The vining character of the canes, handsome, apple green foliage and unique color combine to make this one of the most useful of the once-blooming roses. It is extremely thorny, but the rewards of growing this rose are well worth a few pricks and scratches. This is another of the roses discovered by Robert Fortune in his exploration of Chinese gardens.

1850

12 to 20 feet    Z6-11 O Fr w

This apparently natural hybrid of R. banksiae and R. laevigata also bears the name of the young Scottish undergardener Robert Fortune. He discovered it in newly opened China, in 1850, blooming in a Shanghai garden. ‘Fortuniana’ retains the fine, violet scent of the ‘White Lady Banks’, but offers a larger, nearly 2 inch flower that is white and very double with a knotted center. The nearly thornless canes have foliage that is graceful and open, like the Banksias, but somewhat larger and glossier as befits the ‘Cherokee Rose’ heritage. It can be planted anywhere, as this is a rose that thrives even in poor, dry, sandy soils. The disease resistance, ease of culture, and graceful effect of this plant give it great value in the landscape. 'Fortuniana' may be grown as a climber, spreading 12 to 20 feet, or it may be pruned back to form a mounding shrub of 6 to 8 feet in diameter. In mid-spring all the enthusiasm of both parents will be visible in the lush cascade of blooms.

1899

15 to 20 feet    Z5-11 O Fr w

A cross between R. wichuraiana and the fine Tea rose, ‘Perle des Jardins’, ‘Gardenia’ is a healthy, vigorous climber that puts on a lush floral display in late spring. The yellow buds unfurl to shapely, fully double flowers of creamy-white with slightly muddled creamy yellow centers. The clusters of blooms are produced on the previous year’s growth. Therefore, this climber should only be pruned after flowering. Foliage is dark green and glossy. The fragrance matches the name.

1853

4 to 6 feet    Z5-11 R Fr rb

The prototype of the Hybrid Perpetual class and the first long stemmed florists’ rose, ‘General Jacqueminot’ has shapely, very fragrant flowers of dark red with a whitish reverse. The sturdy blooms appear to advantage on a vigorous, erect bush with rich green foliage.

1840

4 to 7 feet    Z6-11 R Fr m

This rose with long, flexible canes and rounded green leaves produces masses of flat, quartered purplish-maroon roses from late spring well into summer. As with most Bourbons, 'Great Western' may surprise you with some later flowers at scattered intervals. Well scented and luscious in arrangements; be sure to bring these blooms indoors to enjoy.

Prior to 1845

3 to 5 feet  Z6-11 R Fr green

Every garden needs a conversation piece and the ‘Green Rose’ definitely fits that bill. This most rewarding rose is always in bloom. Granted the blooms may be hard to detect, but once you know what you are looking at, you’ll find the bush is literally smothered. Perfect for floral arrangements or dried in bouquets, this rose lends its unique texture and contrasting color of green and bronze. Fragrance is spicy with a hint of pepper. You can expect continual bloom from this nicely rounded shrub throughout the season. A definite eye catcher!!

1863

5 to 6 feet    Z5-11 O Fr mr

This crimson colored rose is a prolific spring bloomer. The flowers of 'Henri Martin' are fragrant and emerge from moss covered buds. The foliage is outstanding - darker and more dense than most of our European collection. Heat tolerance should be of no concern, as it tolerates our Texas summer heat nicely.

Prior to 1837

3 to 4 feet    Z6-11 R Fr lp

This lavender-pink, fragrant 'Hermosa' rose is double, cupped, and beautifully shaped; many rosarians suspect Bourbon influence in its breeding. It was long popular as a container plant for European window gardens and its low, compact form is well suited for any small garden or for a massed effect in a larger border.

1832

4 to 6 feet    Z4-11 O Fr mp

Also known as "Rose dIsfahan" or "Pompon des Princes", this paragon amongst Damask roses has been seen growing wild on the hills of Iran, especially between Shiraz and the old caravan trading center of Ispahan. Residents of Shiraz still grow it in their walled gardens, where plants and pools are a release from the hot, dry land outside. When in full bloom, 'Ispahan' is covered until it looks like a fountain of pink. The shrub is vigorous and hardy, with a slightly bluish cast to the rough green leaves.

1830

12 to 20 feet    Z6-11 R Fr yb

The introduction of 'Jaune Desprez' set rose growers on their ears. Three qualities long sought after occurred all in the same rose. It was remontant, climbing and yellow! Today we would not consider the soft apricot hues as truly yellow, but in 1830 it was a dramatic occurrence. With precisely the same parents as 'Lamarque' it was different in flower form and color, but similar in growth habit. Capable of growing to 20 feet in mild climates, this fine rose bears semi-double flowers which exhibit soft shadings of apricot and are occasionally touched with rose. The fragrance is exceptional and sweet.