Grouping rose varieties with a similar or particular growth and flowering habit into one ‘brand’ makes the selection of roses that much easier for the gardener.
Our new group, as the Latin name implies, are modern roses with flower shapes of yesteryear. In growth habit and height they are similar to the hybrid tea roses rather than the willowy “English Roses”. Their numerous petals are firm and will not drop off with the first wind or rain but are extremely long lasting; both on the bushes as well as when used for flower arranging. This group comprises varieties bred by the German rose breeders W. KORDES’, from the rose breeding family BARNI in Italy, DELBARD ROSES of France and POULSEN ROSER of Denmark.
All selected varieties are easy to grow.
HYBRID TEA
These are the most commonly grown roses. Their characteristics are large, well shaped blooms, carried on strong stems.
The bushes branch from the base and grow from 0.9 m to 2.3 m (3ft to 8ft) tall. To give the bush enough space to develope freely, and also to be able to attend to the plant from all sides, beds of Hybrid Tea roses should be planted 0.8 m x 0.8 m apart. In single rows the spacing should be 0.6 m.
SATIN TOUCH™ ROSES
Although there is the saying ‘No rose without a thorn’ there doesn’t appear to be any botanical reason for roses to have prickles, the correct terminology for ‘rose thorns’. The rose breeders W. Kordes Söhne have done much pioneering work in creating a nucleus of hybrid tea roses with very few or no prickles on the stems. We have trialled and evaluated at least one variety in each popular colour and to make it easy for those WHO prefer roses without thorns, we have grouped them as Satin Touch™ roses. These are basically strong growing hybrid teas with attractive, long lasting cut flowers, each still with its very own characteristics as described. Obviously, they are delightful to work with.
Floribunda Roses
Their prominent characteristic is the habit of producing clusters of blooms which have the remarkable ability to flower freely and continuously on hardy bushes.
In the descriptions, certain Floribunda roses may be termed as having ‘shapely, pointed buds or blooms’. These are the newer cultivars which have an improved shape of bud and bloom. They adhere to the basic Floribunda characteristics of producing sprays and may additionally serve as cutflowers. Floribundas should be planted and treated as any other bush rose. For the best effect, planting distances should not exceed
70cm x 70cm and in single rows not further than 60cm.
Fairytale™ Roses
The classification of modern rose varieties into Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Miniatures and Climbing roses sufficed for almost a century. One of the likely reasons was that rose breeders simply did not consider naming and releasing any new creations that did not conform to the basic characteristics expected of varieties in the above mentioned categories. One of the exceptions was 'Queen Elizabeth' which was such a superb novelty but with such a different growth habit that the American hybridiser made it the first of a new Grandiflora class. However, in Europe this rose was grouped amongst the Floribundas.
Modern marketing methods as well as the introduction of trademarks has changed all that. It began with the group of modern roses having old fashioned flower shapes created by David Austin, that were first known as English roses but are now strictly marketed as 'David Austin English Roses'. Other hybridisers have followed suit, selecting roses with similar growth and flower shape characteristics and marketing them as 'Romantica Roses', 'Renaissance Roses', 'Märchenrosen', 'Nostalgia Roses' and others.
With our experience of marketing of our own specific varieties in groups such as Midinette™, Satin Touch™ and Antico Moderno™, we have come to realise that a relatively uniform growth pattern had to be the most important criteria.
Our grouping of of Fairy Tale™ is applicable to rose varieties that have a dense shrubby growth habit and do not produce long willowy canes. They are vigorous, flower freely and continously with blooms of an interesting flower shape - mostly reminiscent of the old fashioned roses - in a range of colours. The ideal is a performance as similar as possible to South Africa's favourite rose 'Iceberg'.
Miniature Roses
Miniature roses are available in a multitude of colours, improved disease resistance, a better shape of buds and abundance of blooms. The height of Miniature plants ranges from 20 cm to 80 cm and to keep the plant well shaped they should be cut back twice a year ( this can be done with a hedge clipper )and they must be heavily pruned in winter. For best effect plant 5 of the same variety 30 cm x 60 cm apart.
Miniatures are “everywhere” roses. They grow on garden tables, in tubs, in old stone zinks, window boxes, pots around a bird bath or in tiny town-house or duplex gardens. Simply take up a few flagstones in a paved courtyard and substitute it with good soil. They may also be planted in rock gardens and it is a good idea to provide deep pockets of rich soil.
Plant them in masses on their own for the best show of colour. Another suggestion is to use them as edgings to beds of hybrid tea roses, but make sure you plant two or three rows of them together or they will become smothered and insignificant. Miniature standards make beautiful backdrops for pathways or add colour to patio walls.
It must be remembered though, that despite their Lilliputian stature, these are true roses with a rose’s liking for a moist but well-drained root run and full sunshine for at least six hours every day.
COLOURSCAPE ROSES / LANDSKAPROSE
It might seem that this group comprises all the roses that have no real home of their own. Whereas the bush roses are the formal upright plants and the miniature their smaller cousins, this group of roses which might have the typical Hybrid Tea shape, Floribunda cluster or miniature blooms but, very diverse growth habits, would look awkward if planted amongst the formal bush roses.
For unusual requirements in a garden or large landscape projects, the right choice will be in this group.
For an even easier reference we have chosen descriptive group names according to their growth habit and use and not according to shape or size of flowers. A wealth of new roses is released every year and more and more will fall under the group of Colourscape or Informal Roses.
Cushion Groundcovers/Kussing-grondbedekkingrose
Roses in this category are expected to grow not much taller than knee-height with short sideways growing branches. When planted 50 cm x 50 cm apart they will cover the ground completely. They will flower in abundance during the long summer and need little maintenance with regard to dead-heading and grooming.
To neaten the beds they might be trimmed in mid-summer with a hedging shear. In winter they should be pruned, leaving a few young stems shortened to 30 cm. Due to their size and the shade they provide for their roots, these will be shallow and regular irrigation is required. Additional feeding is essential and a liberal sprinkling of fertiliser every month to six weeks is most beneficial.
Low Shrubroses (Informal) /Lae Struikrose (Informeel)
Shrub roses are informal roses and many of the Heritage Roses will fall under this category. Only the few which do flower more continuously are listed here. Low Shrub Roses can grow to a height between 1.2 to 2 metres and they will either arch their branches or have a natural habit of filling out to a rounded specimen, flowering all over. They have all the requirements of other roses. Winter pruning consists of removing old and insipid growth, leaving several healthy strong canes. These may be shortened considerably to only 75 cm or the arching canes may be left with no or little cutting back.
Scrambler Roses (Prostrate Groundcovers) / Kruiprose (Kruipende grondbedekkers)
Scrambler Roses are expected to grow vigorously prostrate to ground hugging. The prostrate shoots may stretch from 1 m to 3 m and even more. Plants should be spaced 1.5 m x 1.5 m when required to cover the area completely. On slopes or embankments it is essential to provide a solid basin on the lower side of the plants in order to hold sufficient water to penetrate down to the roots. Basal stems which need to find their way through the dense lower growth are first directed upwards, but will soon arch and with the weight of the flowering trusses at the tip of these stems, add to the total covering ability. Eventual height may vary between knee to hip-high. The continuous new growth provides flowers deep into winter. Scrambler roses should receive a good watering once a week be it by rain or irrigation. New growth and flowers depend on the available fertility and a liberal feeding at least every two months is a necessity. They may be trimmed down at any time during summer, however, this should not denude the plants. In winter all older and thin wood is removed on Scrambler Roses. The more prostrate shoots may remain and will allow the area to be covered more quickly in spring, alternatively they may be cut back to about 50 cm. All selected cultivars will flower in spring no matter what pruning system is applied.