Michael Marriott said in his beautiful book simply titled ROSES… A deliciously fragrant rose has the wonderful ability to both calm us down and raise our spirits. (Book info here.)
Roses are beloved and have stood the test of time for many reasons but there’s one reason that stands out among the rest – her fragrance. Seems everyone knows what to do when you hand them a rose – put the rose to their nose! I always hope they find at least a bit of fragrance to enjoy. But sometimes their beauty gets to shine on it’s own and it can!
One of my earliest memories is a fragrance in my great grandmothers hedgerow. I didn’t identify that fragrant memory until I started growing Rugosa roses. Her hedge was thick with many things but I’m quite sure there were Rugosas or a similar rose in the mix!
Oh the fragrance!
TYPES OF ROSE FRAGRANCE
The are many variations of rose fragrance. I’ve always thought I was a basic Old Rose fragrance lover but I’m finding I really like those with the more fruity notes – like in the case of Eustacia Vye! She is considered “strong fruity.” Michael Marriott, one of the world’s leading rose experts – especially when it comes to rose fragrance has a wonderful article that breaks down the different rose fragrances. Read here.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH ROSES
It’s easy to fall in love with roses. I fall in love with roses for many reasons … sometimes it’s her story. Many roses have fascinating stories/legends surrounding them. And then there’s her beauty – few can resist. I also look for health, bloomability and vase life. I so appreciate a healthy power bloomer in the garden!
CURRENT QUEST…
The past couple of years I have been on a quest to specifically add roses with scent to my garden. And each year I find there are more and more options!! I am so grateful for the hard work of all our hybridizers. They are bringing healthy, power bloomers with fragrance our way! 🎉 Breeding a fragrant rose is a tricky process so it’s indeed time to celebrate when all the attributes of our beloved flower are together in one beautiful package! 🎉
FACEBOOK GROUP WEIGHS IN
I asked members of the Rose Chat Facebook group to list their most fragrant roses. Here are some of the top responses…
- Double Delight
- Fragrant Cloud
- Quietness
- Gertrude Jekyll
- Beverly
- Savannah
- Summer Romance
- Bolero
- Pope John Paul II
- Perfume Delight
- Hansa
- Scentuous
- Rose de Rescht
THE MOST FRAGRANT ROSES IN MY GARDEN
- Savannah (Kordes/Star)
- Eustacia Vye (DA)
- Quietness (Dr. Buck)
- Scentuous (Tantau/Certified)
- Reminiscent Pink (PW)
- Bliss Parfuma (PW)
- Apricot Flavorette (PW)
- Gabriel Oak (DA)
- Lady of Shallot (DA)
- Bathsheba (DA/Climber)
- Vanessa Bell (DA)
- Moonlight Romantica
- Sweet Fragrance (Easy Elegance/Ping Lim)
- Music Box (Easy Elegance/PingLim)
- Crown Princess Margareta (DA)
- RUGOSAS:
- Roseraie De’l Hay
- Hansa
- Therese Bugnet
- OLD GARDEN ROSES:
- Kazanlik (Damask)
- Ispahan (Damask)
- Madam Hardy (Damask)
- Celsiana (Damask)
NEW ROSES I ADDED THIS YEAR FOR FRAGRANCE
- Kiss Me Kate (Climber)
- Bolero
- Chantilly Cream
- Top Cream
- Cream Veranda
- Sweet Mademoiselle
All have proven to be quite fragrant and to be good growers! I’m very, very pleased!
If there is a standout in this group for the moment, it is Chantilly Cream (Link). The fragrance is outstanding and it is a blooming machine in it’s first year! I’ve also noticed she lasts and lasts in a vase! Well done Christian Bedard of Weeks Roses on this one!
SOURCES FOR BUYING ROSES
High Country Roses and Heirloom Roses are good sources for many of these roses and they ship most of the year. Here is a blog post I wrote that lists other sources….
ROSE CHAT PODCASTS ON FRAGRANCE
FRAGRANT ROSES with Matt Douglas: High Country Roses
THE FRAGRANCE OF ROSES With Rebecca Koraytem: David Austin Roses
ON THE ROAD
The last month has taken me far far from my garden to spend some glorious time with family and friends.
In my absence I had a wonderful team who took great care to see the garden was well watered. I have the best friends!! It helped that we had one of the wettest Julys on record – so that they weren’t tooooo overworked!!
England was cold and rainy for most of our trip. The cool spring contributed to roses blooming later than normal. YAY for me. I was able to enjoy the end of the first bloom cycle while I was there. However, there was a flower that was sharing in the seasonal glory though … the Hollyhocks. Oh my. I love them too!
BLOOM THYME
My garden has surely benefitted from all the rain we’ve gotten this summer!
TIME IS FLYING
I suspect you are like me and can’t believe it’s August. Time sure flies when you are having fun! This has certainly been a fun filled summer!
Stay cool friends and enjoy all the beauty the latter part of summer can bring. And you know… sometimes roses save the best for last!
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Melody Parfumme GF fragrant ! Lasts in vase a few days if cut early. Very photogenic though. Love the article because fragrance is what lingers 💕
Melody Parfuma sounds lovely! I must check it out. Have a wonderful day! ❣️
So glad you have had rain. Here in Central VA we are in a severe drought!!! 8″ deficit with high temps into the 100F for weeks, and high humidity! My lawn is toast! With a well, I struggle to keep my landscape with water from the dehumidifier!!! Mother Nature is not my pal this year.
Oh my!!! So very sorry you are having drought and such high temps! Praying rain will come soon! Take care!
Must it be fragrant? My favorites are hybrid tea roses. They were still very popular when I was a kid, although not particularly fragrant. Of them, my favorite is ‘John F. Kennedy’.
I agree John F Kennedy is a beautiful rose like so many of that era!!
Experts were not so keen on it because of the potential for thin red streaks. I do not remember that being much of a problem. A few flowers were streaked, but most were not. I prefer the floral form, which is more like that of a red rose than a white rose. It is not closely related to more popular white roses.
Many of Gene Boerner roses were beautiful. I hear great reports about Keith Zary’s Pope John Paul II. A white fav for many. Have you ever grown that one?
Yes, but I was not as impressed by its typical ‘white’ floral form. It lacked the high center of ‘John F. Kennedy’. It had a flatter top and frillier texture. It is an excellent rose nonetheless. I just prefer ‘John F. Kennedy’.
Savannah has amazing fragrance which is great but it also has the most gorgeous foliage A Savannah bloom was reserve champion in a local county fair.
I totally agree! I have 3 and they are so healthy and beautiful AND FRAGRANT! Yesterday I made a bokay for a friend and Savannah was my focal flower! 💐
I also focused on adding fragrance this year. I have several of the ones you mentioned but Cathedral Bells is another one with great fragrance and good vase life. Only had 2 months but it’s been heathy and blooming frequently.
I’ve thought about that one. So glad to have your good report!! Thank you! 💐