Very soon stocks of new season’s roses will be arriving in the garden centres, if they’re not already there. Indeed, to be sure of getting the most sought after varieties it may have been necessary to put an order in some time ago. However, in their rush for the new, those who are slaves to fashion often overlook gems, leaving some of the best tried and true plants for those prepared to simply wait and see what is available.

Gallica roses are a case in point. While the popularity of Old Roses waxes and wanes as each new generation discovers them and then seeks something new, the best of them carry on regardless.

Rosa gallica, also known as the French Rose or Provins Rose, is a species that grows wild from southern and central Europe to the Caucasus. Because it readily produces sports, has a tendency towards double flowers, and may have hybridised naturally with other species, it is likely that the earliest European garden roses were forms of Rosa gallica.

The earliest recognisable Gallica still grown is ‘Officinalis’, the Apothecary’s Rose. It is a deep pink semi-double thought to have been introduced into France from the Middle East by returning 13th century crusaders. It has even been suggested that ‘Officinalis’ was the first cultivated rose, though that is impossible to prove. A similar rose was used medicinally and in perfume manufacture in Charlemagne’s time, but it can’t be traced back beyond around 1200 with any certainty. Nevertheless, ‘Officinalis’ can be seen in many medieval manuscripts, paintings, and stained glass windows, and while deep pink rather than red, it earned fame in the War of the Roses as the Red Rose of Lancaster. (The White Rose of York was Rosa ? alba.)

‘Rosa Mundi’ (syn. ‘Versicolor’), which probably dates from the late 16th century, is a very popular sport of ‘Officinalis’. It has striped and sectored bicolor white and deep pink flowers, and is thought to have been named after Rosamund, a mistress of Henry II. It may date back to the 13th century or even earlier but can’t be traced beyond 1580 with certainty.

Gallicas were at the height of their popularity from the 18th to the mid-19th centuries, and it is from that period that most of today’s plants date. Early nurseries kept few records but it is likely that by the early 19th century there were well over 1000 varieties of gallica in cultivation, possibly up to 3000. It is therefore not surprising that several other recognised groups, such as the Damask Roses, have Rosa gallica in their parentage.

Their flowers, which are abundant and often heavily scented, tend toward the pink, red and purple shades. White gallicas are also available and many of the darker flowered types are flecked or otherwise marked with white or pale pink. The flowers appear only in spring and early summer, with perhaps the occasional late bloom, though vivid hips often follow the flowers, providing colour well into autumn.
The fleeting beauty of the flowers and the historical connections is certainly why Gallicas tend to be regarded as the most ‘romantic’ of all the roses. It’s not hard to see why. Their beautiful, rather formal shapes with an air of elegance, their textures and colours, so often reminiscent of faded purple velvet, and their fragrance combine to create roses of which memories are made.

The very name Apothecary’s Rose conjures up images of alchemy, love potions and the like. Associations with the French aristocracy also enhance the gallica’s romantic appeal. Marie-Antoinette had made in 1770 a bed of ‘Officinalis’ petals and the Empress Josephine so adored Gallicas that her rose gardens at Malmaison were a virtual shrine to the type.

Many nurseries, especially rose specialists, stock a good range of gallicas and as you might expect, those that have survived long enough to still be in production in the 21st century tend to be sturdy, easily grown plants.

In addition to ‘Rosa Mundi’ and ‘Officinalis’ look out for ‘Charles de Mills’ (double, velvety crimson) ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ (double, clustered dark purple red flowers), ‘Hippolyte’ (double, purple, many small flowers), ‘Belle de Cr?cy’, ‘Tuscany Superb’ (double, dark purple-red, very fragrant), ‘Duchesse de Buccleugh’ (double, deep pink, late), ‘Duchesse de Montebello’ (double, soft pink), ‘Complicata’ (single, bright mid-pink, fragrant), ‘Nannette’ (double, purple-red), ‘Ana?s S?gales’ (double, purple-pink, very fragrant), ‘Ipsilant?’ (double, mauve-pink) and ‘Gloire de France’ (double, purple-pink fading to pale pink edges).

Sure, you could wait until next year and check out the local botanic gardens before making a selection, but take my word for it, gallicas are beautiful. Why not start your own private Malmaison now?

Cultivation tips

Gallicas are very frost hardy and tend to be fairly small bushes with light or bright green that is usually quite lush. They can be bought budded or may be grown on their own roots. Own root plants will produce suckers that help to thicken up the bush and will sometimes even allow them to be grown as a hedge. Removing rooted suckers is an easy way to start new plants, which is probably why Gallicas were such a suitable subject for medieval plant propagators. Summer softwood cuttings under mist are reliable and winter hardwood cuttings outdoors strike quite well.

Their compact habit is easily maintained by light overall trimming and thinning, which can be done in winter or, if keeping the hips is not important, as soon as flowering is finished. You can even trim and shape in summer and winter if necessary. Very old bushes on their own roots may be cut back almost to ground level to encourage vigorous new growth. Gallicas are bristly rather than really thorny, which makes pruning a fairly pain-free experience.

Naturally, you need to keep an eye open for all the traditional pests and diseases of roses, though you needn’t expect more trouble with Gallicas than any other roses. Just don’t believe those comments you may read that suggest that they are particularly pest- or disease-resistant.

Did you know?

The Greeks and Romans cultivated Rosa gallica, though apart for the odd sport it is unlikely that they grew anything greatly different from the wild form. So should you feel the need to have rose petals strewn in your path in the manner of a Roman emperor, they should be those of Rosa gallica.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.

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My blog is about home gardening tips and I like to share the garden tips that work for us. I also love it when people subscribe to my Backyard Gardening Tips Channel on Youtube. It’s a great way to find some very useful videos on gardening tips. Today was no exception as I found a really helpful gardening video from AshDownRoses with Paul Zimmerman showing me how to peg roses. Heck I had never even heard of pegging roses but saw that it was about roses and wanted help with growing them.

We learn something new every single day that we keep our eyes and ears open.

Paul took me through 4 methods of pegging your rose canes to make them produce more roses thus more beauty. And all in less than 10 minutes. Gotta love learning something without a bunch of time wasting filler. Thanks for sticking to the point Paul.

So What Is Pegging Roses Anyways?

Pegging is a method used to keep your rose canes more horizontal than vertical as the more vertical your rose cane is the more likely it will have just one or two blooms near or at the top of the plant, whereas keeping them more horizontal will allow the canes to grow new shots straight up with a bloom on every node. So instead of having a rose bush with ten rose blooms you may have dozens of blooms.

The Four Pegging Methods From The Video

Pegging Type #1 Fountain – Used to add more width and bloom to roses…

Pegging Type #2 Horizontal – Used for maximum ground coverage with minimal height…

Pegging Type #3 Dome Shaped – Bend long whippy shoots back over…

Pegging Type #4 Crown Shaped – Bend long whippy shoots out, down, and back…

I enjoyed this video, took notes and plant to use these helpful tips to grow my own gorgeous rose bushes with lost of blooming potential. Look for more home gardening tips soon.

Of all the rose types, the Shrub Rose is somewhat confusing because a rose, any rose in fact, is actually a shrub. Most varieties of roses can be considered shrub roses including hybrids, modern roses, old garden roses, and even miniature roses.In appearance this type of rose looks like a type of shrub, hence its name. Shrub roses are a great colorful alternative to use anywhere you would plant another type of shrub.

These rose types can be used as a screen or hedge plant for privacy, as a border, in the background, and any other way you can think to use this bountiful bush. Although the flowers from Shrub Roses carry little fragrance, they do come in a wide assortment of colors. Pink, red, white, and yellow are all common colors for a shrub rose’s abundant and vibrant flowers.

Unlike many other roses, Shrub Roses are perfect for planting anywhere. They’re “plant-friendly” and can mingle into any mixed assortment of flowers. These rose types are very hardy and generally disease resistant. Rose bush care maintenance of these is easy but they are not suitable for growing roses in containers. Many older Shrub Roses can grow up to six feet in height. If desired, Shrub Roses can be trained to grow like hedges.

It’s generally the modern shrubs that are much smaller in size. Several modern shrub rose types have been popularized in recent years. Different types of ground cover rose types such as Cliffs of Dover, Flower Carpet and Jeepers Creepers have been a treasure for homeowners with sloped or uneven lawns. They also grow wonderfully in hanging baskets and containers. Regardless of the variety you choose, Shrub Roses can be a wonderful feature at the entrance to your garden or home.

If you purchase your shrub from a nursery, you’ll want to dig a hole that is double the width and length of the pot that contains your shrub. Use a sharp instrument to cut the plastic pot away. The idea here is to disturb the roots as little as possible. Once you have the plant free from its container, place it in the hole. Fill in the remaining space with loose soil and soak the plant with water. Make sure the plant is in a very sunny location. All the different types of roses require plenty of sunlight and this rose type is no different. The direct light combined with moist soil will ensure maximum flower production.

Of all the different types of roses gardening caring for these rose types is by far the easiest. The soil should always be moist. If you live in a climate that receives very little rain during the summer months, you’ll want to water your shrubs twice a week. If you’re looking for gorgeous results and optimal growth, fertilize your roses in the spring and fall with organic fertilizers. Pruning is not necessary with this shrub, as it is basically self-cleaning. Shrub roses will release their own dead foliage, creating a neat appearance through every season. Their flowering season is long flowered by very pretty ‘hips’.'  Purchase this type of shrub if you’re looking to purchase a recurrent bloomer that will profusely bloom several times annually.

Before you plant another green shrub, consider planting some different types of Roses instead. The biggest problem you will have with these types of roses are picking from the wide range of rose types available!

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Growing a great rose garden isn’t always the easiest thing to do so I went for a long time just ignoring the rose but today I came across this great ebook with 101 tips for growing your own rose garden. Now I can have great looking and healthy roses, just like our neighbours.

More than 25 years ago I was an employee of Sears and sold roses through their garden department. I loved that job but then computers became popular and my life changed, but that’s a story for another day.

Selling roses is how I met Patricia, who would later become our lawyer. She and her father would come in all the time and buy roses and more roses.

Now we have a home with a property big enough to enjoy some rose gardening so I am learning what I need to know so that we can have some beautiful roses as part of our flower garden.

Not everyone is comfortable growing their own roses so they don’t but this little ebook has the answers and tips that will give you the confidence to plant your own roses, care for them correctly, pruning included and even how to cut them for your own bouquet and arrangements.

Knowing how to fertilize, water and prevent diseases will give you the confidence you have lacked in the past. If this sounds like I am talking to myself well I am. We didn’t have any confidence even though I work in a garden center. They never taught me how to grow them, just to sell them.

If you have an interest in growing your own rose garden then you need to read 101 Tips for Growing and Enjoying Your Own Great Rose Garden.

Image via WikipediaWho hasn’t heard of the song about ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas’?  The yellow rose is one of the most popular roses in history.  The song, however, was actually about a lady a Civil War soldier is trying to find.  Dolly Parton also wrote a song titled ‘Yellow Roses’ about a romance with someone who both began and ended the relationship with a yellow rose.

There are companies named for the yellow rose, such as Yellow Rose Products, Yellow Rose Enterprises and Yellow Rose Gifts.  There are books written, such as the Yellow Rose Bride, A Texas Sky, the Yellow Rose Trilogy and a series called The Yellow Rose Mysteries.  There is yellow rose white gold jewelry.  A concealer has been made called the Yellow Rose of Texas, which hides imperfections of the skin.

The yellow rose has been said to symbolize friendship, caring, freedom, dying love, and platonic love.  In German-speaking countries, the yellow rose means jealousy or infidelity.  It is appropriate to send yellow roses to graduates, Texans, new mothers, and newlyweds.  If you send red roses mixed with yellow roses, it stands for happiness and celebration.  A single rose of any color is a sign of thanks.  A safe idea is to send a note with the yellow rose, explaining your intentions!
In the 18th century, yellow roses were discovered growing wild in parts of the Middle East.  The first yellow roses found did not have a sweet smelling fragrance.  Cross-breeding was a friend to the yellow rose’s scent.  You can buy organically grown yellow roses, which would give support to environmentally-friendly farming.

Yellow roses will bring a touch of sunshine to any flower arrangement.  You won’t be disappointed in the addition to your flower bed.  They add elegance to any décor in a home.  The yellow rose is a pleasant image on items of clothing, bedding, curtains, and so on.

The yellow rose has brought financial gain to Texas by association with the song title.  It has benefited Texas for years by way of its commercial value.  But the yellow rose is certainly not limited to Texas or Texas products and services.  It is available in many areas of the world.  People in countries that have no connection to Texas have enjoyed the silent, quiet, soothing beauty of the yellow rose.

On the downside, there is a link between yellow roses and blackspot.  Blackspot is a leaf disease that defoliates and kills.  Hybrid yellow roses have been bred stronger and more resistant to blackspot, however, resistant roses still need care to avoid disease.  Also, the area makes a difference in how well a yellow rose will be able to fend off disease.  A warm and humid climate will be more inviting to the disease.  There are sprays available to help guard against blackspot, such as apple cider vinegar spray.  Wild herbs like stinky nettle, horsetails, and comfrey are also used by some as a spray for blackspot.  Whatever the case, if you truly want yellow roses, where there’s a will, there’s a way!