Old Garden Roses, Hybrid Musks, Species

Bourbon roses are generally believed to be the result of China x Damask, these are the roses most seen in Victorian times. Typically large buds and full blooms with strong fragrance. Hardy to zone 5 or 5/6.  Those varieties leaning more toward their Damask parentage will be more winter hardy.

Centifolia roses are typically once-blooming but fragrant.  These roses are also known as cabbage roses made famous in 17th century Dutch paintings. The actual origin of R. Centifolia is controversial ranging from 300BC to the 1500s. Hardy to zone 4.

Damask roses' parentage is a bit uncertain, but most books agree that a Gallica was involved. These are the roses distilled into attar because of their heady perfume. An ancient rose dating back to the Dark Ages in Damascus and Persia, but made popular in Europe when the Crusaders brought them back in the 12th century. Generally hardy to zone 4 or 5.

Hybrid Musks are most noted for being shade tolerant (3-4 hours of sun instead of 6-8).  This class of roses was introduced in the early 1900s in England, by the Rev. Joseph Pemberton who crossed Trier (Noisette x R. multiflora x Polyantha) x Hybrid Tea. Hybrid Musks are also known for their slight musky fragrance and reliable bloom.  Typically they grow as large Shrubs, with some trained as Climbers, and a few are Climbers, which can be pruned to stay shrubby.  Hardier than its species due to breeding, zone 5 or 6.

Hybrid Perpetual roses are large-flowered, repeat-blooming roses of the latter 19th century. Hardier with bolder colors than their contemporaries the Teas, but they do tend to get powdery mildew. Parentage contains all the following: Portland x Hybrid China (Gallica x China) and Bourbon (Damask x China).

Portland roses descend from the original Portland rose which was first recorded in 1792. As a class they are named after the 2nd Duchess of Portland, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, who grew them in her garden in 1800. They are probably a cross of Damask x Gallica. The Damask gives it repeat bloom and the Gallica brings a compact growth habit. Hardy to zone 4 or 5.

Species roses, quoted from Phillips and Rix, "Although there are about 150 species of wild rose, less than 10 have gone into the making of all the thousands of cultivated roses". Wild roses come from all continents of the Northern Hemisphere. They are usually small, single (usually meaning only 5 petals), pale colored, once-blooming flowers with sterile hips. Here we offer a few of the more temperate varieties that are best appreciated by the home grower.

Our plants are own-root (not grafted) and shipped in 6" band or gallon pots (not bareroot).  See the availability list for current availability and pricing.
Autumn Damask (Four Seasons Rose, Rose of Castille, Quatre Saisons, Rosa damascena bifera) Damask, medium pink, repeat bloom, disease resistant, very fragrant, <1819 4 x 4+ ft Z5 **

Bouquet ParfaitBouquet Parfait (Lens 1989)  A very pretty pink and white blend bouquet of smaller 2" flowers.  Nice light musk scent.  5 x 3 ft, Z5

Buff BeautyBuff Beauty (Bentall 1939) This fully double apricot to buff yellow double flower is one of the best of its class. Foliage is vigorous, spreading and dark green. Distinctly fragrant and hardy in poor soil, some shade and even a pot. 5 x 5 ft Z5

CorneliaCornelia (Pemberton 1925) Smallish apricot-pink to deep pink fully double flowers born in large clusters. Bronze-colored foliage. Moderately fragrant. Good repeat blooming. Good for use in a hedge even in partial shade. 5 x 5 ft Z5/6












Darlow's Enigma"Darlow's Enigma" (date unknown)  Single, very fragrant white flowers. Climber up to 12'.  Z4/5

FeliciaFelicia (Pemberton 1928) One of the best Hybrid Musks around. The fully double medium pink blooms have orange shadings toward the center. The large flouncy, moderately fragrant flowers display against dark green foliage. With yearly pruning it will hold its shape quite well. Suitable for a hedge or even a large pot. 4 x 4 ft Z5

Grandmother's HatGrandmother's Hat (Cornet, Barbara Worl) (Hybrid Perpetual/Bourbon, reintroduced 1991) Medium pink, quite fragrant, regularly in bloom, 6 x 4 ft. When Barbara Worl, who found the rose in a California cemetery, says she saw it in the world's largest rose garden in Germany labeled Cornet, we were convinced, but now the American Rose Society has decided that the longstanding study name of 'Grandmother's Hat' should prevail until its true identity is known. Whatever the name, it's one of the best HPs or Bourbons available today. Z5/6.






Gros Choux d'HollandeGros Choux d'Hollande (Centifolia/Bourbon, no date - very old)  Light pink flowers that are some of the earliest to bloom.  It never ceases to amaze with its "profusity" of blooms along every cane.  Very fragrant, vigorous and repeat blooming!  One out of all the thousands that we highly recommend if you have the room.  5-7 x 5 ft, Z5

PenelopePenelope (Pemberton 1924) Light pink with light yellow-centered semi double flowers on a spreading bush of dark green mat foliage. Blooms in beautiful sprays. Suitable for a hedge or a pot. Shade tolerant. 5 x 4 ft Z5







EglanteriaRosa eglanteria (Species from Europe <1551) Single light pink, apple scented foliage, shade tolerant, very fragrant, small to medium wiskered hips, 10+ x 8 ft. Z4 Photo courtesy of Bill Murray.

R. roxburgiiRosa roxburghii "Chestnut Rose" (from China <1824) Fully double, fancy medium pink, fragrant flowers found on very unique rose foliage. Each light green leaf is composed of up to 15 leaflets. Round orange-yellow hips follow in fall.   6 x 5 ft, Z6

Rose de ReschtRose de Rescht (Damask/Portland, unknown) Fuchsia pink to magenta flowers are rosette-shaped opening to nearly pompon. Very fragrant repeating flowers amidst a lot of mid-green foliage. Tolerant of poor soil, some shade and even a large pot. 4 x 2 ft.  Z4

Sally HolmesSally Holmes (Holmes 1976) Shrub/Hybrid Musk. This five-petal rose starts as a light peach bud then opens to ivory-white (pinker in cooler climates). Flowers are borne in trusses that practically cover the plant when in full bloom. With some training it can be used as a short climber looking great against a fence. Shade tolerant and hardy to zone 5 or 6. 6 x 4 ft. Sally Holmes



Souv du Dr JamainSouvenir du Docteur Jamain (Hybrid Perpetual, 1865) A mauve ruby red seedling of Charles Lefebvre. Semi-double flowers often open cupped to show off their anthers. Very fragrant with few thorns. It prefers a spot away from hot scorching afternoon sun. Dark green mat foliage. Can be trained as a climber or pegged down for maximum bloom. 10 x 7 ft. Z4 SdDJ pegged


White ErfurtWhite Erfurt (unknown)  This sport of Erfurt is stunning.  One of Tracy's favorites now that it has reached maturity in our semi-shaded area of Hybid Musks.  Pointed HT-type buds edged in red open to white flowers with a pink blush.  Healthy dark glossy green leaves.  If ever there was a rose bush in full bloom that resembled a camelia, this is it!   5 x 4 ft Z5/6

Yolande d'AragonYolande d'Aragon (Hybrid Perpetual, 1843) Another very fragrant incredible flower from Vibert. From the first large bloom to the last this fragrance will stay with you. Flower form is very double. Deep pink getting more mauve toward the flat center. The bush has light green foliage, is upright and healthy to 4 x 3 ft. Z5/6









View the rest of our catalog using these links:
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 David Austin English Roses Great Plants
other than roses...
Jackson & Perkins Roses
 Recommended Merchandise
Landscape Roses
Old Garden Roses/Musks/Species,
Hybrid Rugosa, Shrubs
Weeks Roses
Climbing Roses
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