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These are the other roses in the old rose garden - those that aren't covered under the Old European Roses. They are quite a mixed bag of roses, the only thing in common being that they are too big to plant in the center rose garden with the hybrid teas.
There are Bourbons, Hybrid Perpetuals and Chinas . Well, two
bourbons and one china. Bourbons came about from an accidental cross
between a Damask and a China on the isle of Bourbon. They usually are repeat
blooming and many are quite hardy here, although not as hardy as the once
bloomers. The only China rose that I have is definitely not typical of
chinas, but is instead a horticultural monster - the Green Rose. China roses
are just not hardy here, and even though the Green Rose is hardier than
most Chinas, it needs special placement and protection.
Species roses are the wild, unhybridized roses.
Roses grow everywhere in the northern hemisphere, but are not native to the
southern. They are generally very hardy and once blooming. The ones that I
grow are native to Europe or North America.
Rugosa hybrids are quite a varied lot, some being
low and spready and others being good sized shrubs over 6 feet tall.
The species R. rugosa is a very hardy, disease free rose with fragrant
pink, single blooms and "wrinkled" or deeply quilted foliage. It
sets wonderful large red soft hips that my children find quite
edible. It is also thorny as heck and suckers like crazy. Most of the
Rugosa hybrids are also very hardy, disease resistant and thorny.
Don't spray your Rugosas - they will defoliate. But since they are
so resistant to pests and diseases you probably wouldn't need to anyway.
This is a grab bag category that contains all the large roses that don't
fit into any of my other categories. Shrubs, Climbers, etc.
