Gertrude Stein once wrote in a poem, “A rose is just a rose is just a rose.” But as much as I hate to quarrel with Ms. Stein, in this case I must politely disagree.
Rose, Rosa: “Poets’ Muse”
This woody, perennial flower is a popularity-contest champion; with more than 100 species and thousands of cultivars, roses come in as many varieties and colors as there are poems written about them—which is saying a lot.
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
David Austin’s ‘The Prince’ is an English shrub rose.
“Flowers at first the deepest, richest crimson imaginable, but quickly turning to an equally rich royal purple not to be confused with the sometimes jarring purples of many modern roses,” says breeder David Austin.
‘Pat Austin’, another rose bred by David Austin, can be trained as either a shrub or a climber.
Photograph by Tom Kubik for Gardenista.
From the Freedom Roses you can buy at the local grocery store (and cherish for less than a week before the poor things start to go bald) to endangered and heritage species such as the German Tausendschon with its rambling, neon pink and white clusters, there is a wide selection of roses suited to each region.
Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.
Samantha Greenwood grows more than 80 varieties of roses in her garden in northern California. Be careful to choose the right kind for your climate, or you might catch a case of bad vibes, or worse yet, stems without buds.
Roses in bloom in Brooklyn.
Photograph by Marie Viljoen for Gardenista.
You can certainly grow roses from scratch, but at least consider getting a head start with a transplant. For more of our favorite (and highly perfumed) roses, see.
Keep It Alive
Photograph by Erin Boyle.