Head of Horticulture, Sally Petitt, writes:
For many, a rose-filled garden is the epitome of an English garden. With a long history and enduring popularity, roses are often named as being the nation’s favourite flower. Their wide variety of shapes, colours, habits and scents makes it is easy to understand why this flower has become a mainstay of our gardens. Today there are over 200 rose species and 30,000 cultivars, ranging from a range of hybrid teas, ramblers, climbers, old roses, shrub roses, English roses, ground cover and floribundas – there is arguably a rose for every garden and every taste.
A brief history of roses:
The roses familiar to us today have a long history, with records indicating that roses were cultivated in China 5,000 years ago. While we have some native rose species, such as the shrubby Rosa canina (dog rose), these natives are often overlooked in favour of more ornamental species. Exotic species were first grown in the Roman times, but the introduction of roses from foreign lands really took off in the thirteenth century.
The highly scented apothecary’s rose (Rosa gallica ‘Officinalis’) has been grown in our gardens since medieval times when it was used for medicinal purposes. In the seventeenth century repeat flowering species from China transformed British gardens, and it was during this period that dedicated rose gardens were first created. During the 1800’s rose breeding programmes led to the development of many old roses, such as the vigorous musk rose ‘William Lobb’. Rose breeding continued through the twentieth century with the creation of hybrids such as R. x pteragonis ‘Cantabrigiensis’, a shrub rose with pale yellow flowers raised here at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. The 1970’s saw the development of the hybrid teas which became popular for their neat habit and suitability for small gardens, including cultivars such as ‘Just Joey’. In more recent years English roses, such as ‘Desdemona’ and ‘Lady of Shalott’ combine the charm of the old roses with the repeat flowering and disease resistance of modern roses.
Roses and a variety of planting styles:
While roses are closely associated with traditional cottage gardens, planted alongside plants such as foxgloves, campanulas and geraniums, there are a variety of approaches in which they can be used. At the Botanic Garden, our Rose Garden demonstrates the evolution and history of the rose, and the planting is in the cottage garden style with roses grown with Allium, Nepeta and Geranium.
For rose-worshippers, a dedicated rose garden may include one type of rose, such as hybrid teas, scented roses, or a mix. Some cultivars like ‘Iceberg’ and the English roses are suitable for growing in pots on the patio.
For a more naturalistic, lower-maintenance and modern take, try a rose meadow. Here shrubs, climbers and ramblers can be included amongst a diverse planting of herbaceous perennials, bulbs and grasses, including tufted hair grass (Deschampsia caespitosa), globe flower (Echinops ritro) and catmint (Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’). The appeal of this approach is that it can reduce the need for careful pruning of roses to remove deadwood and to create an open habit, and instead requires an annual hard prune.
Roses are popular not only for their beauty and fragrance, but because they’re practical too. Many varieties thrive in clay soil and can tolerate part shade – a boon for problem areas in the garden. Their hips also offer seasonal interest and food for wildlife. Some roses, like ‘Iceberg’, do well in pots, making them a great option for small spaces. Whether you favour a traditional rose bed, informal planting or a meadow-style scheme, there’s a rose to suit your needs
Caring for roses:
Whichever style of planting you choose you should ensure that your rose is planted in rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil, and that you also provide a regular feed of either well-rotted manure or rose fertiliser. Deadheading regularly once flowers have gone over to encourage flowering is ideal in a formal setting, but many roses, including the rambler ‘Kiftsgate’ produce attractive hips which provide autumn interest.
With their rich and long history, and enduring appeal, roses are embedded in our gardening culture, and with such a vast range from which to choose there is a rose to suit all tastes and garden styles.
Best roses for beginners:
- Rosa gallica ‘Officinalis’: the apothecary’s rose has semi-double, crimson-red flowers and a good fragrance. It grows to 1m in height and is low maintenance, requiring little pruning.
- Rosa ‘Generous Gardener’: this climbing rose reaches 4.5m in height, and is a good selection for an arch, pergola or wall. This is a repeat-flowering rose with scented, pale pink flowers and good disease resistance.
- Rosa x pteragonis ‘Cantabrigiensis’: a shrub rose to 2m in height with arching stems and single, pale-yellow flowers. This plant is disease free and requires little pruning.
Gardening jobs for June:
- Deadhead spent flowers on perennials and roses to encourage more blooms.
- Plant out annuals and tender perennials once the risk of frost has passed.
- Water plants frequently, especially new plantings to encourage strong root growth, and containers which dry our quickly.
This piece was originally written for Cambridge Edition magazine.
