Repeat Flowering Old Roses

Before the introduction of China roses from the east around 1790 the only rose that repeated its flowering was the Autumn Damask ‘Quatre Saisons’. It is assumed that this joined with Rosa gallica ‘Officinalis’ to start the Portland damask group. Later, a chance hybridization with the China rose Old Blush, began the Bourbon race. The Noisettes were again a probable chance cross between Old Blush and Rosa moshata. Further hybridisation of these groups and the old summer flowering roses brought us the Hybrid Perpetuals.

Tea roses arose from tea-scented China roses crossed with one of the few true species roses to repeat, Rosa rugosa (again from the East). This lead to another class of mostly remontant roses.

With the amalgamation of the Teas and Hybrid perpetuals in the form of La France in 1867 the Hybrid Teas were born and the age of Modern roses began.