FOOTNOTE:[A]Perpetual flowering.
[A]Perpetual flowering.
[A]Perpetual flowering.
CLIMBING ROSES—SUMMER FLOWERING
Manyare the races to which our summer gardens owe an almost endless variety of climbing roses; and each season adds to the bewildering number. The older types are the Ayrshire, the Evergreen, the Banksia, the Boursault, the Prairie rose, the Multiflora. And twenty-one years ago, the Wichuraiana from Japan was introduced, adding a totally new source from whence to derive precious and beautiful hybrids.
Ayrshire. RUGA.Ayrshire.RUGA.
Ayrshire.RUGA.
The Ayrshire Rose
originated without doubt from the trailing white rose of our hedges and woodlands,Rosa arvensis. In the early years of last century many popular varieties were developed which are still welcome in our gardens, such asAlice Gray,Dundee Rambler,Ruga,Queen of the Belgians,SplendensorMyrrh-scented. And in 1835, the charming little double white rose,Bennett's SeedlingorThoresbyana, was discovered among some briars by Lord Manvers' gardener at Thoresby.
Evergreen. FÉLICITÉ-PERPÉTUE.Evergreen.FÉLICITÉ-PERPÉTUE.
Evergreen.FÉLICITÉ-PERPÉTUE.
The Evergreen Rose.
The parent of the Evergreen roses of our gardens was the climbing wild rose of Italy,Rosa Sempervirens. And the best known, and perhaps the most valuable of these, is the whiteFélicité et Perpétue, named after the saints and martyrs Felicitas and Perpetua. This rose and several other varieties were raised in 1827 by Monsieur Jacques, the head-gardener at the royal gardens of Neuilly. They bloom in large clusters of small, very full, double flowers.Myrianthes renoncule,Leopoldine d'Orleans, andBanksiæfloraare white;Princesse MarieandFloraare pink, as isWilliams' Evergreen. As all these keep their dark shining foliage until nearly the end of the winter, they are very valuable on screens and arches.
The Banksian Rose,R. Banksia.
This persistent foliage is one of the great merits of the large white BanksianFortunei, called in French cataloguesBanks de Chine—a hybrid with the beautifulRosa Sinica. Its handsome green leaves, as I write in mid-February, are as thick outside my window in spite of twenty degrees of frost a few weeks back, as they were in the autumn. It will throw shoots of immense length each year: clothing a wall summer and winter with its rich green foliage. It is much hardier than the Yellow and White Banksians. The flowers, large, full, white, and sweet-scented,grow singly, not in clusters, and are borne like those of the Yellow and White Banksians on the sub-laterals—i.e.the little flowering stems on the laterals of last year. This habit of growth is the reason of so many failures in getting the Banksian roses to flower. An old plant of the Yellow Banksian on the rectory at Strathfieldsaye had never been known to flower when the Rev. F. Page-Roberts came there. He, of course, discovered that it had been pruned hard in the usual way. And after proper attention for two years, it was last year a mass of bloom, to the surprise of all who saw it.[3]
The White Banksian was introduced by Mr. William Kerr in 1807, and named after Lady Banks. The yellow was discovered by Dr. Abel, in 1824, growing on the walls of Nankin. They are both natives of China: but require a warm position on a wall in most parts of England. The finest specimen I have ever seen was a very old plant of the yellow, growing some years ago inside the courtyard at Chillon. It was one of the most beautiful objects possible in summer, the grim walls being closely covered with a sheet of the delicate little blossoms.
Rosa Sinica, orLævigata,
mentioned above, also known as the "Cherokee Rose," is a single white with yellow stamens, from China. It is a very beautiful species; but requires,like the Banksians, the shelter of a wall.Sinica anemone(Schmidt, 1895), silvery-pink shaded rose, is very vigorous, and more hardy, one of the best single climbing roses. This latter rose must not be confused withAnemonæflora—a cross betweenBanksiaandMultiflora—with small double white anemone-like flowers.
The Boursault Roses,R. Alpina,
are hardy, vigorous climbers, flowering in large clusters. They were raised from the single red Alpine rose. This, by the way, might be more generally cultivated for its own sake; its smooth red stems and handsome reddish foliage, which turns a fine colour in autumn, and its single deep pink flowers with long green bracts, succeeded by small brilliant hips, make it a charming object both in summer and autumn. M. Boursault, a famous Parisian rose amateur, gave his name to the group, the first variety, a double red, being called after him.Amadis, orCrimson, is one of the oldest, a deep crimson purple; whileInermis Morletti, an improvedInermis, was introduced in 1883 by Morlet.
Rosa Setigera, the Bramble-Leaved or Prairie Rose,
was the parent of several useful climbers raised by Feast, of Baltimore, and introduced into England in 1803. Of theseBelle of BaltimoreandQueen ofthePrairiesare the best, flowering late in the summer.
The Hungarian Climbing Roses
appear to be very little known in England. But they are well worth growing, especially in cold and exposed places, as they are thoroughly frost-proof. The blossoms are large, very full, and mostly flat in form.Decoration de Geschwind, rich purple-pink with white edges, is a handsome and effective flower. So areGilda, wine colour, shaded with violet, andChâteau Luegg, deep carmine pink. To what family they are allied I do not know. They were raised by Geschwind about 1886. I got them from M. Bernaix of Lyons, and am greatly pleased with them.
Hybrids of China, Bourbon, and Noisette Roses.
This very beautiful class of summer-flowering climbing or pillar roses, is too often neglected in these days. They are the result of crosses between the Gallica, Centifolia, and Damask roses, and the China, Noisette and Bourbon. For size, form and colour, many of these roses are still unexcelled. And one regrets they are not more generally grown.
Whether the seed parent is the perpetual China, Bourbon, or Noisette, and the pollen parent the French or Provençe rose, orvice versâ, the result is that,though it grows vigorously, the hybrid does not flower in the autumn—with the one exception, the beautifulGloire de Rosamènes. One of the grandest of this class isBlairii No. 2(Blair 1845), blush with rose centre, a very vigorous climber: but it should be remembered that if pruned it will not flower. This is also the case with the fine crimsonBrennusorBrutus.Coupe d'HébéandChenédoléare both good roses; whileCharles Lawsonfor a brilliant crimson pillar rose, and the pure whiteMadame Plantierfor bush or pillar, are not easily surpassed, as their flowers are borne in immense quantities. That very brilliant and effective single rose,Paul's Carmine Pillar, is also a hybrid; but its exact parentage is not known. Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, write to me: "We believe it to be, as far as we can recollect, a hybrid with Boursault blood." This would explain its coming into flower so early.
The Climbing Multiflora or Polyantha Roses,
and their hybrids, commonly known as "Rambler roses," have developed of late years in such amazing numbers, that it is a work of some difficulty to keep pace with the new varieties which appear each season. The original Multiflora, known also asPolyantha simplex, was introduced from Japan in 1781 by Thunberg. It is a very vigorous climber with large bunches of small, single white flowers. From this type rose, which seeds very freely, numbers of hybridswere raised in Italy early in the nineteenth century, by crossings with other richly coloured roses. One of the earliest of these hybrids which still remains isLaure Davoust, with small and very double flowers—pink changing to blush.Grevilliaor theSeven Sistersis another, its flowers changing from crimson to purplish rose, and then to pale rose. This produces a most quaint effect, as we have flowers of three colours on the plant at once.De la Grifferaie, 1845, is also deep rose, changing to blush.
Climbing Polyantha. BLUSH RAMBLER.Climbing Polyantha.BLUSH RAMBLER.
Climbing Polyantha.BLUSH RAMBLER.
Climbing Polyantha. BLUSH RAMBLER.Climbing Polyantha.BLUSH RAMBLER.
Climbing Polyantha.BLUSH RAMBLER.
It was, however, in 1893 that an extraordinary impulse was given to the culture of these roses, by the introduction ofTurner's Crimson Rambler. Two roses which are now classed among the "Ramblers" preceded it by a few years; Allard'sDaniel Lacombe, 1886, and the beautifulClaire Jacquier, 1888, raised by Bernaix of Lyons. But the advent ofCrimson Rambleris really the starting point of that enthusiasm which has reigned ever since 1893 for the Rambler roses, and which has happily brought many of the old varieties mentioned above into favour once more. As many versions of the advent of this rose are extant, I wrote to Mr. Charles Turner to ask him its true history, and in his kind reply of February 17, 1908, he says, "The rose was brought from Japan with other plants by an engineer on board a trading vessel for a gentleman living near Edinburgh. It was grown there for some time, and eventually came into our possession."
This rose is so well known that, like good wine, it needs no bush of praise or description. And it was quickly followed by other Multifloras of varying types. In 1896 came Lambert's trioEuphrosyne, the so-called Pink rambler,Thalia, the White rambler, andAglaia, the Yellow rambler; succeeded in 1897 by hisHélène, pale rose with yellowish white centre. In 1898 Dawson brought out theDawson rose, with clusters of semi-double soft-rose flowers. In 1899 came two notable additions—Paul & Son'sPsyche;and Schmidt'sLeuchstern—one of the most beautiful of the race. The latter grower's invaluableRubin;Veitch'sElectra;Paul & Son'sLionfollowed in 1900; and theirWallflowerin 1901.
In 1903, Wm. Paul & Son brought outWaltham Rambler;B. R. Cant, the exquisiteBlush Rambler;and Walsh of Philadelphia thePhiladelphia Rambler. In 1904 came Lambert'sGruss an ZabernandTrier. In 1905 Cutbush'sMrs. F. W. Flight, considered by some the Queen of ramblers. And in 1906 Weigand'sTaunusblümchen;and Soupert et Notting's beautifulStella. Last year a rich feast was provided for those who delight in Ramblers, with Soupert et Notting's fine newBar-le-Duc, offspring of their famous tea roseSouv. de Pierre NottingandCrimson Rambler;Schmidt'sTausendschön, a cross betweenCrimson Ramblerand a tea-polyantha; and Wm. Paul & Son'sKathleen, a single flower, rich carmine-rose with a white eye. And this year Soupert et Notting aresending out their newBordeaux, a seedling fromCrimson Ramblerand the dwarf PolyanthaBlanche Rebatel.
Meanwhile, in 1887, the parents of a new race of climbing roses had been brought to Europe. The Wichuraiana (Species) was introduced from Japan by Crépin, in 1887. Its small white single flowers with their quaint hay scent, borne late in the summer, its glossy evergreen leaves, and its vigorous creeping habit—for it will cover a large space on a bank in twelve months—proclaimed a new and valuable species. And in America, Manda was quick to see its value as the parent of a new race, by crossing it with tea roses. Ten years later, in 1897, he brought outManda's Triumph;in 1899, the charmingGardenia,Jersey Beauty,May Queen,Pink Roamer,South Orange Perfection,Universal Favourite;and in 1900,Evergreen Gem, one of the very best. The next year Jackson and Perkins introduced the incomparableDorothy Perkins. And Walsh, another American grower, followed in 1902 withDébutante, and in 1905 withHiawathaandLady Gay.
Meanwhile in France, M. Barbier had been devoting himself to these charming hybrids; and began his long list of beautiful varieties in 1900 withAlbéric Barbier,René André, and the singleWichuraiana rubra;to be followed by numbers of others.
Wichuriana. DOROTHY PERKINS.Wichuriana.DOROTHY PERKINS.
Wichuriana.DOROTHY PERKINS.
One of the charms of these roses, and they have many, is that they are to all intents and purposes evergreen. Another is, that although they are not perpetual,i.e.flowering twice in the season, the hybrids often take after their parent the type Wichuraiana, whose flowering season is very late—last autumn I gathered a few flowers from it the third week in December. Therefore, many of them come into bloom just as the Multifloras are going over, thus prolonging the season of summer climbing roses till the end of August.
For every purpose they are of use. They may be planted to cover an unsightly bit of bank, or to climb over a stump, to wreath themselves into the branches of a tree, or to form a dense covering of shining leaves and innumerable flowers on fence or trellis or screen. They are even more charming on pillars and arches, when the full beauty of their blossoms can be seen from all sides; for while many have a pendant habit, the main flower heads, ofDorothy Perkinsfor instance, are carried erect above the pink foam of the laterals that clothe the graceful hanging shoots below.
A Wichuraiana hybrid—for choice the daintyrubra,Dorothy PerkinsorHiawatha—grown as a tall, weeping standard seven feet high, is an object of such beauty that if once seen it cannot be forgotten. Or these charming roses may be trained round a large balloon, in the same fashion as theCrimson Ramblerin the Royal Gardens at Windsor, figured in "The Garden," December 30, 1905.
Wichuriana. JERSEY BEAUTY.Wichuriana.JERSEY BEAUTY.
Wichuriana.JERSEY BEAUTY.
Planted on a terraced slope the Wichuraianas are most effective. In one instance,Gardenia,Evergreen Gem,Albéric Barbierand others were planted along a steep grass bank below a terrace walk. A flat shelf four feet wide had been cut half way down the bank, and there the roses were put in some ten or twelve feet apart. By the next summer they had joined hands; and whether from below, or looking down on them from the terrace above, the huge wreath with masses of flowers among the glossy foliage made a most exquisite display.
In fact there is no limit to the uses to which this delightful family may be put. And we may believe that there is no limit either to its future developments in the hands of the hybridists, whose patient research will, I have no doubt, give us before many years are over, perpetual flowering, evergreen Wichuraianas of every hue.
Ayrshire Roses,R. Arvensis.
Alice Gray. White edged pink.
Bennett's Seedling or Thoresbyana.Bennett, 1835. Double White.
Dundee Rambler. White, semi-double.
Queen of the Belgians. Creamy white, large,double.
Ruga. Pale flesh, large, double.
Repens flore pleno. White, very abundant bloomer.
Splendens, or myrrh-scented. Flesh colour, large, double.
Evergreen Roses,R. Sempervirens.
Banksiæflora. White, centre pale yellow.
Felicité et Perpétue.Jacques, 1827. Creamy white, full.
Flora. Rosy flesh, full.
Leopoldine d'Orleans.Jacques.White, tipped red.
Myrianthes renoncule. Blush edged rose.
Princesse Marie.Jacques.Clear pink.
Williams' Evergreen.Williams, 1855. Yellowish white, pink centre.
Banksian Roses,R. Banksiæ.
Alba.Kerr, 1807. Small double white.
Lutea.Royal Horticultural Soc., 1824. Small double yellow.
Fortunei. (Hybrid) white, large double flowers.
Sinica Roses,R. SinicaorLævigata.
Sinica (Species). The Cherokee rose. Single white, yellow stamens.
Sinica Anemone.F. Schmidt, 1895. Single, silvery pink, shaded rose.
Boursault Roses,R. Alpina.
Amadis. Deep purple crimson.
Blush or Boursault Florida. Blush, large semi-single.
Elegans. Vivid crimson.
Gracilis. 1796. Bright, rosy red.
Inermis or Boursault pleine. Bright red.
Inermis Morletti.Morlet, 1883. Light, rosy pink.
The Bramble-leaved or Prairie Rose,Rosa Setigera.
Belle of Baltimore.Feast, 1803. White, shaded yellow.
Queen of the Prairies.Feast, 1803. Pink, very full.
Hybrid Musk, Summer flowering.
Madame d'Arblay. Flesh, changing to white.
The Garland. Blush, changing to white.
Hungarian Climbing Roses.
Aurelia Liffa. Scarlet crimson.
Château Leugg. Deep carmine pink.
Decoration de Geschwind. Deep violet red, white edges.
Gilda. Dark wine colour, shaded violet.
Mercédès. Carmine, lilac, pink.
Meteor. Carmine red, bright shading.
Souvenir de Brood. Flat shape, full, purple or violet.
Hybrid China and Bourbon.
Acidalie.Rousseau, 1838. White.
Blairii, No. 2.Blair, 1845. Blush pink, rose centre.
Brennus or Brutus. Deep carmine.
Charles Lawson.Lawson, 1853. Very bright crimson.
Chenédolé. Light vivid crimson.
Coupe d'Hébé.Laffay, 1840. Vivid rose, shaded.
Fulgens. Bright crimson.
Madame Plantier. Pure white, very fine.
Paul Ricaut.Portemer, 1845. Brilliant carmine.
Paul's Carmine Pillar.Paul & Son, 1896. Large single carmine.
Polyantha, Rambler Roses,R. Multiflora.
Aglaia.Lambert, 1896. Trusses of canary yellow.
Bar le Duc.Soupert et Notting, 1907. Clear brick-red, reverse of petals bright copper.
Blush Rambler.B. R. Cant, 1903. Large clusters of soft blush flowers.
Bordeaux.Soupert et Notting, 1908. Claret colour, very fine.
Claire Jacquier.Bernaix, 1888. Nankeen yellow.
Crimson Rambler.Turner, 1893. Bright crimson.
Crimson Rambler ne plus ultra.Weigand, 1905. Bright, deep crimson.
Daniel Lacombe.Allard, 1886. Chamois yellow, turning to white.
Electra.Veitch, 1900. Lemon, shaded orange and white.
Euphrosyne.Lambert, 1896. Pinkish rose, small double flowers.
Frau Lina Strassheim.Strassheim, 1907. Salmon red and flesh, very large clusters.
Goldfinch.Paul & Son, 1907. Deep golden buds, opening pale yellow, shaded violet and white.
Gruss an Zabern.Lambert, 1904. Large trusses, snow white.
Hélène.Lambert, 1897. Pale mauve with yellow base.
Kathleen.Wm. Paul & Son, 1907. Single, soft carmine-rose, white eye.
Leuchstern.Schmidt, 1899. Bright rose, large white eye.
Mrs. F. W. Flight.Cutbush, 1905. Bright pink.
Philadelphia Rambler.Walsh, 1903. Much like Crimson Rambler; said to be mildew proof.
Psyche.Paul & Son, 1899. Pale rosy pink, salmon yellow base.
Queen Alexandra.Veitch, 1901. Rich rose colour.
Rubin.Schmidt, 1900. Deep crimson, fine reddish foliage.
Stella.Soupert et Notting.Vivid carmine, stamens forming a golden star on white centre.
Tausendschön.Schmidt, 1906. Pink turning to bright rose, sweet-scented.
Taunusblümchen.Weigand, 1906. Pink fragrant flowers like Crimson Rambler.
Thalia.Lambert, 1896. Small double white flowers in cluster.
Thalia. Perpetual flowering, pure white.
The Dawson Rose.Dawson, 1898. Pale rose.
The Lion.Paul & Son, 1900. Single flowers, vivid crimson.
Trier.Lambert, 1904. Creamy white.
Wallflower.Paul & Son, 1901. Light crimson flowers.
Waltham Bride.Wm. Paul & Son.Pure white.
Waltham Rambler.Wm. Paul & Son.Single, rosy pink, pale centre.
Wichuraiana Roses.
Albéric Barbier.Barbier, 1901. Creamy white, canary centre, tea scent.
Auguste Barbier.Barbier, 1901. Violet lilac, white centre.
Débutante.Walsh, 1902. Large clusters, soft pink, very fragrant.
Dorothy Perkins.Jackson & Perkins, 1901. Bright rose pink, large clusters.
Edmond Proust.Barbier, 1903. Pink, centre shaded carmine.
Elisa Robichon.Barbier, 1903. Salmon buff, base of petals yellow.
Evangeline.Walsh, 1906. Large single flowers, white, tipped pink.
Evergreen Gem.Manda, 1900. Buff changing to white, double.
François Foucard.Barbier, 1902. Yellow, turning creamy white.
Gardenia.Manda, 1899. Bright yellow in bud, changing to cream.
Hiawatha.Walsh, 1905. Single, bright crimson, white eye.
Jersey Beauty.Manda, 1899. Single, pale yellow, bright yellow stamens.
Lady Gay.Walsh, 1905. Deep rose pink, large clusters.
Lady Godiva.Paul & Son, 1907. Pale flesh pink, sport fromDorothy Perkins.
Manda's Triumph.Manda, 1897. Pure white, double.
May Queen.Manda, 1899. Coral red, large flowers.
Minnehaha.Walsh, 1907. Satin pink, double, large clusters.
Paradise.Walsh, 1907. Single, pink and white.
Paul Transon.Barbier, 1902. Large panicles, double rose, tea rose scent.
Pink Pearl. Buds deep pink, changing to pearly pink.
Pink Roamer.Manda, 1899. Bright rose, white eye, semi-double.
René André.Barbier, 1901. Creamy white, yellow centre, tea scented.
Rubra.Barbier, 1900. Single, bright red, white centre.
Ruby Queen. Brilliant carmine, large clusters, double.
South Orange Perfection.Manda, 1899. Clear rose.
The Farquhar.Farquhar, 1904. Pale rose turning white.
Universal Favorite.Manda, 1899. Porcelain rose.
CLIMBING ROSES—AUTUMN FLOWERING
Whilemany of the beautiful roses enumerated in the last chapter are indispensable in our gardens for covering pillars, arches, screens, walls, fences and pergolas, an end comes all too soon to their flowering season. And when it comes we feel the need of other climbers to carry on the succession of blossom until the frosts cut all off. A pergola, for instance, planted with nothing but summer flowering roses, is but a sorry sight in August and September. While if we have been wise, and have made a judicious mixture of these and perpetual roses, it remains a delight till November.
For vigorous climbers of this second section none excel
The Noisette Rose,R. Noisettiana.
This invaluable race was originated by M. Philippe Noisette in America, by fertilizing the Musk rose,R. Moschata, with the Common Blush China,R. Indica(not the Blush Tea rose,R. Indica Odorata). In 1817 he sent the "Blush Noisette" to his brother M. Louis Noisette, a well-known nurserymanin Paris. And its advent was hailed with enthusiasm by all rose-lovers in France; for it was recognized as a new break in climbing roses. In this, and in many of the seedlings which were raised from it, the influence of its Musk rose parent was very strong, the flowers being borne in large clusters, and fragrant with its delicious musky scent. But as time went on, crossings with Tea roses somewhat changed one of the early characteristics of the Noisette, and it approached more closely to the Tea rose—bearing flowers singly—instead of in the large clusters characteristic of the Musk rose.
Aimée Vibert(Vibert, 1828) is one of those early Noisettes which holds its own everywhere. But how seldom do we see that most vigorous and most fragrant of all,Jaune Desprez(Desprez, 1828). Grown against a west wall here, it covered a space some 20 × 20 feet in three years, throwing laterals, five feet and more long every summer; and from the ends of these in late autumn the great heads of bloom hang down, filling the whole air with fragrance; in one cluster alone I have counted seventy-two blossoms, soft sulphur, salmon, and red. This variety, and the beautiful whiteLamarque(Maréchal, 1830), both need the shelter of a wall in a warm, dry position.
That singularly beautiful roseFortune's YelloworBeauty of Glazenwood(Fortune, 1845), which is classed among the Noisettes, though it has nothingbut its beauty in common with them—for it is not perpetual, and its foliage is quite different from theirs—also requires a very dry, warm situation, when,if it is never pruned, it will flower abundantly. I have a plant on a very dry border at the S.W. corner of my house, which has scrambled up to the eaves and is now making efforts to reach the chimneys. The reason that this rose so often fails to bear blossoms is, that being an untidy grower it is pruned. And any one who has once tried to do so should be glad to know that pruning is as fatal to the rose as to the unhappy pruner, for it is armed with the most cruel prickles, like small fish-hooks, of any member of the rose tribe. The flowers, like those of the Banksia roses, being borne on the small twigs growing from the laterals of the second year, any pruning which destroys these destroys all chance of blossom. And this rule holds good with most of the Noisettes.
Ophirie(Goubault, 1841), with its rather small nankeen and copper-red flowers and glossy leaves, is also glad of a little shelter. While the delightfulCéline Forestier(Trouillard, 1842) will flourish in almost any situation, though it prefers a wall.
Later on, the influence of crossings between the Noisette and the pure Tea instead of the China rose, is very evident in such superb roses asMaréchal Niel,L'Idéal,Wassily Chludoff—an admirable rose, by the way—the invaluableRêve d'Or, which seldombears a cluster of more than three flowers, and others. But though that universal favourite,William Allen Richardson, is, alas! scentless, its habit has more in common with the Noisettes.Rêve d'Oris one of the most useful and hardy of the race, a rampant grower, with buff yellow blossoms borne in immense numbers both in summer and autumn, while its rich red shoots and reddish-green foliage make it a beautiful object before and after it blooms. It strongly resents any pruning beyond shortening its vigorous summer shoots.
Noisette. WILLIAM ALLEN RICHARDSON.Noisette.WILLIAM ALLEN RICHARDSON.
Noisette.WILLIAM ALLEN RICHARDSON.
Among the Hybrid Noisettes—i.e.those crossed with the Hybrid perpetual—Boule de Neige, a dwarf, andMadame Alfred Carrière, a rampant climber, are the best. The latter is certainly one of the best white climbing roses we have, its white blossoms, which some liken to the porcelain roses manufactured abroad, are borne singly on the stalks, and last long in water, while it is never out of flower from June to November.
The Musk Rose,R. Moschata,
seed parent of the Noisette, is perhaps more widely spread than any other rose over the face of the earth. From Madeira through Africa and Persia to Far Cathay it blooms, and sheds its delicious musky scent in the evening air. That it has been prized in the West for centuries we know—for Shakespeare's Titania promises the ass to "stick Musk roses in thysleek smooth head." Hakluyt says that "Of later times was procured out of Italy the Muske rose plant." And Bacon declares that while the white double Violet is the sweetest of all, "next to that is the Musk rose."
The original Musk rose bearing large bunches of single white flowers, is now seldom seen except in very old gardens where it attains a great size. Mr. Rivers, in theAmateur's Rose Guide, 1843, says that "Olivier who travelled in the first six years of the French Republic, mentions a rose tree at Ispahan, called the 'Chinese Rose Tree,' fifteen feet high, formed by the union of several stems, each four or five inches in diameter. Seeds from this tree were sent to Paris, and produced the common Musk Rose." But wherever it can be found it should be cherished for the sake of its scent, which is strongest in the evening, especially after rain, filling the whole air with its fragrance.
Himalayicais a fine single white form of Moschata; and so isNivea, a large single variety from Nepaul, white, tinged with pink. Of the double and semi-double hybrids, theFringed Musk, a very old favourite still in cultivation,Rivers' Musk, pink, shaded buff, and the charmingPrincesse de Nassau, straw colour and very sweet, are all good roses, coming into flower very late in the season, and lasting on through the autumn. For pillars they are excellent subjects.
Madame d'ArblayandThe Garlandare hybrids of the Musk rose, which only bloom in summer.
The Himalayan Briar,Rosa Brunonis,
is sometimes classed with the Musk roses: but this is an error, as it is a distinct species, and is also only summer flowering. With its double variety, it is a beautiful rose for pillar, arch, or pergola; the white flowers are very sweet and borne in clusters. But it should be planted where it can get plenty of sun to ripen the wood.
The Macartney Rose,R. bracteata,
was brought from China in 1795 by Lord Macartney. The handsome shiny evergreen foliage and large solitary white flowers with a mass of golden stamens, make it a beautiful object. It does best, as do its hybrids, on a wall in a warm dry position: but it will not flower until it is thoroughly established.Maria Leonidais a hybrid of the early nineteenth century, very beautiful when its very full white flowers, slightly flushed in the centre with pink, open properly. But they need plenty of sun and a sheltered position to do so in perfection.Rosa LucidaandLucida plenaare two rose-coloured hybrids with handsome reddish foliage.
With the Noisettes, Musk, and Macartney roses, we have only touched the fringe of autumn flowering climbers. And three most important classes remain to be noticed. These are—
Climbing Hybrid Perpetuals, Teas, and Hybrid Teas.
Among the Hybrid Perpetuals there are several line climbing roses, as well as climbing sports of well-known dwarfs, which are valuable to this class. While roses of specially vigorous growth, but not usually counted as climbers, such asMagna Charta,Margaret Dickson,Pierre Notting, and others, make admirable pillars.
But it is among the Tea and Hybrid Tea roses that we find our richest harvest of autumn flowering climbers. Some of these are pure climbers, such as the nobleGloire de Dijonand its descendants; andCheshunt Hybrid,Reine Marie Henriette,Reine Olga de Wurtemberg,Belle Lyonnaise, etc. Many of these and others do grandly as tall standards, making fine heads covered with bloom. And many more can be grown as isolated bush roses, planted out singly with plenty of space round them.Gruss an Teplitz,Gustave Régis,Mme. Jules Gravereaux, the exquisiteLady Waterlow, and Cooling'sApple Blossom, are specially suited to this form of growth.
In the following lists of these three groups of roses, I have, for convenience sake, placed Teas and Hybrid Teas together.
Noisette Roses,R. Noisettiana.
Aimée Vibert.Vibert, 1828. White, climbing; there is also a dwarf form.
Alister Stella Gray.Gray, 1895. Pale yellow, orange centre.
Bouquet d'Or.Ducher, 1873. Pale yellow, centre copper.
Céline Forestier.Trouillard, 1842. Pale yellow.
Cloth of Gold.Coquereau, 1843. Golden yellow, sulphur edges.
Crépuscule.Dubreuil, 1905. Rich copper yellow and nasturtium red.
Fellenberg.Fellenberg, 1857. Rosy crimson, suitable for a dwarf wall, or pillar.
Fortune's Yellow.Fortune, 1845. Orange yellow, shaded metallic red, summer flowering.
Jaune Desprez.Desprez, about 1825. Buff, pink, sulphur and red, variable.