Common Name: Portland rose
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Rosaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to frost
Bloom Description: Bright fuchsia-red to deep pink
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge
Flower: Showy, Fragrant, Good Cut
Attracts: Butterflies
Other: Thorns
Culture
Best grown in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams in full sun to part shade. Best flowering and disease resistance generally occur in full sun, however. Water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Avoid overhead watering. Good air circulation promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. Crowns need winter protection in cold winter areas such as St. Louis. Remove and destroy diseased leaves from plants, as practicable, and clean up and destroy dead leaves from the ground around the plants both during the growing season and as part of a thorough cleanup during winter (dormant season). Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rosa is a genus of about 150 species of deciduous (occasionally evergreen) shrubs and climbers noted for their beautiful, often fragrant, single, semidouble or double flowers which are borne singly or in clusters on often prickly stems clad with 5-9 leaflets often having toothed margins.
Shrub roses are usually large-growing bushes between 4-10 feet tall and as wide. They are a very diverse group of hybrids and usually produce clusters of flowers several times a year but some may bloom just once in spring. They do not require the heavy pruning required of hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses unless being pruned to control size. Plants can be allowed to grow large with minimal pruning.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for rose.
'Rose de Rescht' is a Portland Rose that was originally introduced in England around 1880 but was forgotten about. It was rediscovered in 1945 by Nancy Lindsay, an English garden writer, in Rescht, Iran and was re-introduced around 1950 in Great Britain. Researchers are unsure if it originated in Iran or if it was brought to Iran from France around 1807. It is a compact rose with dense, medium green foliage that closely frames the short-stalked, 2 1/2 in. wide flowers. The bright fuschia-red to deep pink, double flowers have up to 100 petals each, forming a tight pompom-like rosette. They fade to purple as they age and are highly valued for their intense fragrance. 'Rose de Rescht' blooms prolifically in spring and will rebloom throughout the growing season, especially if deadheaded. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and can tolerate light shade. It received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.
Problems
Roses are susceptible to a large number of diseases, the most common of which are black spot, powdery mildew, rust and rose rosette. Although good cultural practices are the first line of defense in disease control, regular preventative fungicide applications throughout the growing season are usually required, particularly in humid climates with regular rainfall such as the St. Louis area. Potential insect problems include aphids, beetles, borers, scale, thrips, rose midges, leafhoppers and spider mites. Local rose associations and extension services are usually able to offer specific recommendations and advice for selecting and growing roses.
Uses
Grow as a specimen or in small groups in borders, cottage gardens, foundations or rose gardens. Also effective as a hedge.