Small Trees and Shrubs
As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, “There are many trees that by pruning can be made to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by different pruning may be made to produce medium-sized trees.”
Roses Rosa spp.
For millennia, roses have beguiled humans. The first cultivation of these
flowers dates back more than 5000 years in China. Fossil records suggest
that roses may have been around for more than 30 million years. Regarded as
the
ultimate icon of love, grace, beauty and elegance, roses continue to be
the
subject of art and poetry across the world.
Leaves, petals, hips and roots all have medicinal properties. Rose hips
(fruits) are rich in vitamin C and make a wonderful “rose
apple”
jam; rose-petal elixir calms the nerves and lifts the spirit.
Each year, we aim to offer a diverse selection of unusual and antique
varieties. Unlike hybrid tea roses, these roses are all vigorous, cold
hardy and
on their own roots. The antique varieties grow slowly compared to newer
hybrids
and tend to be more difficult to propagate. You may notice when you
receive your
order that some of these roses have small root systems and little top
growth.
Don’t be alarmed by this—it’s just the nature of these
old
varieties. We can attest that they perform just as well as the others.
If roots
are tangled, cut them back to 6" or so and spread them out in the
planting
hole.
Roses are native to temperate regions throughout the world.
Roses grown in Europe before 1800 are referred to as
“Old World” roses, including the cultivars of Rosa
gallica.
Their pink colors ranged from the deepest dark purple of ‘Cardinal
de
Richelieu’ to a faint pink blush like that of
‘Chloris’. There
were no reds among these antique roses and, though rich in fragrance,
they
bloomed only once per season. In the late 1700s red roses with repeat
blooming
tendencies were introduced from China, shifting the focus of rose
breeding
toward those traits. Demand for the aromatic and medicinal qualities of
the Old
World roses declined, supplanted by flowers that lasted long through the
season.
The hybrids created since the 1820s are called “modern”
roses and
are much more commonly seen in gardens today.
Rosa gallica is considered the oldest rose, steeped in history,
legend and myth, and still grows wild in some places in the Caucasus,
the
mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas, where it
originated. Its
exact origin is unknown but it can be traced back fourteen centuries
when it was
considered a symbol of love by the Persians. The aromatic petals hold
their
scent better than any other rose and have long been considered
medicinal. This
species contains hundreds of different cultivars, some very similar and
others
unique. Most have compact shrub habits and are generally very hardy.
Most
modern-day roses are presumed to be descendants of the
gallicas.
We no longer offer straight Rosa rugosa
seedlings. Many wonderful old and new roses carry rugosa in
their
parentage (sometimes of an undetermined amount), and we have not
observed these
hybrids to be harmful to the environment. However the State of Maine
legally
requires us to include this statement: “R. rugosa: Invasive
species,
harmful to the environment. Do not plant in coastal environments,
especially on
or near sand dunes. Alternatives: Bayberry and red
chokeberry.”
Growing Roses
- Soil:
Well-drained soil with a good amount of organic matter.
- Sun: Full sun, but some will tolerate part shade.
Pick
a site with good air flow, but avoid sites with cold northwest
winds.
- Spacing:
4–6' apart.
- Planting:
Plant as early as soil can be worked. The roots of roses don’t
spread beyond the original hole, so dig a bushel-sized hole, as deep
as
2' or more. Mix soil with liberal quantities of well-rotted manure
and
compost. Add a coffee-can of rock phosphate or bone meal.
- Prior to planting, prune plants back to 3–5 of the
best
canes.
- Keep roses well mulched to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
Add
2 shovelfuls of compost to each crown annually in late fall.
- Pruning:
Other than clipping out any dead wood, shrub roses and climbers
require
little pruning.
