PERTH REGION OF HERITAGE ROSES IN AUSTRALIA
What is a Heritage Rose? Where can I get one?
The rose was thought to originate before 2000 BC, and many centuries later this seductive flower has continued to enchant and enthrall passion in millions of rosarians all over the world. In Australia, many rose associations have researched, identified, and then propagated, preserved and conserved historic roses throughout Australia.
Heritage Roses are simply old historic roses that were bred 75 years ago or more. You have possibly seen them many times and not given them a thought - trailing over old fences, surviving in the neglected gardens of old abandoned homesteads, and almost always in a country town cemetery. Heritage roses are categorised into two distinct groups - roses that flower only once per year known as Once-flowering, and roses that are Repeat Flowerers.
The need to preserve Heritage Roses is highlighted by groups like ours, who adopt public gardens and maintain the heritage roses and historic garden beds within them. Most members of rose societies and associations have significant heritage rose collections within their own private gardens, and some of these can be visited by the public. Click HERE for more information about the public and private gardens where you may view Heritage Roses in the Perth area.
"The more you focus on the beauty of Roses, the more invisible their thorns become"
Bruce Mbanzabugabo
The World of Heritage Roses is, understandably, full of Passion! Like many Rose Societies throughout the world, PRHRiA have members that collect, grow, propagate, share and study Heritage Roses to ensure the perpetuity of these Old World Roses in the Public Domain.
There are several ways we actively strive to preserve and conserve these Old World Roses - through our involvement in caring for Public Gardens; private propagating programmes; education through our monthly meetings and guest speaker programme; this informative website; and through the publication of a stunning resource book, published in 2008 (find out about the writing of the book HERE.)
Below you will discover some gorgeous roses, with a brief description. If you would like to know more about any of the roses, please EMAIL us, or SUBSCRIBE and start a conversation in a post in the FORUM.
Maman Cochet
TEA ROSE
Mamam Cochet is a Tea Rose bred in France by Scipion Cochet in 1892. This is the climbing variety and is a vigorous rose, but when in full flower as it is now it is a magnificent sight. Mine climbs up a fence and over an arch where you enter a shed, and wherever else if you don't stop her.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Rose Hedge Cottage Pink
FOUND TEA ROSE
Rose Hedge Cottage Pink is a found Tea rose which is found in Western Australia in several locations, and features in the new ‘Mystery Roses of the Australian Tea-Noisette-China Collection’ book by Margaret Furness of Heritage Roses in Australia Inc. I was lucky enough to receive a cutting from a friend and the cutting took and is now growing in my garden. It is constant flowering and grows to a large bush.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Stanwell Perpetual
TRUE OLD ROSE
Stanwell Perpetual 1838 is one of those roses I can never get enough of, and when it is fresh and new in Spring time, I cannot help continuing to photograph it! It is a repeat flowerer, and has little cupped blooms that are full of quilled petals, and the scent is so beautiful. It is such a hardy shrub, but beware - it does have a lot thorns!
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Dupontii
SPECIES ROSE
Dupontii is a Species rose, first noted in Europe pre 1596. Parentage is possibly R, Gallica x R, moschata. Growth habit is tall and bushy, with sweet single blooms, then red hips.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Mutabilis
CHINA ROSE
Mutabalis a China rose introduced in 1932, but certainly much older. An interesting single rose changing in tones from buds to full blown, from yellows, buffs and pinks. Also known as the Butterfly rose as it flutters in the wind on the bush
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Etoile de Lyon
TEA ROSE
Etoile de Lyon is a Tea Rose by breeder Guillot Fils, France 1881. This is a prolific flowerer and is great in any garden.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Buff Beauty
HYBRID MUSK OLD ROSE
Buff Beauty is a Hybrid Musk rose introduced in the UK in 1939 by Bentall. It’s one of the best Hybrid Musks with large clusters of double buff-yellow flowers and fragrant. Mine is a standard and more like a tree, and is about 25 years old. Loads of deadwood and not-looking-so good branches were taken out at pruning time, and it has come back amazing.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Indian Summer
OLD TEA ROSE
Indian Summer is an amazing Old Tea Rose that is blooming so well at the moment (early June 2022, Western Australia), but as it is meant to rain I have brought her inside with me.
Jan Eastman, Chair PRHRiA
Places to Buy Heritage Roses in Perth
There are not many nurseries that still stock Heritage Roses in Western Australia. You may like to visit the following nurseries for heritage stock, and to discuss the care and maintenance of your Heritage Roses.
Mostly Roses in Newlands is a really lovely rural small farm, and worth the drive for a visit. Located near Balingup, the drive is just under 3 hours from Perth (if you stop at the Crooked Carrot on your way down!). Seamus at Mostly Roses is no longer selling roses to the public, but he may be able to assist you with root stock. However, the garden is available to view for small groups and large, only by appointment, and for a fee. Find out more about Mostly Roses and view the Gallery HERE.
Seamus Johnston, owner of Mostly Roses, with members from PRHRiA (Di Durston Tea Bag Lady in red hat)
The Swiss Rose Garden Nursery in Haynes (Armadale) is open 6 days a week and is a beautiful location for a stroll amongst the roses! They have quite a collection of Heritage Roses, view HERE.
Supreme Plants in West Swan (Swan Valley). You may find a small stock of heritage roses at this nursery, and if they are out of stock it is a nice place to ramble on a sunny morning.
Dawson's Garden World (4 metro locations). Operating since 1903, Dawsons were once the go-to for Heritage Roses. They now have a very small stock of them, and not regularly supplied. You may be lucky to find some HERE.
Places to Buy Heritage Roses in other States of Australia
For a list of nurseries in other states that sell heritage roses see the Heritage Roses in Australia Inc. website. Some interstate nurseries will send roses to WA but strict quarantine requirements mean that extra costs will be incurred.