Classes of Old Garden Roses
Classes in Cultivation Before 1867
ALBA -- Free branching shrub rose, varying greatly in size, with only a few prickles on the stems. They have grayish green leaves, bear clusters of 5 - 7 semi to fully double scented flowers in spring or early summer, on shoots from second year wood. Very hardy. (Zones 3 - 9) [hybrid between Rosa canina x Rosa damascena, or Rosa gallica]
Bourbons - Large, open, repeat bloom shrubs, often with long smooth or prickly stems, which may be trained as climbers or pegged. They have often glossy leaves, double to fully double flowers, usually in clusters of 3, in flushes in spring or early summer, and usually autumn. (Zone 6 - 10) (Zone 5 with winter protection) [hybrid between China Rose and Damask Rose]
Boursault - Climbing roses with long, arching smooth canes, and dark green leaves. They bear semi-double or double, slightly scented flowers, singly or in clusters of 3, in spring or early summer. (Zone 7 - 10) [descendants from Rosa x l'heritierana]
Centifolia - The cabbage rose, lax, prickly shrub rose producing matte, dark green leaves. Double or fully double, often scented flowers, are borne singly or in clusters of 3 in spring or early summer on 2nd year wood. (Zone 4 - 9 ) [Complex hybrid of R. gallica, R. phoenicia, R. moschata, R. canina, R. damascena]
China - Spindly, repeat blooming shrub roses with mostly smooth stems, bearing only a few reddish brown prickles, and glossy green foliage. They bear single to fully double, sometimes scented flowers, singly or in clusters of 3 - 13, in flushes from spring to autumn. (Zone 7 - 10) One of the first Chinas (Old Blush) known also as 'Parson's Pink China' [Hybrids from Rosa chinensis]
Damask - Open shrub rose with prickly stems, and downy leaves. They bear semi- to fully double, often very fragrant flowers, singly or in loose clusters of 5 - 7, mainly in spring or early summer. A few also flower on new wood in autumn. (Zone 4 - 9) [Hybrids from Rosa damascena]
Eglanteria - Vigorous, free branching shrub roses with prickly stems and dark green apple scented foliage. In summer they bear single to double scented flowers, singly or in clusters of up to 7. (Zone 6 - 9) [Hybrids from Rosa eglanteria]
Gallica - Shrub rose of dense, free branching habit, with prickly stems, with dull, dark green foliage. In spring and early summer, they bear single to fully double, mostly scented flowers often in clusters of 3. (Zone 4 - 8) [Hybrids from Rosa gallica]
Hybrid Perpetual - Free branching, remontant shrub roses with upright prickly growth, and dark green leaves. They bear scented, fully double flowers, singly or in clustters of 3, in flushes from spring to autumn. (Zone 5 - 10) [Hybrids between Bourbons, Damask, Gallica]
Moss - Often lax shrub roses with moss-like, furry, fragrant growth on the calyx, and with dark green foliage. Semi- to fully double, usually fragrant flowers, often in clusters of 3 or more borne on very thorny shoots in spring or early summer. (Zone 4 - 9) [Sport of Centifolia Rose]
Noisette - Remontant climbing roses usually with glossy foliage. They bear large clusters of 3 - 15 slightly scented, normally double to fully double flowers, in flushes from spring to autumn. (Zone 7 - 10) 'Champneys' Pink Cluster' = orginal, 'Blush Noisette' = first seedling [Hybrids from Rosa chinensis and Rosa moschata]
Portland - Upright, compact, repeat bloomng shrub rose with prickly stems, and dark green foliage. Semi- to fully double scented flowers are borne singly or in small clusters, in flushes from spring to autumn. (Zone 4 - 9) [Hybrids between (Damask x Gallica) x China]
Ramblers - Vigorous, semi-evergreen climbers with shiny light green foliage. Arching, prickly stems bear clusters of 3 - 21 slightly fragrant single to double flowers in early summer.
Ayrshires (Zone 6 - 10) flowers are followed by small, red hips in autumn
Multiflora Ramblers (Zone 5 - 9) good subjects for tree climbing and covering buildings - some have small orange fruit
Sempervirens Ramblers (Zone 6 - 10) healthy, vigorous, most tend to be evergreen, most introduced in Victorian times
Wichuraiana Ramblers (Zone 4 - 9) most produce flowers on last year's wood, ideal covering for ground, building, or trellis
Tea/Climbing Tea - Repeat flowering shrub or climbing sport with smooth to prickly stems, sometimes bearing a few large red prickles, and medium-sized, glossy green foliage. Semi- to fully double, spice-scented flowers are borne singly or in clusters of 3, in flushes from spring to fall frost. (Zone 7 - 10) Considered to be the first teas brought to Europe: R. indica odorata ('Hume's Blush') and R. odorata ochroleuca ('Park's Yellow tea-scented China')
Species - naturally occuring roses found in the wild, most have only five petals...Approximately 200 known species...Produce seedlings which will be identical to parent plant..
examples: Rosa banksiae alba, (white) R. banksiae lutea, (yellow); R. banksiae normalis, (single Lady Banksia Rose); R. bracteata, (Macartney Rose); R. carolina, R. glauca, R. laevigata, (Cherokee Rose); R. longicuspis, R. moschata, R. palustris, (Swamp Rose); R. roxburghii, (Chestnut Rose); R. rugosa, R. virginiana, R. wichurana (Memorial Rose)...