Climbing Roses

Flower & Garden Magazine, May-June, 1997 by Doug Hall

The first roses I ever planted -- a bed of assorted hybrid teas -- enjoyed perfect health without the benefit of chemical sprays. On the arid, windy prairies of western Kansas, rose pests were infrequent visitors and rose diseases were virtually unknown. It wasn't until I moved to a moister climate that I learned how problematic roses can be.

Many rose gardeners assume that an arsenal of chemicals is a necessary evil for keeping roses healthy. It's the thought of spraying, in fact, that prevents many would-be rose gardeners from taking the plunge. Rose expert Liz Druitt offers chemical-free salvation in her latest book, The Organic Rose Garden (Taylor Publishing Co., 1996; $21; 210 pages).

Druitt's approach to growing roses will appeal to environmentally conscious gardeners. She strives to reduce maintenance -- specifically, the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides -- by providing the healthiest growing conditions possible. Early chapters of the book outline the basics of rose-growing, including soil preparation, planting and propagation; much of the advice is tailored for a Southern audience. A gallery of roses that thrive under organic care draws extensively from the old garden roses without neglecting the modern classes.

Because her emphasis is on prevention, Druitt devotes little space to problem-solving. A chapter on pests and diseases presents the standard organic remedies as well as some home-brewed concoctions. More photos -- or even basic descriptions of the pests -- would have improved this section. especially for beginning gardeners who might not be well versed in recognizing rose pests or diagnosing diseases.

The term "English roses" is applied to a group of modern roses from British hybridizer David Austin. They combine the characteristics (and genes) of old garden roses -- specifically the gallicas, damasks, portland and bourbon roses -- with modern hybrid teas and floribundas.

I like to think of the surge in popularity of David Austin's roses as a backlash against the dominance of hybrid teas, whose glamour is unmatched on the show table but awkwardly out of place in garden settings. Austin's roses possess a nostalgic look, rich fragrances and resistance to common rose diseases.

In the newly updated edition of David Austin's English Roses (Little, Brown & Co., 1996; $45; 160 pages), Austin assumes the voice of doting parent in describing his floral progeny. He guides readers through an abbreviated history of cultivated roses, leading up to his own creations, which are given lavish attention in the hook's center section. We're treated to glimpses of the genealogy behind Austin's roses. as well as guidelines for using English roses in mixed borders, beds and containers, and an entire chapter on fragrance.

Austin doesn't hesitate to play favorites among his roses. After glowing verbal portraits of varieties such as `Evelyn,' `Graham Thomas,' `Sharifa Asma' and `Gertrude Jekyll,' he lists others that he considers to have been superseded by newer, better hybrids; a few he frankly labels "inferior."

Too little attention has been given in the Americanization of this edition, however, to the performance of these roses once they leave the maritime benevolence of Britain's climate. When grown where hot summers prevail, English roses are not always the tidy shrubs that Austin describes. Some are quite lanky and undisciplined; be forewarned.

Still, English roses continue to grow in popularity among American rose gardeners, and deservedly so. This book is a valuable reference for anyone interested in creating a garden with these sumptuous, old-fashioned beauties.

When rose gardeners want to create dramatic landscaping effects, they turn to the climbing roses. The long canes of this versatile group beg to be trained against walls, braided about tripods and pillars, woven through latticework or allowed to scramble over an arch. A well-trained climber in full bloom is a spectacle of nature and art.

Climbing Roses (Macmillan General Reference, 1994; $30-. 262 pages), by Stephen Scanniello and Tania Bayard, showcases these most artistic of roses. The book devotes some space to the basics of rose care, but the rose portraits take center stage -- descriptions and photographs of 65 of the authors' favorite climbers. You won't find mention of every climbing rose in commerce here; instead, Scanniello and Bayard focus on the varieties they consider to be the best. Their picks include not only traditional climbing roses, but also roses from be other classes that can be coaxed into vigorous upward growth.

Climbing roses display range of growth habits, blooming characteristic and hardiness. Where other books might generalize, Scanniello and Bayard include specific tips for pruning and training each variety. This is the kind of advice that comes only from years of experience in growing roses; indeed, Scanniello is rosarian at the Cranford Rose Garden of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Climbing Roses shows a degree of thoroughness and expertise that is often lacking in books aimed at home gardeners.