Rose De Rescht

27.06.2023 - 08:47 / aberdeengardening.co.uk

Thinking of planting roses, why not give the old varieties a try. Our favourite is the Portland Roses. Amongst this group are to be found not only some of the finest of old roses but also some of the most useful.They are all continuous or repeat flowering and of accommodating proportions. They can

f ulfil a variety of roles from mass bedding to hedging and most do very well in pots or urns etc.

One that does particulary well in Aberdeen is the extremely fragrant Portland Damask (Rose De Rescht) A good bushy plant, with, neat, full flowers of purple-crimson, held well above its ample foliage. Very fragrant with a Good repeating habit which starts off in late June. Not so much giving a continuous show, rather a case of, after the first explosion of blooms the plant takes a short rest, and you are left waiting in anticipation for the next show which will not let you down. In the far south of the UK expect a third flush.

Rose De Rescht was first catalogued in the 1840s under another name which I am unable to recall, and was rediscovered in Persia in 1945 by the English gardener Nancy Lindsay.

This Portland Rose is very much disease resistant, and for the newcomer to old style Roses this is the one to get you started off.

Prune in late February by completely cutting out old stems of four years or older, no harm seems to be caused by shortening the stems. perhaps every two years if you feel it necessary.

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Snow is still holding in here in Aberdeen, I cannot ever recall seeing as much as this in November.

Along with blizzard conditions at lunchtime yesterday there was the brightest flash of lightning followed by an almighty loud single clatter of thunder. Talking of Roses today, I have come across a product