Hip Old Roses for Sustainable Landscaping
Ranked #8,964 in Education, #194,406 overall
Easy to Grow Old Antique and Heirloom Roses
These plants are being rediscovered and propagated by rose societies and also by Texas A&M University Agriculture System who has launched the "EarthKind" list of hardy, low maintenance, disease and insect resistant roses. Photographs, names and descriptions, growing tips and information about old, antique and EarthKind Roses can be found in this lens.
Contents at a Glance
You CAN Grow Roses in a Sustainable Landscape
Old and Antique Roses are the New Rage!
Texas A&M University Agriculture System has been conducting a hardiness study of many kinds of roses. In the study they plant many rose varieties out in a field in the hot Texas sun. Once they are established, the roses are left on their own and receive no watering, spraying or pruning. It's sink or swim for them. After 3 years, the ones that survive are designated "EarthKind" Roses. These roses possess the high level of landscape performance coupled with outstanding disease and insect tolerance and resistance required for this special designation. Very few (if any) of these trademarked EarthKind roses are hybrids. Almost all of them fall into the old rose category. These rose cultivars retain the resilience and fortitude that was programmed by nature.

Buy Old Fashioned Pink Rose Poster Print by naturalilly
This means that these roses will not require the use of harmful pesticides or fungicides so they are perfect for sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping. Unlike modern, hybrid roses, these beauties do not require hours of devoted attention. Old rose varieties will give the rose loving homeowner a rest from heavy fertilizing, spraying and nurturing that their hybrid cousins demand. Some old roses prefer a minimum amount of pruning. Many specimens were found living on their own in old cemeteries and home sites, untouched by human hands for years.
The new modern hybrids were bred for the size and shape of the individual flower, with little or no attention to the shape or form of the bush, so frequent pruning is necessary to make them look nice. Old roses have a natural beauty of form, a quality which does not diminish over the years. The colors of old roses are a little more muted that the more showy hybrids, but we prefer the soft pinks, yellows, whites and beautiful reds of the older varieties. And the fragrance of the old roses beats the modern hybrids, hands down.
Many of the old roses also have interesting foliage and colorful hips. These hips are a source of vitamin C and are quite delicious in tea, jelly and many other foods. Rose petals are also edible and have been used in aromatherapy for hundreds of years.
References: Chamblee's Rose Nursery and the Antique Rose Emporium. Both offer free catalogs which contain valuable information about old roses and their care.
EarthKind Rose Types
Mairie Daly - pink double blooms from April through November; mature HxW: 3'-4' x 3'- 4'; Category: Polyantha
The Fairy - light pink semi-double blooms from April through November; mature HxW: 2'-4' x 4'; Category: Polyantha
Small Shrubs
Caldwell Pink - Lilac Pink double blooms from May - November; mature HxW: 3'-4' x 3'; Category: China
Perle d'Or - Apricot Yellow, semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-6' x 3'-4'; Category: Polyantha
Medium Shrubs
Belinda's Dream - Pink, semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-6' x 3'-4'; Category: shrub
Carefree Beauty - Pink double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 4'-5' x 4'-5'; Category: shrub
Ducher - Pure white double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-5' x 3'-4'; Category: China
Duchesse de Brabant - Rose pink semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 4'-6 x 4'; Category: Tea
Else Poulsen - Pink single blooms from April-November; mature HxW: 3'-5' x 3'-4'; Category: Floribunda
Georgetown Tea - Pink blend double blooms from April- November; Mature HxW: 3'-5' x 4'; Category: Tea
Knock Out - Cherry red single blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-6' x 3'-6'; Category: Shrub
La Marne - Pink/White semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 4'-6' x 4'-5'; Category: Polyantha
Mme. Antoine Mari - Pink Blend double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-5' x 4'; Category: Tea
Souvenir de St. Anne's - Light Pink single blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 3'-4' x 2'-3'; Category: Bourbon
Large Shrubs
Mutabilis - Yellow/Pink/Orange single blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 4'-10' x 6'; Category: China
Climbers
Climbing Pinkie - Rose Pink semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 8'-12' x 6'; Category: Climbing Polyantha
New Dawn - Blush Pink semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 15'-20 x 8'-20'; Category: Shrub
Sea Foam - Creamy White double blooms from April-November; Mature HxW: 2'-8 x 4'; Category: Shrub
Hardy Roses: Growing Frost Free and Disease Resistant Varieties
EarthKind Environmental Practices
- Practice enlightened methods of bed preparation prior to planting flowers and woody plants.
- Get your soil tested. Contact your local County Agricultural Ectension Office for more information..
- Base choice of fertilizer on current soil test..
- Ensure 50 percent of nitrogen is in the slow-release (controlled release) form..
- Based on soil test, eliminate unnecessary, environmentally detrimental nutrients. That is, only add what your soil test says that you need..
- Practice year-round mulching using organic materials, preferably those that are on-hand..
- Practice good irrigation, using drip irrigation whenever possible and making use of on-site water..
- Change programming of overall irrigation system from automatic to manual..
- Modify irrigation system so that turf areas and landscape beds are in separate irrigation zones..
- Water thoroughly, but less frequently..
- Dramatically reduce pesticide usage by using it only as a last resort..
Growing Old-fashioned Roses
Hardy and Old Roses That We Grow
Old Roses
Louis Phillipe - Fragrant Crimson red double blooms from April-November; Mature: 3 to 5 feet, China Rose

Louis Phillipe Rose by naturegirl7
Noisette Roses - Cottage Rose that could be Champneys' Pink Cluster or Blush Noisette - pink semi-double blooms from April-November; Mature: 4 to 8 feet

Pink Noisette Roses by naturegirl7
Cherokee Rose - White single flowers in spring followed by large golden hips; This climbing rose from China has naturalized all over Southeastern Louisiana; Mature 5 to 15+ feet.

Cherokee Old Climbing Rose by naturegirl7
The Fairy - Light pink semi-double clusters blooming from April-November; Mature HxW: 2'-4' x 4'; Category: Polyantha and EarthKind

The Fairy Rose by naturegirl7
Jessie's Rose - Found near Coushatta, La on an abandoned homesite. Unknown very fragrant purplish-pink draping bush Rose that could be a form of Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris scandens) or "Maggie" (William C. Welch, Heirloom Plants of the South) It blooms in spring.

Jessie's Unknown Old Rose by naturegirl7
Duchess de Brabant - Fragrant Light Pink repeat blooms from April to November; Mature: 4 to 6 feet; Tea Rose and EarthKind
Caldwell Pink - Pink blend clusters repeat bloom from April to November; Mature: 3 to 4 feet, found Rose and EarthKind
Unknown Hardy Red Rose - Very fragrant, deep red double rose that was on the property which blooms from April to November; bright red rose-hips

Old Red Rose by naturegirl7
Small red cluster that I got at Albertson's 25 years ago. It is probably Happy, a polyantha Rose, Currant red tiny semidouble blooms from April-November. Mature: 2 to 3 feet.

Happy Old Rose by naturegirl7
Native Roses
Carolina Rose (Rosa Carolina)- single pink flowered shrub that grows in groups and is seldom over 3 feet tall.

Native Carolina Rose by naturegirl7
Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) - More leggy shrub rose with pinkish-purple semi-double fragrant flowers.
Johnny, GFDL Creative Commons
More Growing Old Roses
Old Roses for Warm Gardens
Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers
In the Language of Fowers
Kate Greenaway
The Rose in the symbolic meanings of flowers:
Rose....Love
Rose, Austrian...Thou art all that is lovely.
Rose, Bridal... Happy love.
Rose, Burgundy... Unconscious beauty.
Rose, Cabbage... Ambassador of love.
Rose, Campion... Only deserve my love.
Rose, Carolina... Love is dangerous.
Rose, China... Beauty always new.
Rose, Christmas... Tranquillize my anxiety.
Rose, Daily... Thy smile I aspire to.
Rose, Damask... Brilliant complexion.
Rose, Deep Red... Bashful shame.
Rose, Dog... Pleasure and pain.
Rose, Guelder... Winter, Age.
Rose, Hundred-leaved... Pride.
Rose, Japan... Beauty is your only attraction.
Rose, Maiden Blush... If you love me, you will find it out.
Rose, Multiflora...Grace
Rose, Mundi... Variety.
Rose, Musk... Capricious beauty.
Rose, Musk, Cluster... Charming.
Rose, Single... Simplicity.
Rose, Thornless... Early attachment.
Rose, unique... Call me not beautiful.
Rose, white... I am worthy of you.
Rose, white (withered)... Transient impressions.
Rose, Yellow... Decrease of love. Jealously.
Rose, York and Lancaster... War.
Rose, Full-blown, placed over two Buds... Secrecy.
Rose, White and Red together... Unity.
Roses, Crown of... Reward of virtue.
Rosebud, Red... Pure and lovely.
Rosebud, White... Girlhood.
Rosebud, Moss... Confession of love.
For information about how to make a Victorian tussie-mussie go to Eras of Elegance - How to Make a Victorian Tussie-Mussie
England's Historic Treasures
Recipes for Roses
Old Roses and Rose Hip Products on Amazon
Old and Wild Roses on Zazzle
Relax in your rose garden while drinking rose hip tea from these old rose mugs designed by naturegirl7.

Old Roses on eBay
We order from Gardens Alive for pest problems
If your old roses get aphids or other pests or diseases, try some of the organic remedies like ladybugs, flea nematodes, and organic sprays that you can find at Gardens Alive. We've been using their products for years.
Minature Rose Plants
If you only have a windowsill or patio
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Potted White Miniature Rose Plant
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Other Heirloom and Sustainable Gardening Lenses
Our Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Blog RSS Feed
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOld Rose Blog Posts
- Gather the Girls and Spring Into the 91st Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Parade
- ... which presents contemporary and heirloom roses against a backdrop budding with thousands of the blooms; the Rose Parade, known for its rose carpet and flowery floats; the Street Dance, which brings out boppers young and old; ?Orchids on Parade?; ...
- Gardening Calendar, Updated Feb. 16
- Plant Clinic: Master gardener answers gardening questions. Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach, 10 am-noon. 772-589-5050; DiscoverELC.org. Garden Walk: Old garden roses. Country Care Roses, 14070 109th St., Fellsmere, 9 am-4 pm, ...
- More Events Happening in the Coastal Bend 2/17-2/23
- Information: www.gotothegaff.com ORGANIC ROSES: Rosarians with the Corpus Christi Rose Society will teach a class on growing roses from 10 am to noon Saturday in the Botanical Gardens Visitors Center, 8545 S. Staples St. Cost: $7; free/members ...
- Gardening Calendar
- "Antique Roses - The Ultimate Landscape Plant." 10 am today. Presentation by Mike Shoup. The Natural Gardener, 8648 Old Bee Cave Road. Free. 288-6113, www.naturalgardeneraustin.com. "Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop." 2 pm today. Presented by Wade Hibler.
Tell Us What You Think About Old Roses
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boutiqueshops
May 30, 2010 @ 1:27 pm | delete
- Roses are my favorite; I have a Mister Lincoln and a knock-out rose that delight me all year round. Amazing for Mister Lincoln. I also have miniature, climbing and other bush roses. I see several here that I may just have to add! Favorited & featured on my June Is National Rose Month page
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BevsPaper
May 11, 2010 @ 3:48 pm | delete
- Love the old roses that I see growing in the wild. There is a simple beauty to them.
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ohcaroline
May 11, 2010 @ 11:50 am | delete
- I like the older roses. They've always been my favorites.
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mbgphoto
May 11, 2010 @ 8:55 am | delete
- Very interesting lens. As always, love you photos. The Zazzle mugs are great too!
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skiesgreen
May 11, 2010 @ 12:34 am | delete
- This is a great lens and so full of valuable information. Blessed and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust
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Links to Sources and Care of Old and Antique Roses
Add you own or vote on these
The Antique Rose Emporium
Devoted to bringing the beauty, frangrance and cha more...0 points
Chamberlee's Rose Nursery
Environmentally Friendly Roses for Environmentally more...0 points
EarthKind Roses
Texas A&M University Research site, where and more...0 points
How to Plant EarthKind Roses
How to Plant EarthKind Roses. Looking for roses th more...0 points
Petals From the Past, Inc. - Welcome
Petals From the Past, Inc. specializes in antique more...0 points
New Orleans Old Garden Rose Society
Info on the society and a page about the "Peg more...0 points
by naturegirl7
My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve.
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