Top Ten Old Roses

Repeat flowering old Rose varieties do what it says in their name however the first 5 in my Top Ten only flower once per year but still inspire.

The Gallicas are probably the oldest of all garden roses forming short bushy shrubs, many of which are quite suitable for small gardens. They were grown by the Greeks and Romans then bred in 17th century by the Dutch and French.
Among them are some very fine roses with magnificent mixtures of colour particularly among the crimson, purple and mauve shades. They have beautiful flower formation with open upright blossom which shows the yellow stamens
All of the Gallicas are once blooming and most have very good fragrances. Tuscany variety is an almost black purple may be the oldest surviving Gallica from pre 1596.

Damask roses are another very old group, said to have originally been brought from the Middle East by the Crusaders.
The Damask Rose is a deciduous shrub growing to 7 ft tall, the stems densely armed with stout, curved prickles and stiff bristles. The elegant growth, with nicely cut foliage and fragrant flowers held in open airy bunches

Albas as a class dates back to the Middle Ages. Their flowers are restricted to pink, blush and white with grey-green foliage.
Albas are among the hardiest of roses, requiring the minimum of attention and thriving under the most difficult conditions including partial shade. They are almost completely disease free and need little pruning.

Centifolia roses often known as ‘The Provence Roses’ form lax, open shrubs with many thorns and rather coarse leaves. The flowers are normally large, globular and very fragrant but have a tendency to hang their heads with the weight.

Moss roses are a sport from Centifolias that have developed a moss-like growth