ROSE SPECIES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 232, 28 June 1935, Page 18

ROSE SPECIES

Quaint and Charming Varieties Rose species do not receive anything like the attention from gardeners that their merits so well deserve. Though they do not compare in floral effect with their more highly-developed relatives, the hybrid bedding roses—-which have, doubtless, been responsible to a large extent for the general lack of interest in the wild species, they are none the less mostly plants of distinct beauty and charm as well as easy growth that will be an ornament to any garden. Not only does the fact that they are easily grown and need practically no pruning strengthen their claim to recognition in the average garden, but their decorative beauty in early summer and again in autumn, and the variety of uses to which they lend themselves, should encourage all gardeners who have the space to include a few of the best of them in their planting schemes. They call for no special treatment and can be trusted to succeed in any ordinary garden soil and in most situations, though they are always seen at their best in open and sunny positions and in good strong loamy ground. None is more worthy of a place than the excellent Rosa Moyesii, and if one has the patience to wait three or four years—for it does not reach maturity quickly —one will be rewarded by dense 6ft. high bushes of robust stems which in summer carry a profusion of the most lovely, deep velvety red blossoms of the richest texture. Its peerless beauty in summer is only equalled by its magnificence in autumn, when its crimson stems are hung with the enormous fiery red, bottle-shaped fruits that remain conspicuous through autumn and early winter. While it is easy to raise from seeds, its flower colour is never to be trusted to come true, and for that reason most plants are generally grafted. If one has the inclination and the room, seed, raising can be tried and some good forms may be obtained that are worth growing on their own roots. Its very close relative, the fine R. Fargesii, which is without doubt one of its descendants, is another wilding of the highest rank, with larger blossoms of rose pink and slightly larger coral red fruits, and where there is space, both are worth growing for their gorgeous autumn display. Both these roses—as, indeed, are most of the others —are never better than when allowed to grow of their own free will, only i having the dead wood removed occasionally to keep the bushes open.

There are several other Chinese roses that rival R. Moyesii in their autumn beauty, and among them none is more distinguished than the robust-growing It. Davidii, which will reach gome. 7ft. to Bft. high and smother its stems with large, brilliant rose blossoms, which are followed in the autumn by rich orange red fruits. Another that runs it close for beauty and distinction is the tall and elegant R. Willmottiffi, which will make a bush about 7ft. high and as much across when fully grown. Though a vigorous grower, It never allows Its vigour to spoil its gentle elegance, and the long silvery stems clothed with small burnetlike foliage, and enhanced with many small pale pink blossoms, afford a charming decoration both in the garden and indoors. The fine Cherokee Rose (R. laevigata) is not a species for everyone, for it is happy only in a warm, sheltered spot in extreme southern gardens; but the musk rose, R. moschata, and its varieties should not be omitted from any list. The most vigorous-growing of all roses, it can be grown as a bush, when it reaches some 10ft. to 12ft. high and probably about twice as much across; but it .is better as a climber trained over a pergola or arch, and is never more effective than when it is draping an old tree or hedges and has plenty of. space to spread at will. Given the room, it grows rampantly, and in a sunny corner it will make a glorious display when smothered with its generous clusters of pale yellow blossoms which faint to white as they age. Its rampant habit bars it from the small garden; but in a larger space the gardener has few better climbers at his disposal than this charming and fragrant rose, of which the white form, alba, is perhaps the best.