Exquisite Old Garden Roses of Victoria

From the most ancient roses to Victorian era favorites, these old roses have history. The rose is an estimated 35 million years old. Gardening with the rose began in China approximately 5,000 years ago. A Roman documentarian, named Pliny, collected and named the many types of roses available during his lifetime (23 A.D. to 79) during which he conducted research then documented his findings in volumes of encyclopedias. He found twelve cultivars of the rose and applied names to ten of them. He defined the last two in description only: the thorn rose, and the rose of one hundred petals.

By 1616, roses were ‘classified’ in a French text (of mostly poetry) by Franeau, in Le Jardin d’Hyer.

Four distinct classifications were determined which are often referenced when buying and selling roses today:

1. Centifolia (most fragrant),
2. Damask (double),
3. Alba (Blanche, white or also known today as Alba), and
4. Gallica (Velvety).

Within all four of these categories of these roses of antiquity there are favorites cherished, still, for fragrance, blossom-form (many almost double with button eyes), and hue or color which is not often found in today’s hybrids. The almost beige, old-fashioned, cream color of the blush-white Madame Zoetmans Damask rose truly looks like a silk organza pretty enough to inspire an entire line of decorating fashions! In keeping with its high fashion – almost vintage – color and appearance, it also offers a unique, warm scent that brings to mind exotic perfumes and interior incenses spiced with sandalwood.

Another gorgeous example is the deep violet Gallica rose ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’. Caught in the light, the underside of these velvety, aubergine petals have a silvery cast and a lime colored eye at the center of its many-layered bloom. Not only stunning in the garden, especially planted near silvery plants, like Dianthus, this rose is also truly old, dating back to before 1628 when Richelieu founded ‘Jardin des Plantes’ (Garden of Plants) in Paris.

These four groups of the oldest of named (or classified) roses aren’t every gardener’s choice. Their bloom season is rather short, but as shrubs go they are tough, sturdy, beauties that maintain an air of their ancient ancestry such as a precious antique does inside the home. Centifolia roses were the result of five ancient roses which were cultivated, developing cross-genus new breeds, probably done by monks. Most garden favorites, now considered old Victorian roses (by most standards), were once derived from breeds of Pliny’s four ancient roses cross-bred with roses brought to Britain from China. These became the most popular in the late 1800s to early 1900s because these cultivars offer longer bloom times and have compact, well-behaved foliage.

“Old roses have history attached to them to a degree unequalled by any other race of plants; among the ‘dearest freshness, deep down things’, they are plants of incomparable beauty and deepest mystery.” – A quote from Graham Murphy’s Old Roses, (describing a grower’s expression of rose love) Gardens by Design from the National Trust.

A Rose by Any Other Name – A Garden of Beauty Among the Roses

Spiked and densely mounding plants are an attractive accompaniment when paired with old roses.

These plants are spire shaped, deep-hued, and good pairings with rose bushes:

• Delphiniums
• Salvia
• Russian Sage
• Catmint
• Liatrus
• Lavendar, and
• Foxgloves .

Here are examples of mounding choices that will spread out among the bases of the rose garden’s trunks creating lush gardens in their shadows:

• Bishop’s Hat
• Wild sweet pea
• Blue-eyed creeper
• Dianthus
• Anenomes, and
• Creeping phlox

Try Alliums, like Globemaster, for an eclectic match-up in the garden. The large, purple spheres on tall, thin stalks grab attention from a distance while the beauty of the rose captivates upon further introspection. Old Victorian rose gardens often included lilac, peonies, tall phlox, and lobelia as well. Single Alba rose plants of the Victorian era cultivars have been known to survive in gardens 100 years or longer.

Victorian roses are a rare and worthy find. Many other rare and beautiful plants worth featuring in the garden and preserving for the purpose of horticulture heritage and habitat can be found by reading: Rare and Indigenous Bulbs Varieties: Where to Find and Reasons to Plant Rare and Exotic Bulbs also written by this author.

Camelias can be another good pairing with roses, especially old roses since their many petals, cup shapes, and almost vintage hues complement one another. For information on growing and attractively displaying camelias, read: Grow Cottage Garden Camelias in Pots or Espelier also written by this author.