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Pacific
Southwest District
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As roses developed in Europe, all but two bloomed one time each year. Through many centuries, the joy of their blossoms was spent after one peak flush in the spring. The exceptions to this were ‘Autumn Damask’ and the ‘Musk Rose.’ The in the mid-eighteenth century, the discovery of repeat blooming, or remontant, roses in China changed everything.
One of the most important roses of all time, ‘Old Blush’ is one of the four “stud” roses discovered in China by horticultural explorers. These roses, though new to Europeans, had been around for centuries in the Far East. The importance of the most widely available of these, ‘Old Blush,’ cannot be understated. Its value in the garden is sufficient because of its vigor, disease resistance, and year round color. For educational purposes, I think it important to have this example from antiquity in our collections. It takes less care than any rose one can grow. The slightly fragrant, medium pink blooms appear in medium-sized clusters, atop slender stems with very few prickles. Buds are small and open to loosely formed, informal semi-double blooms. When cut fairly tight, they have great staying power in the vase and add a nice variety of form to bouquets.
'Old Blush' and other ancient roses have survived the centuries, often being found today in old cemeteries. It has been said that if the deceased can grow roses such as these, shouldn't we be able to as well?
'Old Blush' and other excellent china
roses, all of which do very well in our warmer climates, are readily available
from Antique Rose Emporium, Heirloom Gardens, and Vintage Roses. Additional
recommended chinas, parents of all modern repeat blooming roses, include 'Cramoisie
Superiure' and 'Gruss an Teplitz,' both with crimson blooms. In our climate
these healthy roses can grow to 6 feet.
