Selecting an Old Garden Rose

Roses have been cultivated and enjoyed in gardens for hundreds of years and through naturally occurring sports, and selective breeding, there are now many classifications of roses recognized by the American Rose Society.

This list will provide general classification and information about the Species and Old Garden Roses. See ‚”Selecting a Modern Rose” for information on the roses classified as Modern Roses.

Classifications are based on American Rose Society ‚”Handbook for Selecting Roses” 2007. Additional information on using roses in the garden was found in The Heirloom Country Garden by Sarah Heffner and The Rose Bookby Graham Stuart Thomas.

Species Roses (Rosa spp.) – These are ‚”wild roses” that are typically once-blooming and have open, single flowers with less than ten petals. Most are fragrant, have colorful fall foliage and produce beautiful rose hips. Hardy zones 7-10.

Old Garden Roses – The American Rose Society grouped all the rose types created prior to 1867 in the Old Garden Roses category. Rose flower form and color are highly varied so several subgroups have developed as a result.

~ Alba Roses (Rosa alba) – Known as the ‚”white rose” this old garden rose has an upright growth habit, although some are used as climbers. The alba rose has dense foliage, high disease resistance and pale blooms as the name implies. Great in masses, or at the back of the garden border, alba roses bloom on year old wood. Hardy zones 3-10. Alba Rose Plant Profile.

~ Ayrshire Roses (Rosa arvensis) – Climbing roses originally developed in Scotland. These are once-blooming roses sometimes called ‚”the field rose” because of their vigorous growth in the wild. Hardy zones 5-10. Ayrshire Plant Profile has more details on growing Ayrshire Roses.

~ Bourbon Roses – The first repeat blooming roses in cultivation, Bourbon roses vary from 2-15′ tall. They generally make good hedges or climbers and bloom on new wood each year. Hardy zones 5-9. Bourbon Rose Plant Profile has detailed information on growing and caring for Bourbon roses.

~ Boursault Roses– Thornless rose plants developed in France that are once-blooming and rambling. The rose flowers are semi-doubled and slightly fragrant and the plants themselves grow well even in poorer soil conditions. Hardy zones 6-9.

~ Centifolia Roses (Rosa centifolia) – A Dutch developed hybrid, the centifolia roses are known as ‚”Cabbage Roses” because the flowers have over 100 petals. Centifolia roses are winter hardy shrubs that typically grow 4-8′ tall and bloom once a year with very large flowers on thorny canes. Hardy zones 5-10.

~ Damask Roses (Rosa damascena) – These highly fragrant rose plants have been used from ancient times to create attar of roses perfume. Damask roses are small shrubs to 6′ and have repeat blooms of double or semi-double flower. A great rose choice for potpourri and dried petals. Hardy zones 3 or 4-10.

~ Hybrid China Roses (Rosa chinesis) – China roses are small rose shrubs with open, loose habit of weaker canes that are covered by clusters of rose flowers. The roses are repeat blooming and fragrant. Hardy zones 7-10 with some winter protection.

~ Hybrid Gallica Roses (Rosa gallica) – These rose plants are compact 3-5′ tall and winter hardy. Brightly colored rose blooms are also fragrant and these roses will spread by suckers if grown on own root. Gallica roses are the oldest known cultivated roses. Hardy zones 4-10.

~ Hybrid Perpetual– Repeat blooming rose plants with upright growth to 6′ tall. Popular in the Victorian era, these roses are repeat blooming with fragrant roses in pink or red hues. Hardy zones 4-10.

~ Moss Roses– These roses are named for the moss like thorns that grow on unopened buds and stems just under the flowers. Most are once-blooming roses on vigorous, upright canes to 6′ tall. Hardy zones 4-9.

~ Noisette Roses– A rose classification first introduced in the United States, these rose plants are large spreading shrubs that can grow 20′ tall. Long-blooming roses are fragrant and borne in attractive clusters. Hardy zones 7-9.

~ Portland Roses – Short rose plants with repeat blooms of fragrant, very double rose flowers. Compact rose shrubs grow to 4′ tall and wide at most. Hardy zones 6-9.

~ Tea Roses – Easy-to-grow rose plants with repeat, double blooms that are typically fragrant. The forerunner of the hybrid teas, these rose plants have very attractively formed blossoms. Hardy zones 7-10.

See the American Rose Society’s classifications for Modern Roses or roses grouped by color class.

Join the discussion about roses and share how you plan to use them in your garden!