The classic red rose

Flower & Garden Magazine, April-May, 1996 by Molly Dean

The key feature of `Prospero,' apart from its rich purplish red color, is the exquisite form of its small, rosette-shaped flowers. Another important characteristic is the plant's compact size: a mere 3 feet by 2 feet.

`William Shakespeare,' by contrast, grows to a vigorous 6 feet. I must admit I was first drawn to this plant by its name and ordered it for my mother, who is a Shakespearean scholar. As it began to bloom, however, we were both captivated by the velvety red blossoms, flat and ruffled in appearance with a heady fragrance. The flowers appear repeatedly and abundantly.

Another noteworthy development in the world of roses comes from the House of Meilland in France in the form of easy-to-grow landscape roses. Exceptional hardiness (Zones 4 to 9), abundant blooms and a general ease of maintenance make these shrubby roses as practical as they are beautiful. Few fail to be impressed by the long-lasting, brilliant flowers of `Scarlet Meidiland.' Growing 3 to 4 feet in height, `Scarlet Meidiland' works as a mounded groundcover or a spreading shrub; it is especially lovely planted where its clustered blooms can spill over a low wall. It tolerates light shade and requires little or no pruning.

`Sevillana' (or `La Sevillana'), an excellent House of Meilland hedging shrub, produces lustrous red blossoms continuously from late spring until frost. The show then continues with a crop of bright red hips.

Red roses certainly come in many different shades, whether brilliant and shimmering as `Sevillana,' dark and purplish as `Tuscany Superb,' or even blushed with coral, as `Fragrant Cloud.' The best of the reds are impossible to surpass for sumptuous, passionate beauty. I would hate to imagine a spring or summer passing without the presence of at least one beautiful, classic red rose.

Editor's note: Sources for the roses mentioned in this article are listed on page 112.