Antique roses are divided into classes or families of roses. These include: Chinas, Noisettes, Polyanthas, Musks, Old Europeans, Bourbons and Teas

Each division has unique characteristics, but still offers a wide variety of color and bloom. If you are new to the antiques, visit your local nurseries and see what is available. Visit the local rose growing societies, and visit with gardeners who have them. Then experiment. Some possible starters include:

'Mermaid' which is a vigorous and thorny plant. It blooms from late spring until frost with large, single yellow flowers. It grows quickly, blooms long, but does have big thorns.

"Old Blush" is a common old rose, with again, a long blooming period. It blooms profusely with double light pink blossoms in the spring, then slows down a little during the hot dry summer, and bounces back in the fall. This vigorous shrub rose gets five to six feet in height and spread.

`Zephirine Drouhin' is a wonderful climber with thornless stems. It is extremely fragrant with semi double dark pink flowers primarily in the spring, with a smaller show occasionally in the fall. The growth habit, coupled with thornless stems makes this one a winner.

`Cecile Brunner' is an all-time favorite. Both bush and climber varieties are available in this durable and long blooming plant. The flowers begin as a pink bud and open to a cluster of light pink flowers. The profusion of blooms in the spring is followed all summer by a few blooms all summer and again a show in the fall. Highly disease resistant, it can't be beat. The climber is tougher and a better plant I think than the bush form.

`The Fairy' has been available and popular for a long time. This sprawling bush gives off hundreds of sprays of tiny double rose pink flowers, which fade with heat, giving you a white bloom. It begins blooming in late May but will continue to bloom provided it has ample moisture.

`China Doll' is a small border or edging rose, growing no taller than eighteen inches. It begins blooming late in the spring and continues through fall, with clusters of pink blooms. It has a nice compact growth habit and has good disease resistance.

`New Dawn' has pale pink flowers which bloom heavily in the spring, scattered blossoms in the summer with another show in the fall. It is a wide growing rambler rose, and bears the distinction of being U.S. Plant Patent No. 1, the first rose patented under federal regulations. It has been touted as good hedge material.

These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of old roses out there. While most roses perform best in full sun, there are some antiques that tolerate light shade. Good drainage is important, and preparing your soil prior to planting can insure success, as with any other planting. Find out the eventual size of your roses when you plant them. If they have the potential to spread fifteen feet, allow for it. Give them time to grow and fill in. Allow a little air space around them for better air circulation to help with diseases. If you have a fence or need a living arbor, plant climbers that can spread, but give them their support from the beginning.

To continue with the homeowner's landscaping guide, go to Rose Care

For more information, see New Landscape in 5 Days.

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