Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Jude The Obscure

"Jude The Obscure" is bred by Davis Austin (UK, 1989). The breeder says about this rose:

"Its flowers are very large and of incurved chalice shape. Their color is a pleasing medium yellow on the inside of the petals and a paler yellow on the outside.

It has excellent, strong and almost completely disease-free growth. This rose is particularly fine in a dry climate, although it may ball in the rain.

A very strong, unusual and delicious fragrance with a fruity note reminiscent of guava and sweet white wine.

Named after the character in Thomas Hardy’s novel.

4 ft. x 4 ft. or 8 ft. as a climber ".

We simply can't argue with Mr. Austin. This rose is indeed magnificent.

So:

- shrub English Rose Collection

- medium yellow, apricot, cream shading colour, lighter reverse.

- 55 to 70 petals.

- full, borne mostly solitary or in small clusters, globular bloom form.

- blooms in flushes throughout the season.

- height of up to 4' (up to 120 cm)

- width of up tp 4' (up to 120 cm).

- as a climber - 8' or 250 cm.

- very disease resistant indeed.

- Zone 5 to 10.

Use minimal pruning, otherwise the growth will be diminished.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Reine des Violettes

Hybrid Perpetual bred by Mille-Mallet, France, 1860. Seedling of Pope Pius IX (Hybrid Perpetual, Vibert, 1849).

Wonderful colour, violet with a lighter center. The fragrance is strong, in the Old Garden Rose way.

The flowers are 4.25 " - 10,8 cm, 50 to 75 petals, very large, very full, cupped, quartered, reflexed bloom form.

The bush is untidy, arching, often sprawling across the ground and producing bloom at the ends of long shoots. The remedy for this is strict pruning and/or training techniques. Often people will peg the long canes down to the ground, which will encourage the lateral buds to break into bloom.

Height of 4' to 8' - 120cm to 245 cm. Width of 3' to 6' (90 to 185cm).

Remontant, it blooms in flushes throughout the season. Remove spent blooms to encourage re-bloom.

Feed this rose well. Plenty of manure in the soil both at planting time and as a seasonal mulch is recommended. You may want to supplement with Epsom salts and Alfalfa tea as well.

This rose will do well in partially shaded location.

It is thornless.

Roses for Shady Locations

First, it's never about full shadow, but only partial shadow. Your roses need at least 3-4 hours of sun, preferably the morning sunlight. Otherwise, forget about it. Your roses will not bloom and after a few years they will die.

Second, make sure that the soil is never damp, but moist and fertile, offering a good drainage too. Prune the roses regularly to maintain good air circulation and reduce the risk of fungal infections. Also, prune the canes to as little as one-third their length in Spring, while the roses are dormant, to correct their sparse growth, due to lack of sun.

Now, what roses to grow in shady locations? They must be selected from those which are known to be hardy and disease-resistant, and, generally, the closer a rose to the true species, or the less hybridization in its background, the more adaptable will be.

So, select them from the true species and their closely related hybrids, the group of older garden roses such as the Gallicas, Damasks and Albas; and, in warmer areas, from more tender groups such as the Chinas. Most ramblers do well in shade as well.

Myself, I prefer roses with good fragrance, among other required features. So, this will be my list for shady spots:

- as a rose at a woodland site: Rosa Rugosa, Stanwell Perpetual, Amelia, Parfum de l'Hay

- for shady locations: Rosa Alba, Kazanlik, Great Maiden's Blush, Mme Isaac Pereire, Souvenir du Dr Jamain, Pompon Blanc Parfait, Louis XIV, Louise Odier, Shady Lady, Alba Semi-Plena, A Longues Pedoncules, Agatha, Agathe Incarnata, Agnes, Alexander Girault, Alister Stella Gray, Belle Poitevine, Autumn Sunset, Blanc Double de Coubert, Blanchefleur, Celeste, Conrad F. Meyer, Felicite Parmentier, Gypsy Boy, Festive Jewel, Konigin von Denmark, Long John Silver, Mme Gregoire Staechelin, Reine des Violettes, Roseraie de l'Hay, Russeliana, Sarah van Fleet,

- shady location and even a North wall: Ena Harkness climber, The Garland (moschata), Zephirine Drouhin, Goldbusch, Wedding Day (rambler), Paul's Hymalaian Musk, Mme Alfred Carriere, Golden Dawn, Rosa Alba Maxima, Aimee Vibert, Alchymist, Casino, Columbian Climber

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 :).