The cultivation of roses began 5,000 years ago in what are now China and Iraq. Chinese roses, which bloomed more than once a year, unlike European roses, which bloomed only once annually, were introduced to Europe in the nineteenth century. An explosion of new varieties of roses ensued, as Chinese roses were crossed with their European cousins. Today, most new rose varieties are a result of the crossing of two different roses to make a new rose with different characteristics.
A number of new rose varieties are available in 2009. Some of the most interesting roses making their debuts this year include the following.
The Sunny Knock Out Rose®. A number of characteristics make Knock Out Roses® many rose growers’ favorite. They are disease resistant, long blooming (from spring to frost), frequent blooming (with a bloom cycle of every five to six weeks), very hardy, and easy to grow. The latest addition to the Knock Out Rose® family is the Sunny Knock Out Rose®. It is the first yellow Knock Out Rose® ever and, reportedly, it is the most fragrant of the Knock Outs®.
Rock and Roll Grandiflora Rose. Grandiflora roses generally are tall and elegant with clustered blooms, and they are considered to be ideal for cutting. The new Rock and Roll Grandiflora Rose may be named for its rocking, rolling riot of colors. Its cream-colored buds open to large (four to six inches across) blooms that are splashed with dramatic slashes of red, white, pink and burgundy, making for a stunning and audacious floral show.
Cinco de Mayo Floribunda Rose. Floribundas are known for their long-blooming clusters of flowers. Cinco de Mayo, which is an All-American Rose Selections® (AARS) winner for 2009, produces large clusters of many-petaled blooms in multiple shades of red, pink, orange, and mauve. The riot of color and layers of petals give the Cinco de Mayo the look of a brightly colored, festive party dress, making it a fun addition to any garden.
Pink Promise Hybrid Tea Rose. Hybrid tea roses are considered the most popular roses in the world. They generally produce one blossom on each stem rather than clusters of flowers and are repeat bloomers. They have long, strong stems, which makes them perfect for cutting. One of the newest hybrid tea roses is the Pink Promise. It is an AARS ® pick for 2009 and has been chosen by the National Breast Cancer Foundation as its official rose. A portion of the purchase price of each Pink Promise Rose plant is contributed to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support its programs. Pink Promise’s exquisite, large blooms come in shades of soft pink, set off against lush, dark foliage.
Carefree Spirit Shrub Rose. The Carefree Spirit, a 2009 AARS ® pick, is a shrub rose with large clusters of lovely single-petaled cherry red blooms with white centers. It is a prolific bloomer and disease resistant.
Sources:
www.icons.org.uk, Rose Breeding- The Rose – Icons of England
www.greatgardenplants.com, Sunny Knock Out Rose® – New for 2009
www.conard-pyle.com, The Knock Out ® Family of Roses
www.jacksonandperkins.com, Jackson & Perkins, Cinco de Mayo Floribunda Rose
gardening.about.com, Hybrid Tea Roses
www.jungseed.com, Rock & Roll Grandifloria Rose
www.rose.org/winning-roses, AARS Winners
