Book Review: Antique Roses for the South

On the West Coast, hybrid tea roses make a beautiful addition to the landscape.

On the Gulf coast, they usually die from rampant fungal disease, thanks to our subtropical humidity.

Never fear, rose lovers! There are roses that do grow here. Some of these grow so well that they survive literally decades of neglect, once established.

I refer, of course, to "antique roses". These are varieties that have been around so  long that they are, well, antique. They are tough and beautiful. If you need a good introduction to them, William C. Welch's Antique Roses for the South is a worthwhile place to start.

Welch is clearly enthusiastic about his subject matter, and is eagerness comes through so well in the text that it is rather catching.   The book includes the history of old roses, tips for collecting them and placing them in your landscape, descriptions of different categories to aid recognition, tips for rooting cuttings, and a few profiles of specific varieties. It even includes a chapter on things to do with clipped roses, from arranged bouquets to recipes for potpourri and rose petal jelly.  Of course, there are plenty of beautiful photographs to provide the reader with inspiration.

This slim volume is not a catalog of every variety of antique rose ever found.   It is meant, rather, to provide introductory material to a reader who is new to the world of antique rose collecting and cultivation. You will still want to talk to a knowledgeable person at your local nursery (preferably one that carries antique roses) about the maintenance of certain varieties, especially if you are purchasing plants. Some are hardier than others. Martha Gonzalez, for example, is frustratingly prone to blackspot.  The good news for those who catch the hunting and collecting bug from reading this book is that cuttings from a rose that has survived for 100 years in a neglected cemetery have a good chance of surviving lazy gardening, once they are established.


In short, if one is new to old roses,  it is a worthy addition to one's gardening library. It might even look nice on the coffee table.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Time to prune those roses! (And other shrubs)

Photo by Aaron. Used with permission.

This is also a great time for transplanting any tropical fruit or citrus trees.

Blackspot resistant roses.

Here is a list from a Purdue University website. It includes hybrid tea, florubunda, grandiflora, climbing, Rugosa hybrid, shrub, and miniature rose cultivars (including Knock-out). Some of the shrub roses listed I recognize from Antique rose lists I have seen.

Search: Drying rose seeds

I've never done this myself, but an inquiring mind wanted to know.

Here was the most succinct information I saw.

Protecting roses from freezing winter temperatures

Here are some websites with information that will help you prepare your roses for winter freezes:

Freeze protection for roses in Houston, by Donald Burger
University of Illinois Extension

Planting Knockouts

Somebody from Missouri was searching for information about how to plant double knockout roses.

As with any rose, if it is in a container, the basic procedure is to dig a hole a little bigger than the root ball, and put the rose in it. The top of the root ball should be an inch or two above the surrounding bed. Water it in, and add a layer of mulch.

For Double Knockout roses, the label recommends spacing of 3-4 feet.

Even though Knockouts in their various forms are supposed to be able to take any kind of soil conditions, I did amend the soil in my bed a bit with some organic planting mix and a little leaf mold compost. Because of the drainage issues in this area though, I did not dig my amendments in too deep. I also added a little bone meal to the bottom of the holes I dug for them, to encourage root growth. As this bed had been mulched last spring, I moved the mulch layer out of the way before planting, and put it back afterward. I may add a new layer of mulch before the cold weather really gets going. Time will tell us if they happy in their new location.

For bare root roses, which were what I preferred when I lived in California, the planting is a little more complicated, though it is not difficult. It requires that one make a cone-shaped mound of soil in the bottom of the hole, which is used to give the roots proper structure, so they can grow in the right direction after planting.

The American Rose Society has a collection of articles on planting roses that can be worth reading.

My St. Louis, Missouri visitor might want to consule the Rose Society of St. Louis Missouri or the Central District of the American Rose Society for regional information.

Houston area rose-lovers can get their regional information from the South Central District of the American Rose Society, or from the Houston Rose Society. Donald Burger also has a page on planting container roses in this region. If antique roses and organic methods are more your cup of tea, have a look at the website for the Vintage Rosery in Needville, TX.


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Read my other posts on Double Knockout roses.

Martha Gonzales Rose and Blackspot.

These are pretty plants, but they are VERY vulnerable to blackspot. I brought three of these home several weeks ago, and within days they were already showing signs of fungus. The plants are holding up relatively well, but the stress seems to be keeping them from blooming as well as they might.

I have tried using a sulfur-based Safer brand fungicide. No Dice. I guess neem oil is the next option, until I have a convenient opportunity to get my hands on some compost tea.

According to what I have read, most other antique rose varieties are resistant to fungus, which is why they generally survive pretty well in our humidity. It figures I'd pick one that isn't. I'm not giving up yet, though.

Relevant Posts from my Main Blog:

Petite beauty: Humility means Longevity for roses.

Cardinals in my Garden

Making Friends with the Natives: The Green Anole

Real June Bugs--in March!

The American Alligator (Not something you'll probably see on your property, unless it backs up to a natural water source. Interesting just the same)