This category of flowering shrubs has many names: old garden roses, heritage or old-fashioned roses. They share an informal growth habit and muted colours.
Any roses developed before 1867 are considered to be old garden roses. There are many groups of these roses, but broadly they fall into the category of climbing or non-climbing. Within each group there are named hybrids and naturally occurring forms. R. x alba `Maxima' has been grown since Roman times, and the Gallica and Damask families are older still. Many old garden roses are onceflowering, but their beautiful show is worth the wait.
Planting and care
Autumn or early spring are the best times for planting bare-rooted roses. You can plant container grown specimens at any time as long as it is neither too wet or dry.
Loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole and add a handful of bone meal. Mix the same amount into the soil removed from the hole before filling it in.
Cut away dead or damaged roots and do the same with the top growth. Trim back branches to about 10cm from the union.
TIP - CORRECT FEEDING
Like most roses, old garden ruin grow best if given balanced feeding. 'i dressing of commercial
rose fertilizer in spring and another of organic fertilizer in autumn are enough. Fertilizer sold for tomatoes is nearly
always suitable for feeding roses as well.
POPULAR VARIETIES
Once-flowering
Alba (large, free branching) Damask (open shrub) Gallica (free branching) Centifolia (lax, thorny) Portland (upright, dense)
Repeat-flowering
Hybrid Perpetual (vigorous) Bourbon (can train to climb) Tea (shrubs and climbers) China (twiggy growth) Noisette (climbing)