Family: Rosaceae
Common Name: Rose

Throughout history, the rose has been a symbol of life and love. It was known to the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans, who grew roses in vast numbers. The Greek poet Sappho in 600 BC called it 'the queen of flowers'. Over the centuries, the rose has gained many other symbolic meanings and it has had many uses. It is still used in the preparation of a range of cosmetics, food and medicine.

Rosa is from the same family as peaches, raspberries, Cotoneaster and Spiraea, and contains about 100 species. Wild roses grow around the Mediterranean, throughout the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia, with the greatest number found in China.

In Europe, during the Middle Ages, the apothecary's rose, R. gallica var. officinalis, was highly valued by apothecaries because of its ability to retain its scent. Indeed, it was a major source of rose oil and medicine in Europe during that period. Later, in England, the Lancastrians adopted this rose as their emblem.

In the late 18th century, the introduction into Europe of the repeat flowering roses from China saw the beginning of rose hybridizing on a large scale, and this has continued to this day. Roses are lovely mass planted or as specimens. They may be grown as formal, standard bushes, trained to weep to the ground from stems 2 m (6 ft) or more high. Or they may simply form part of a mixed shrub border.

Miniatures and polyantha roses are sometimes grown in containers, while hardy species, such as R. rugosa, are often used as hedges. Whole gardens have been devoted to roses and they are always popular for planting in parks and municipal gardens. In large home gardens there may be special rose beds, while in the small garden, a rose bush or two can be surrounded by annuals, perennials or bulbs.

Varieties

Rosa includes the wild species, as well as Gallica, Damask, Alba, Moss, Centifolia, Portland, China, Tea, Noisette and Bourbon roses. In the 19th century, the Hybrid Musk, Hybrid Perpetual and finally the Hybrid Tea roses were developed. It was from these that all the modern roses have come.

Since the 1970s, there has been great interest in what are known as 'English' roses, which were bred by David Austin. These are recurrent-flowering roses and they have the many-petalled form, lovely fragrance and full vigor of the much older roses.

Roses are loved for their form and colour and many are very fragrant. They can be evergreen or deciduous, and most varieties have prickled stems. In the right climate, they can be very long lived, although they do not live as long in warmer climates. They reach maturity in three to five years and flower in two or three years. Some flower just once a year, in summer, but the display is often spectacular, while many others produce successive flushes of bloom in summer and autumn. Some varieties produce brilliant red hips in autumn after flowering and are grown for this quality alone.

Flowers may be single, double or many petalled and there is a wide range of colours: white, cream, yellow, apricot, orange, every shade of pink and red, mauve and blue, and bicoloured. Roses may be less than 25 cm (10 in) tall, or grow to 2 or 3 m (6-10 ft) or more. There are miniatures, shrubs, ground-covers (with miniature or normal-sized flowers), climbers and ramblers.

Cultivation

Although some roses tolerate a degree of shade, the best situation is in full sun; many disease problems can be avoided if they are grown there. Good air circulation is important too, but some shelter from very strong wind is desirable, so that flowers are not damaged. They need well-drained soil that has been prepared by adding large amounts of well-rotted manure or compost a few weeks before planting. Lime or dolomite should be added to soils known to be very acid. Roses have big root systems and should be thoroughly soaked once or twice a week during the growing season.

To feed, use a complete plant food in late winter or very early spring. Feed again after the first flowering flush, and again in mid to late summer. Timing and severity of pruning depends on the type of rose. Those flowering once only are pruned after the summer blooming. Repeat-flowering types are pruned in winter in milder areas, or in early spring in very cold areas. Prune to an outward-pointing leaf bud to keep the centre of the bush open. Refer to a rose text-book for full details of pruning as it is quite a complex subject.

Many roses strike fairly readily from cuttings of dormant wood taken in winter, or very early spring. Others are more difficult and need to be budded onto rootstocks of species roses.

Unfortunately, roses may suffer from a number of diseases and are attacked by a range of insects, although some species and older roses do not succumb so readily. Roses are susceptible to the diseases of black spot, mildew, rust, canker and oak root fungus, while pests include aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, red spider mites, leaf-cutting bees and deer.

Climate

The hardiness of roses is variable. Many tolerate extreme cold, while others are killed by frost. However, the majority of roses, including the modern hybrids, are fully hardy and suitable for zone 5. The modern hybrids, though, will need winter protection in regions where temperatures frequently autumn below -12°C. This is achieved by mounding up the base of the plants (the lower 30cm) with soil (not from the rose bed) and then, as soon as the mounds are frozen, covering them with straw or similar material. 'Ibis prevents alternate freezing and thawing, which is very damaging. Alternatively use proprietary styrofoam rose cones.