When you purchase any new rose, it is helpful to know something about each
type of rose, its growth habits, size, type of bloom, etc. Some require more
care than others, and some are best left alone. These are the different types
of roses.
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Andrea Stelzer - Hybrid Tea
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Hybrid Teas
When most people think of a rose, they are thinking of hybrid teas. Normally
a hybrid tea has a large bloom at the end of a long cane. They are the most
popular roses grown at florist shops. They are generally upright growing plants
from 3-6 feet and the blooms come in most colors, save for blue and black. Examples
include Double Delight, Mr. Lincoln, St. Patrick, and Brandy.
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Sexy Rexy - Floribunda
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Floribundas
The floribundas were once called hybrid polyanthas. In the 1940s, the term floribunda
was approved. They are usually smaller plants with smaller blooms that tend
to come in clusters. There are some where the bloom comes singularly. The cluster
types make great landscape plants. Comes in most colors. Examples include Iceberg,
Angel Face, Playboy, Playgirl, Simplicity, and French Lace.
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Gold Medal - Grandiflora
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Grandifloras
The grandifloras are allegedly a combination of hybrid teas and floribundas
with some one-bloom stems and some cluster blooms. The grandiflora term was
coined by nurserymen for the rose Queen Elizabeth, which was introduced in 1954,
even though Buccaneer could have been argued as the first of this type of rose.
The term grandiflora still remains, however, the term is losing distinction
over time and could easily disappear. Examples include Queen Elizabeth, Octoberfest,
and Arizona.
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Irresistible - Minature
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Miniatures and Mini-Floras
Miniature roses are roses that are smaller in bush, foliage and bloom size.
The blooms can range from 1/2-inch up to 2 inches. Miniatures are very popular
and can be grown in containers. The plants range in size from about 1-3 feet.
Mini-floras are a new classification. They are too large to be a mini, but could
be too small for a hybrid tea or floribunda. I find most of the mini-floras
to be awkward in the landscape. Examples of miniatures include Starina, Behold,
Fairhope, Kristin, and Child's Play. Examples of mini-floras are Cachet, Autumn
Splendor, and Tiffany Lynn.
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America - Climber
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Climbing Roses
Climbing roses are mostly very vigorous roses that can grow to great heights.
There are three general types. Large flowered climbers (LCI) are more modern
and have stiff canes and usually have good repeat bloom. They can range in size
from 8-20 feet. The blooms come in many colors and can have blooms singularly
or in clusters. Examples include America, Altissimo, and Berries 'n' Cream.
The rambler type of roses are usually older roses that are once blooming, usually
in the spring or early summer. While once blooming, most will be covered with
blooms for a month or more. They are excellent for training on pillars, pergolas,
and trellises. The canes are pliable, and the blooms are small and come in large
clusters. Examples are American Pillar, Seven Sisters, and Newport Fairy.
Next are the sports of hybrid teas, floribundas, and others, which resemble
their bush counterpart except for their climbing growth habit. These usually
have an outstanding spring bloom, followed by scattered blooms later in the
fall. Examples include Cl. Double Delight and Cl. Queen Elizabeth.
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Irene Watts - OGR
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Old Garden Roses
The old garden roses consist of rose classes that existed prior to 1867, the
date of the first hybrid tea, La France. The classes include the species (wild)
roses, albas, bourbons, centifolias, damasks, eglantines, gallicas, mosses,
noisettes, portlands, teas, etc. They come in every growth and bloom pattern
and color imaginable. They can range from 1 foot to over 50 feet in height.
About half of these roses have good to excellent repeat bloom. Usually obtain
through mail order sources. Examples include Lady Banks, Rose de Rescht, Baronne
Prevost, and Sombreuil.
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Perdita Spray - Shrub
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Shrubs
This is a catchall group. They are generally roses that are hybrids of species,
or roses that do not fit nicely in other classes, such as David Austin "English"
roses and Dr. Griffith Buck's roses. They are extremely varied botanically and
most are available through mail order. Examples are Golden Wings, Perdita, Hansa,
Hawkeye Belle, Starry Night, and Ballerina.
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Verdun - Polyantha
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Polyanthas
Polyanthas, the "petite" roses of yesteryear, are almost the forgotten
class of roses. Of the 500 or so polyanthas introduced since 1875, there are
only some 20 or 30 available, usually through mail order. These are low-growing
bushes with small flowers in clusters. Common examples are Cecile Brunner, China
Doll, and The Fairy. Predecessor of the floribunda class.
Published in the February 2002 issue of "Rose
Ecstasy," bulletin of the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society, Kitty Belendez,
Editor and the Santa
Clarita Valley Rose Society Web Site.
© Copyright 2003 Steve Jones. All rights reserved.
