Do Roses Grow Old?

Theoretically, a rose keeps going for a long, long time under favorable conditions of growth. Yet other white-haired rose lovers who read these words may draw on their own memories for recollections of roses that were once greatly cherished but which eventually lost their vigor or even died out although given the greatest possible attention.

When easterners first began to migrate to California, and thus began to really learn of what had been done during the course of years in the old mission gardens, the earlier tea roses, and some that were never actually resolved into classification, grew to tremendous size. Certainly there was no thought then that these plants ever became too old.

Then when growers in various parts of America planted selected European rose varieties, which were the only rose varieties available, there were many instances where plants of great size and vigor resulted. There was no thought then either that these might someday grow too old to continue the pleasant experience their ownership gave.

But then we would begin to observe that a great and successful rose – for example, a rose like Ophelia, would somehow seem to lose its old vigor. Consequently, in our restless search for something better, or at least newer, we would turn away from our old ideals and would take on with the newcomers then in their pristine vigor. Although the rose men of course had nothing to do with this, it did nevertheless work to their advantage, inasmuch as more money could be asked for the new varieties than for the old.

There has been much discussion about the very old roses grown in Europe particularly from sources not now available. Having grown up with old plants of “General Jack,” as we called the grand red rose General Jacqueminot, and knowing other such once-blooming friends, I eventually discovered them to be no longer of supreme attractiveness. For a time that was all blamed on the novelty urge, but finally we began to wonder whether these roses weren’t actually getting too old.

The first hybrid tea rose, La France, which I remember handling as a boy, was sent out by the Guillot family in 1867. It was a very lovely rose and was given the following description: “Bud long-pointed; flower large, double, very fragrant, silvery pink, reverse bright pink. Vigorous; profuse, recurrent bloom all season.” Today, when one buys this rose, the plant may still be strong looking, but it certainly doesn’t live up to the old description.

The real question is, then, Why do roses grow old?

Bertram Park, one of England’s truly thoughtful rosarinns, has philosophically followed the deterioration of roses in his writings in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society under the heading “Some Modern Roses.” After relating his own experiences, he comes to the following logical conclusion:

If the new variety has sufficient intrinsic quality and vigor to do well during these first few years, it may settle down to a long life, but inevitably sooner or later a further deterioration sets in until that variety gradually disappears from cultivation. The reason for this first period of deterioration is because the “eyes” of a new variety are valuable and produce the principal financial reward to the raiser. It must he remembered that the production of a distinct and improved new variety takes years of labor and great knowledge and experience. Consequently, having been exhibited and having received a years ago I budded it again, but no effort or care in cultivation will make it grow much more than a foot in height with weak, straggly stems and thin, characterless flowers – but travesties of those shown in 1902. As a variety it is finished.

I think I have now made the point I set out to establish, and it is only reasonable to suggest a remedy. Obviously, an old variety propagated selectively can be maintained, restored or even improved. Any rose lover can protect a variety he admires by seeing to it that in propagation, either by cutting or by bud, no buds are used save those that have been close to blooming and that are vigorous in themselves.

by H McFarland

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• Budded Roses Why Buy Them
• Landscaping A Rose Garden – Choosing Roses for Your Landscape
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• Climbing Roses You Should Try Them