How Did Roses Develop? Three Foundational Types:
Species or ‘wild roses’ were the source of all rose varieties. Producing simple, very fragrant flowers once a year in spring. True wild roses have only 5 petals and occur naturally, being native to North America, Europe and Asia.
Old Garden Roses (also known as Antique or Heritage roses) are those varieties existing before 1867. Old Garden Roses are the roses of old European gardens and date back to the Roman Empire.
Modern Roses are those varieties not existing before 1867. Modern roses are primarily described by their ability to flower throughout a long season, typically until the first frost.
WHAT TYPES OF ROSES ARE AVAILABLE TODAY – HOW DO I CHOOSE?
Climbing Roses. Modern Climbers will rebloom as do their parents; the Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, and Floribunda roses. These roses must have support to climb, either in the form of a trellis or fence and must be trained to the support structure.
David Austin English Roses: These roses are stunningly large and beautiful with blooms that are cabbage-like in form. David Austin began crossbreeding Old Garden Roses and Modern roses with great success, culminating in a rose with the fragrance of the Old Garden Roses, but with the color range and reblooming ability of the Modern roses. Hardy in zones 5-9.
Floribunda Roses: Floribundas were introduced in 1930. The original floribundas were the result of crosses of Hybrid Tea roses and an old-fashioned class of rose called Polyanthas. These are relatively compact bushes with excellent hardiness and disease resistance that produce large clusters of blooms. They are continuous bloomers and have the same color range as the Hybrid Teas. They will adapt to a wide range of soil and temperature conditions. They also work really well in containers.
Grandifloras: Grandifloras have a shorter stem than the Hybrid Tea, but with clustered, large, double blossoms. They have the same hardiness zones and also bloom repeatedly. They are normally without fragrance.
Hybrid Teas: The Hybrid Tea was the first modern rose and are the classic long-stemmed rose, with individual blooms. They are hardy in zones 4-9 and bloom repeatedly throughout the season. This is the largest group of roses.
Groundcover Roses: Groundcover Roses generally have smaller flowers, grow very low, and have dense foliage.
Shrub Roses (Landscape Rose): Also called Landscape Roses, the Shrub Rose is known for its well-rounded form. Wonderful in mass or as an informal hedge, they also possess the other great qualities of the modern rose; hardiness, disease resistance, and continuous blooming habit. They are hardy from zones 5-10.