top of page

A Chat with Deryn Thorpe - Heritage Roses: The Beauty & History of Old World Roses

written by Jan Eastman | Chair PRHRiA

In October, Lyn Chapman and I were invited to speak with journalist, garden consultant and avid gardener Deryn Thorpe. We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with Deryn, talking about the history of heritage roses and talking about our favourite old roses. We are so grateful to Deryn for inviting us, so that we could share our passion and help to preserve the interest in heritage roses. The link to the podcast is HERE.


Deryn produced a summary list of some of the roses we spoke about, and you can read this below. We have supplied pictures of some of the mentioned roses, for your added enjoyment! (Image credits Jan Eastman, Seamus Johnson, Melisa Hillman, Billy West, and Di Durston).


WILD OR SPECIES ROSES

Banksia roses


EARLY EUROPEAN ROSES

Damask Roses

"Quatre Saisons"

  • originated in the Middle East, no date given

  • intense perfume

  • flowers in clusters and along the canes which have spikey prickles


"Isaphan"

  • originated in the MIddle East

  • Pre 1832

  • spring flowering only

"Old Blush"


CHINA ROSES

"Mutabilis"

  • single blooms changing from buff flowers to pink and dark pink

  • tangerine buds

  • flowers resemble butterflies

  • early 1900



BOURBON ROSES

"Variegata de Bologna"

  • introduced in Italy in 1909

  • parentage is unknown

  • flowers resemble mulberries and cream

  • spring flowering only but for a long period


"Mme Ernst Calvat"

  • Introduced in France in 188

  • sport of Mme Isaac Pereire

  • Jan's Mme Ernst Calvat is on the west side of the house and climbs along structures against the fence


"Souvenir de la Malmaision"

  • rose named for the Empress Josephine's house

  • pale pink, fragrant, multi petals

  • rambling style growth habit


"Souvenir de St Anne's"

  • white flowers



TEA ROSES

"Mrs B.R Cant"

  • UK 1901

  • large bush

  • mid to dark pink


"Safrano"

  • released in France in 1839

  • soft apricot and fades lighter

  • prune to shape but not too hard


Lyn's favourites are the Bird Children roses that were found on the graves of the Bird children


ALISTER CLARK ROSES

Australian bred

"Sunlit"

  • hybrid tea

  • apricot or apricot blend



"Restless"

  • hybrid tea

  • tall shrub

  • velvety red semi double blooms

NOISETTES

"Reve d'Or"

  • France 1869

  • vigorous



"Blush Noisette"

  • France 1814

  • clusters of small blooms

  • climbs on a pole on the edge of Jan's patio

"Crepuscule"

  • small apricot blooms

  • floriferous

  • can be used as a shrub rose or small climber

  • very popular because it never stops flowering


CLIMBING TEAS

Comtesse de Labarthe (aka Duchess de Brabant)

  • France 1857

  • bush or climber

  • mid pink flowers in abundance which have nodding heads


"Devoniensis"

  • UK 1838

  • bush or climber

"Maman Cochet

France 1892

bush or climber


WHERE TO SEE HERITAGE ROSES

Private gardens, Araluen Botanic Park, Falls Farm in Lesmurdie, Stirling Square in Guildford, Pinjarra Heritage Rose Garden, Koja Place in Kojonup for Alister Clark and other Australian bred roses. All these place are in WA


WHY WE LOVE THESE OLD ROSES

  • growth habit from controlled to rambling

  • varied flowers from single petalled

  • stamens

  • full double

  • globular

  • tiny blooms to large

  • colours -white to deep purples

  • fragrance

PRUNING

  • spring flowering only - after flowering

  • others - July and August

  • rule take out dead, diseased and deformed

  • bushes - take off one third

36 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
bottom of page