Do you know your hybrid tea from your bourbon? If so, belly up to the yard and drink in all the delicious scents and sights the rose-filled garden has to offer. Those still thinking I’m referring to beverages should probably read on…
The difference in roses goes way beyond color and fragrance. These popular plants can be divided into more than two dozen categories based on origin, flower shape, growth habit, number of petals…the list goes on. In 1979, in an attempt to stop the madness, the World Federation of Rose Societies separated all roses into three large categories: wild roses, old garden roses and modern roses. Within these categories are other classifications. Here’s the breakdown: Wild RosesThis category includes climbing and shrub roses. True wild roses have five petals and are sometimes called “species roses.” Other roses that fit in this category are the ones that look wild but have actually been bred in cultivation. (They generally have small flowers on large, sprawling plants.) Wild roses only bloom once each year, and they have good insect resistance and fragrance. They aren’t grown as much as other types, but they’re important because they’ve been used for centuries to breed new roses. - Climbers: This one really explains itself. Climbing roses have to be attached to their support structure using twist ties, wires or the like. They’re available in every color and range of petal numbers. Use them on arbors or to hide the ugly side of the tool shed. (Climbers are also found in the old garden and modern rose categories.)
- Shrub roses: Flowers are produced on large shrubs and tend to cover the outside of the plant. These shrubs are usually hardy and often bloom continuously during summer. (They’re also found in modern roses.)
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