Intoxicating Fragranced Roses: Rosa Damascena Bifera / Autumn Damask / Quatre Saisons

Also referenced as: Castilian Damask, Old Castilian, Trachyean Rose, Rose of Paestum, The Alexandria Rose, Semperflorens Damask, Rose of Castile, Tous les Mois, Rosa omnium calendarum, Rosa menstrua, Quatre Saisons Continue, Rose des Quatre Saisons.

Unknown origin, before 1633, likely originated in the Middle East. Seedling of rosa moschata, rosa gallica and rosa fedtschenkoana.

The bush is a bit sprawly and unkempt. The foliage is typical Damask, with soft, downy greyish green leaves which are reasonably disease resistant. It is supposedly very tolerant of pruning.

The height is 4' to5' (120-150 cm) and width of 3' to 4' (90 to 120 cm).

The clear pink blooms come in flushes through the summer and are double (17-25 petals) bloom form. There are some reports of blooming only twice a year though.

Intense Damask fragrance. Excellent rose for making pot pourri.

Zone 4.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Chrysler Imperial

"Chrysler Imperial"
Bred by Dr. Walter E. Lammerts (United States, 1952).
Hybrid Tea.
Dark red. Strong damask fragrance. 45 to 50 petals. Average diameter 5"-aprox 12 cm. Very large, full, exhibition, high-centered bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season. Long, pointed buds.
Compact. Semi-glossy, dark green foliage.
Height of 75 to 185 cm. Width of 60 to 120 cm.
Zone 6. Can be used for beds and borders, cut flower, exhibition or garden. Hardy. vigorous. Blooms tend to ball in wet weather. Disease susceptibility: susceptible to Mildew.
It really has a wonderful strong scent, you can sense it from far away.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Ena Harkness

"Ena Harkness"
Bred by Albert Norman (United Kingdom, 1946).
Hybrid Tea.
Crimson.

Strong, damask fragrance. 30 petals. Full, high-centered bloom form. Remontant, blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Height of 60 to 75 cm. Width of 45 to 60 cm.

It can also be a climber, discovered by Gurteen & Ritson (Unknown, 1954).
Red Thea Hybrid. Strong, damask fragrance. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Height of 365 to 455 cm. Width of 245 cm.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Alec's Red

"Alec's Red"

Bred by Alexander M. (Alec) Cocker (Scotland, 1970).

Hybrid Tea.

Crimson. Strong, heavy, damask fragrance. 36 to 40 petals. Average diameter 6" - 15cm. Very large, full, cupped bloom form. Continuous (perpetual) bloom throughout the season.

Medium, armed with thorns / prickles, upright. Matte, dark green foliage.

Height of 75 to 90 cm. Width of up to 60 cm.

Parents: Fragrant Cloud and Dame de Coeur :).

It can be also a climber, discovered by Harkness (United Kingdom, 1975), red, strong fragrance, once-blooming spring or summer. As a climber, it needs a warmer climate.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Rose de Rescht / Rose de Resht

"Rose de Rescht"

Exact origin unknown. From Rasht (Iran) to Europe via Lindsay, UK, 1940.

It is a wonderful Portland Damask rose that was rediscovered in Persia in 1945 by an English gardener by the name of Nancy Lindsay. It is one of the wonderful mysteries of the Old Garden Rose history.

Being of the Portland group, Rose de Rescht is capable of several flushes of repeat bloom throughout the season in distinct cycles.

It is quite disease resistant, and healthy.

It is a beautiful opening bud, that quickly grows to reflex into a pompon form.


The scent is exceptional in quality; pure sweet Damask with a hint of spices.

This is the rose that is often recommended to people who are contemplating buying their first Heritage Rose, as it is trouble free, well behaved, and very rewarding.

An outstanding rose that is quite easy to grow.

Royal Cultural Society Award of Garden Merit 1993.

Compact, dense bush. It suckers on its own roots. Healthy foliage.
Height of 3' to 4' - 90 to 120 cm. Width of up to 30'' - up to 75 cm.
Very full, over 41 petals bloom form, average diameter of 2.5'' - 6 cm.

One of my favourite roses, small but strong. I make a wonderful jam out of its petals :).

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Kazanlik / Rosa Damascena Trigintipetala

• Rosa damascena var. trigintipetala

• Trindafil

Also referenced as: Kazanlyk, R. gallica var. damascena f. trigintipetala, Trendaphil

Introduced in Germany by Dr. Georg Dieck in 1889 as 'Rosa damascena var. trigintipetala'.

Deep pink Damask.Unknown origin (before 1612).

Pink, white undertones, ages to lighter. 30 petals. Average diameter 2" - 5 cm. Medium, double, in small clusters bloom form. Occasional repeat later in the season. Small, glandular sepals, leafy sepals buds.

Armed with thorns / prickles, bushy, well-branched. Light green foliage. 7 leaflets.Height of 5' to 8' (150 to 245 cm). Width of 4' to 6' (120 to 185 cm).Zone 4.

Vigorous. Prune lightly after flowering is finished. This rose blooms on old wood. So, don't cut it down.

Strong, centifolia fragrance. PROBABLY THE MOST FRAGRANCED ROSE OF ALL!

'Kazanlik' seems to be the same Damask-type which is also cultivated in Isparta/Turkey and Isfahan/Iran for making the famous ATTAR. Supposedly it was brought to Bulgaria by the Turkish when Bulgaria was under Ottoman domination.

Cultivated extensively in the Rose Valley (Bulgarian: Розова долина, Rozova dolina), a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora chain to the south. Geologically, it consists of two river valleys, those of the Stryama to the west and the Tundzha to the east. The total area is about 3,300 square kilometers.

This valley is famous for its rose-growing industry which have been cultivated there for centuries, and which produces 85% of the world's rose oil. The extracts are used by perfumeries all over the world.

The centre of the rose oil industry is Kazanlik, while other towns of importance include Karlovo, Sopot, Kalofer and Pavel Banya. Each year, festivals are held celebrating roses and rose oil.

The picking season lasts from May to June

. During this period, the area gives off a pleasant scent and is covered with multi-coloured flowers. The gathering process, traditionally a woman's task, requires great dexterity and patience. The flowers are carefully cut one by one and laid in willow-baskets which are then sent to the distilleries.

Check these links for more information:

http://www.rose-festival.com/

valley-roses.shtml

http://rosevalleyoils.com/

bulgaria/

http://www.brilltravel.com/our-tours-general-information/special-interest-tours/rose-festival