Mail Order Catalog

Roses and the Company They Keep

Modern roses, bred for showy flowers and often grown for exhibition do not show much tolerance to companion plantings. They are often planted in straight rows like erect soldiers posing for inspection. They all look the same. Old roses have a diversity of form that lend them very well to the garden where underplanting with perennials, annuals, and existing shrubs is desired. Thus the rose is not required to be the sole provider of color, fragrance and form when used in that manner. It becomes just one of a variety of plants in the overall palate that the gardener uses to create his garden masterpiece. In this way, when the roses are in bloom, the garden is beautiful, but even when not in bloom, the garden is beautiful. A diversity of plants in a garden scheme ensures continuity of beauty over time and reduces the burden of any one plant to be perfect at all times. This concept is "having a garden with roses" as opposed to "having a rose garden". The herb garden was probably the first such garden to utilize roses. R. gallica officinalis , the ‘Apothecary Rose’, was a companion to fragrant herbs within the enclosed walls of medieval monastery gardens. Roses, like the herbs, were used for medicinal purposes. Attar of roses, rose water, essence distilled from herbs, were all used to treat ailments of the body.Today’s integrated herb gardens are a perfect blend of beauty and function. Herbs can ward off insects and provide contrast of texture and color for the roses.

2008 Fantin Latour 4 to 6 feet. Z4-11 O/Fr/lp Cnt

802 General Jacqueminot 4 to 6 feet. Z5-11 R/Fr/rb HPer

619 Gipsy Boy 3 to 5 feet. Z6-11 O/Fr/dr Brb

2221 GeorgetownTea EK 4 to 6 feet. Z7-11 R/Fr/pb Fnd

1608 GrahamThomas® 5 to 8 feet. Z5-11 R/Fr/H/my Shrb

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Large Shrub Roses