History of Roses
Part One B
by Jerry Haynes
This is the second of a multi-part series on the history
of roses. In Part One A we discussed the fact that
species roses are the very first roses, also known as
wild roses, as found in nature, predating humans by
some seventy million years.
This part will cover the first third of the 120,
generally agreed upon, species roses. You will note
that some species roses have several alternate names
because several botanists may have 'discovered' the
same rose growing in different places.
‘Rosa damascena’
http://www.life.illinois.edu/ib/363/image/rosadamas.jpg
The oldest rose identified today is ‘Rosa gallica’
(1200 B.C.) also known as the French rose, which
once bloomed wild throughout central and southern
Europe and western Asia, and still survives there.
Descending from ‘Rosa gallica’ is ‘Rosa
damascena’, the damask rose, whose well-known
fragrance has been part of rose history since it first
appeared in about 900 B.C. About 500 B.C. a North
African
variant
called
‘Rosa
damascena
semperflorens’, the 'Autumn Damask', thrilled the
Romans because it bloomed twice a year - a trait
previously unknown to them. The 'Autumn Damask',
which has been traced back to at least the fifth
century B.C. is believed to be a cross between Rosa
gallica and ‘Rosa moschata’, the musk rose. Until
European merchants discovered the tea and China
roses in the Orient many centuries later, this rose
would be the only repeat bloomer known to the
Western world.
‘Rosa canina’
http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ROSCAN
Another important early rose was ‘Rosa alba’ the
'White Rose of York'. Made famous as the emblem of
the House of York during the fifteenth-century War
of the Roses, this five-petaled rose is actually far
older, dating to before the second century A.D. It
probably originated in the Caucasus and traveled
west by way of Greece and Rome. ‘Rosa alba’ and its
relatives, known as Albas, are believed to have
descended from some combination of ‘Rosa gallica’,
‘Rosa damascena’, ‘Rosa canina’, and ‘Rosa
corymbifera’.
The early Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans all grew
and traded in roses, which they brought with them as
they traveled and conquered. As a result, roses spread
throughout the Middle East and elsewhere in the
Mediterranean.
The Greek scientist and writer Theophrastus (371287 BC) cataloged all known roses known about 300
B.C., and described their flowers as having anywhere
from five to one hundred petals. His was the first
known detailed botanical description of a rose.
Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia around this
time, grew roses in his garden and is credited with
introducing cultivated roses into Europe. He may
have had something to do with rose growing in
Egypt, too.
It must be said that rose history is not a very exact
science. Great rosarians such as Brent Dickerson,
Graham Thomas, David Austin, Peter Beales and
others have collected a huge amount of rose lore, but
prior to the 1800s, records were not well kept.
Because light came from open flames, collections
were subject to fires such as the one that destroyed
the Library of Alexandria, perhaps the best known
repository of ancient knowledge.
One final note before we get into the specific species
roses: In researching these roses in my library of over
a hundred rose books and online, in Modern Roses
12, Google and http://www.helpmefind.com/ I often
had to consult multiple sources to find a date of
introduction or a date that was documented as
recognizing a particular species rose existed. In some
cases I have just said that the rose was known prior to
a certain date. The rose may, in fact, have existed for
centuries prior to being suddenly 'discovered'.
The rose genome has been decoded and over time,
we will know more about the crosses and
relationships among our species roses, but sadly,
there are many things we will probably never know...
‘Rosa acicularis’
and pests. The alba roses are truly carefree roses.
Most form naturally mounded, graceful shrubs
that need little pruning.
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‘Rosa alpina’ see ‘Rosa pendulina’ (before 1762)
The flowers are purple-crimson, 1½ inches,
single, and borne singly or in clusters of 2-5. It
flowers in very early spring. The foliage is
oblong with 5-13 leaflets. It is nearly thornless
with stems bright, red-brown where exposed to
the sun. The growth is scrubby, medium (3-5 ft.),
and hips are orange-red, urn-shaped, pendulous,
and 1 in. long. It is extremely hardy.
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‘Rosa anemoneflora’ (1844) ‘Rosa triphylla’,
‘Rosa sempervirens var. anemoneflora’ Probably
a natural hybrid between ‘R. moschata’ and ‘R.
banksiae’. It is found in eastern China.
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‘Rosa arkansana’ (syn. ‘R. pratincola’, ‘R.
suffulta’) - Wild Prairie Rose, ‘Arkansas Rose’
(1880). Deep pink, single blooms appear in
spring. This rose was named for the Arkansas
River in the state of Colorado. ‘Rosa arkansana’
was first described by
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Professor Thomas C. Porter as a result of plant
collections made by the U.S. Geological Survey
in Colorado from 1861 through 1873.
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‘Rosa arvensis’ - Field Rose, Trailing Rose
(‘Synstylae’) (before 1830) Ayrshire roses are
usually very cold hardy, some surviving as far
north as zone 3.
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‘Rosa banksiae’ (Banksianae), (1823). Trusses
of small, dainty yellow blooms appear in spring.
It is a vigorous rambler in warm climates. The
white Banksiae, ‘Rosa banksiae banksiae’, is
very similar and closely related to the yellow
banksiae (‘Rosa banksiae lutea’). A white Lady
Banks rose holds the world record for size (8,000
sq. ft.) in Tombstone Arizona.
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‘Rosa beggeriana’- (Gymnocarpae) (before
1880) This is a cream colored shrub 3 to 5 feet
tall. Native to central Asia from Iran and
Afghanistan to the Tien Shan, Pamir Alai, and
Chinese Turkestan (and apparently naturalized in
Turkey), it grows in rocky places and scrub on
the mountains from 1200-3000m, flowering from
May to July.
http://www.mnstate.edu/kienholz/mt_flowers_2.htm
Notable Species Roses
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‘Rosa acicularis’ Arctic Rose, Prickly Rose,
Circumpolar Rose (1805) Native of North
America and the circumpolar region, it extends
down the Rocky Mountains as far south as
Colorado and New Mexico. It grows between 3
ft and 7 ft. high. It has a deep pink single flower
along dark red canes and is once-blooming in late
spring or early summer.
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‘Rosa x alba’ (possibly R. canina x R. gallica)
(200 A.D.) Flowers are pure white, large, full,
and fragrant. It was known as the white rose of
York in the War of the Roses. ‘Rosa alba’ and its
relatives, known as albas, are believed to have
descended from some combination of ‘Rosa
gallica’, ‘Rosa damascena’, ‘Rosa canina’, and
‘Rosa corymbifera’. The alba roses need some
winter cold if they are to flourish, and they do not
thrive in the warmer regions of the Southwest and
Southeast where winters are virtually frost free.
In addition to their cold tolerance, the alba roses
also exhibit a remarkable resistance to diseases
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‘Rosa berberifolia’ - syn. ‘R. persica var.
berberifolia’ brought from Iran to France in 1788.
The flowers are buttercup-yellow with a scarletbrown eye, 1 in., single. The leaves are simple,
lacking stipules, bluish-green with hips prickly
and round.
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Rosa blanda’ Hudson's Bay Rose, Labrador Rose
(1773). Rose-pink clusters of blooms appear in
spring. Hardy to zone 3.
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‘Rosa bracteata’ Chickasaw Rose, Macartney
Rose (Bracteatae) It was introduced about 1793
and is native to southeastern China. It has
naturalized in much of the southeastern U.S.
Flowers are white or white blend. There is a
strong fragrance. Blooms are large, single (4-8
petals). Moderate, continuous (perpetual) bloom
throughout the season. Zone 7a. Height of up to
8' and width of up to 8'.
‘Rosa brunonii’ - Himalayan Musk Rose,
Brown's Musk Rose (Synstylae) White or white
blend flowers start as pale yellow buds. There is a
mild, musk fragrance. Single (4-8 petals) borne
in large clusters. It is once-blooming in spring or
summer. USDA zone 4b through 10b. Height of
20' to 50'.
‘Rosa carolina’
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ROCA4
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‘Rosa carolina’ - Carolina Rose, Pasture Rose
(Carolinae) (1826). Fragrant, bright pink single
blooms appear May-July.
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‘Rosa centifolia cristata’ - Crested Moss
'Châpeau de Napoléon', 'Crested Provence',
'Crested Provins', 'Crispé Mousseux', ‘Cristata’
(1827) Sepals are very heavily mossed, with 2
pairs of sepals joined and the 3rd separate;
flowers are rosy pink, medium to large, very full,
and very fragrant. It does not repeat. Growth is
upright (4 - 5 ft.).
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‘Rosa x centifolia’ (complex hybrid possibly
containing ‘R. rubra’, ‘R. phoenicia’, ‘R.
moschata’, ‘R. canina’)
‘Rosa californica’ - California Wild Rose (Rosa)
(1878) There is a strong, cinnamon, clove, spice
fragrance. Small, pink, single blooms (4-8 petals)
are borne in large clusters. Spring or summer
flush with scattered later bloom is typical. USDA
zone 6b through 9b. Height of 3' to 7'.
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‘Rosa canina’- Dog Rose (Caninae) (1591)
Flowers are white or pinkish, 2 in., single, and
borne singly or in few-flowered corymbs. There
is a summer bloom. Foliage is medium size with
5-7 leaflets, prickles are numerous, scattered, and
hooked. Stems are long, upright, much-branched.
Growth is up to 10 ft. This rose is a once-bloomer
in spring or summer . Zone 6b
R. chinensis (syn. 'Bengal Rose')
http://www.paulzimmermanroses.com/libraryroseindividual
page.asp?RCHI
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‘Rosa chinensis var. spontanea’ - China Rose
(Chinensis) formally described in 1768 and
brought to Holland possibly as early as 1704. It is
a native to central China in Guizhou, Hubei, and
Sichuan. It has been extensively cultivated in
China as an ornamental plant.
There are
numerous cultivars with varying flower color and
usually an increased number of petals (semidouble or double flowers). The species is also
important in the breeding of many modern garden
roses, including the Hybrid Tea roses. The
flowers and fruits are used in traditional Chinese
medicine in the treatment of irregular and/or
painful menstruation, as well as swollen thyroid.
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resembles elderberry (Sambucus) flowers. ‘Rosa
cymosa’ has long smooth or hairy stems to 5 m,
with a few, hooked thorns. Shoots and leaves are
bright red when young.
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‘Rosa x damascena’ [(‘R. moschata x R.
gallica’) x ‘R. fedtschenkoana’] 900 B.C. This
extremely popular species of rose in India is a
cultivated hybrid native to Asia Minor and
introduced to Europe. Legend has it that returning
Crusaders brought home the first of this class of
roses from the Syrian city of Damascus. Within
India, it is cultivated throughout in gardens. More
commonly known as the Damask rose or simply
as "Damask", it is a rose hybrid, derived from
‘Rosa gallica’ and ‘Rosa moschata’. This rose is
also known as 'Quatre Saisons' and has been used
in breeding both the bourbons and the hybrid
perpetuals. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2.2
m tall, the stems densely armed with stout, curved
prickles and stiff bristles. The leaves have five
(rarely seven) leaflets. They are renowned for
their fine fragrance, and their flowers are
commercially harvested for rose oil used in
perfumery. In south India, it is used in garlands
and in making rose-water. The name panneer
means rose-water.
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‘Rosa davidii’ - Father David's Rose (Rosa) 1874
It appears to be a natural hybrid of ‘R.
macrophylla’ and ‘R. aciculariis’ from western
China. Flowers are deep pink, 1 in., single, and
borne in large panicles. Prickles are numerous;
growth is vigorous.
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‘Rosa dumalis’ - Glaucous Dog Rose This rose
is native to Europe and southwest Asia. Not all
authorities accept it as a distinct species, with the
Flora Europaea treating it as a synonym of ‘Rosa
canina’. It is a shrub that grows 1-2 m high. It has
long, bent thorns. It bears dark or light pink
flowers in June and July. The hips are oval and
quite soft. It may be confused with ‘R. canina’;
but when flowering, they are easy to tell apart
since ‘R. canina’ has white or light pink flowers.
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‘Rosa dumetorum’ Corymb Rose (1753)
Flowers are white to light pink. There is a mild
fragrance. Blooms are small, single (4-8 petals),
and in clusters. It is once-blooming in spring or
summer. There is a layer of hairs around the
seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These
‘Rosa cinnamomea’ R. majalis Rose de Mai;
Rose du Saint-Sacrement, Rose des aques It is
said to have been introduced from southern
Europe in 1569. It grows wild in almost all
European countries. It has received the name of
Cinnamon Rose because of the stem color, not
from the scent of the flowers.
‘Rosa clinophylla (‘R. involucrata’) (Bracteatae)
Thory rose It can grow submerged in water for
many days. Flowers are white, slightly yellow at
base, very large, 5 petals, flat, and borne in small
clusters. foliage is bright green and glossy above.
Prickles are scattered. Hips are numerous, large.
The bush is tender.
‘Rosa x coryana’ (R. macrophylla x R.
roxburghii) Bred by Dr. C. C. Hurst (circa 1926)
in the United Kingdom. It is available through
Peter Beales Roses. Flowers are deep pink and in
excess of 2 inches in diameter. The rose is bushy,
dense, thornless (or almost), and well-branched.
It has large, glossy, medium green foliage with 9
leaflets.
‘Rosa corymbifera’ (Caninae) 1838 Flowers are
pale pink to white, similar to the common dog
rose. Foliage is downy grey. There is red,
rounded fruit. This rose tolerates shade, similar to
R. canina. It is native to Europe, western Asia,
and Africa.
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‘Rosa cuspidata’ see ‘Rosa tomentosa’ Wooly
Rose 1808 Blooms are light pink to deep pink,
small, single (4-8 petals) borne mostly solitary. It
is once-blooming in spring or summer. This rose
is intermediate between ‘R. mollis’ and ‘R.
canina’ and closely allied to ‘R. pomifera’. It is
distributed throughout Europe.
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‘Rosa cymosa’ (Banksianae) 1904 This rose is
closely related to ‘R. banksiae’ and widely
distributed in southern China. It is a climbing rose
native to China, where it grows from the east
coast in Fujian to western Sichuan at up to 1300
m, in warm areas in scrub and gorges, and in
bamboo plantations. It is sometimes called the
elderflower rose as its flower formation
hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and
digestive tract if ingested. This rose ranges from
Europe, including Britain, Norway south and east
to N. Africa and southwest Asia.
Next month we will continue the descriptions of
the species roses. Consider adding at least one
species rose to your garden this spring. Plant a
little history!