Consulting Rosarian Contact: Robin Rosenberg, Sunnyvale, CA
Rosy Recommendations
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE HANDBOOK FOR SELECTING ROSES
Certain varieties of roses perform extremely well in different parts of the country. However, there are varieties that may do really well in one area that could be awful in yours. The best way to determine what will do well in your area is to contact your local society. Another good resource is the American Rose Society Handbook for Selecting Roses, published by the ARS. Note that not all varieties that are great for general garden enjoyment are good exhibition roses; some varieties might require more care in your area, but can be terrific on the show table.
The following lists are taken from the Handbook for Selecting Roses, and contain a rating of 8.1 or higher.
Classifications of Roses:
SPECIES ROSES
Sp - Species
OLD GARDEN ROSES
A - Alba (OGR)
Ayr - Ayrshire (OGR)
B - Bourbon and Climbing Bourbon (OGR)
Bslt - Boursault (OGR)
C - Centifolia (OGR)
D - Damask (OGR)
HBc - Hybrid Bracteata (OGR)
HCh & Cl HCh - Hybrid China and Hybrid
HEg - Hybrid Elanteria (OGR)
HFt - Hybrid Foetida (OGR)
HGal - Gallica (OGR)
HMult - Hybrid Multiflora (OGR)
HP & Cl HP - Hybrid Perpetual and Climbing Hybrid Perpetual (OGR)
HSem - Hybrid Sempervirens (OGR)
HSet - Hybrid Setigera (OGR)
HSpn - Hybrid Spinosissima (OGR)
Misc. OGR - Miscellaneous OGR (OGR)
M & Cl M- Moss and Climbing Moss (OGR)
N - Noisette (OGR)
P - Portland (OGR)
T & Cl T - Tea and Climbing Tea (OGR)
MODERN ROSES
F & Cl F - Floribunda and Climbing Floribunda
Gr & Cl Gr - Grandiflora and Climbing Grandiflora
HKor - Hybrid Kordesii
HMoy - Hybrid Moyesii
HMsk - Hybrid Musk
HRg - Hybrid Rugosa
HT & Cl HT - Hybrid Tea and Climbing Hybrid Tea
HWich - Hybrid Wichurana
LCl - Large-flowered Climber
Min & Cl Min - Miniature and Climbing Miniature
MinFl - Mini-Flora
Pol & Cl Pol - Polyantha and Climbing Polyantha
S - Shrub
Color Classifications:
ab - apricot and apricot
blend
blend
dr - dark red
dp - deep pink
dy - deep yellow
lp - light pink
ly - light yellow
m -mauve and mauve
blend
blend
mp - medium pink
mr - medium red
my - medium yellow
ob - orange and orange
blend
blend
op - orange-pink
or - orange-red
pb - pink blend
rb - red blend
r - russet
w - white, near white
and white blend
and white blend
yb - yellow blend
The Top 20 in each Category
Species
- R. banksiae banksiae Sp, white, double, 1807 9.2
- R. banksiae lutea Sp, light yellow, double, 1824 9.1
- R. rugosa Sp, mauve, before 1846 9.1
- R. rugosa alba Sp, white, single, 1811 9.1
- R. setigera Sp, deep pink, 1810 9.1
- R. gallica Sp, deep pink, before 1867 9.0
- R. gallica versicolor (Rosa Mundi) Sp, pink blend,
semi-double, 1581 9.0 - R. moschata Sp, white, 1540 8.9
- Kiftsgate Sp, white, 5 petals, 1954 8.8
- R. rubrifolia Sp, medium pink, single, 1789 8.8
- R. gallica officinalis (Apothecary's Rose) Sp, deep pink,
semi-double, before 1600 8.7 - R. roxburghii Sp, medium pink, double, 1820
- 8.7 R. hugonis Sp, medium yellow, single, 1899 8.6
- R. virginiana Sp, medium pink, before 1807 8.5
- R. laevigata Sp, white, single, 1759 8.5
- R. roxburghii normalis Sp, light pink, single, 1862 8.5
- R. rubignosa Sp, light pink, single, before 1551 8.4
- R. spinosissima Sp, white, single, before 1600 8.4
- R. banksiae Sp, white, single, before 1794 8.3
- R. sericea pteracantha Sp, white, single, 1890 8.3
Floribundas and Polyanthas
- Marie Pavie Pol, white, double, 1888 8.9
- Nicole F, white, 35 petals, 1985 8.9
- Orange Morsday Pol, orange blend, 1956 8.9
- Mrs R.M. Finch Pol, medium pink, double, 1923 8.8
- Bridal White F, white, double, 1972 8.7
- Iceberg F, white, double, 1950 8.7
- La Marne Pol, pink blend, single, 1915 8.7
- Lavaglut F, dark red, 24 petals, 1979 8.7
- Lullaby Pol, white, 75 petals, 1953 8.7
- Poulsen's Pearl F, light pink, 5 petals, 1949 8.7
- Sexy Rexy F, medium pink, double, 1985 8.7
- The Fairy Pol, light pink, double, 1932 8.7
- Escapade F, mauve, 12 petals, 1967 8.6
- Europeana F, dark red, 25-30 petals, 1964 8.6
- Hannah Gordon F, pink blend, 35 petals, 1984 8.6
- Stadt den Helder F, medium red, 20 petals, 1982 8.6
- Travemunde F, medium red, double, 1968 8.6
- Verdun Pol, medium red, double, 1918 8.6
- White Pet Pol, white, double, 1879 8.6
- Iceberg, Cl F, white, 1968 8.5
- Perle d'Or Pol, yellow blend, very full, 1875 8.5
- Phyllis Bide Cl. Pol, yellow blend, semi-double, 1923 8.5
- Playboy F, red blend, single, 1976 8.5
- Royal Occasion F, orange red, 20 petals, 1976 8.5
- Sunsprite F, deep yellow, 25-30 petals, 1973 8.5
- Lady of the Dawn F, light pink, semi-double, 1984 8.4
- Mlle Cecile Brunner Pol, light pink, double, 1880 8.4
- Mlle Cecile Brunner, Cl. Cl Pol, light pink, 1894 8.4
- Pink Revelation F, light pink,1980 8.4
- Playgirl F, medium pink, 5-7 petals, 1986 8.4
Old Garden Roses
- Reve d'Or N, medium yellow, double, 1869 9.3
- Old Red Moss M, medium red, very double 9.1
- Marchesa Boccella HP, light pink, double, 1842 9.0
- Alba Semi-plena A, white, 8-12 petals, before 1754 8.9
- Alika HGal, medium red, semi-double, 1906 8.9
- Great Maiden's Blush A, white, double, before 1754 8.9
- Mme Alfred Carriere N, white, double, 1879 8.9
- Mme Hardy D, white, double, 1832 8.9
- Mrs B. R. Cant T, medium pink, double, 1901 8.9
- Mutabilis HCh, yellow blend, single, before 1894 8.9
- White Rose of York A, white, single to semi-double, before 1600 8.9
- Complicata HGal, pink blend, single 8.8
- Lamarque N, white, double, 1830 8.8
- Mme Plantier A, white, very double, 1835 8.8
- Rose de Rescht P, deep pink, very double, about 1880 8.8
- Celine Forestier N, light yellow, double, 1842 8.7
- Celsiana D, light pink, semi-double, before 1817 8.7
- Cramoisi Supérieur HCh, medium red, double, 1832 8.7
- Crested Moss M, medium pink, very full, 1827 8.7
- Felicite Parmentier A, light pink, very full, before 1841 8.7
- Louis Philippe Ch, red blend, double, 1834 8.7
- Mme Zoetmans D, white, very full, 1830 8.7
- Nastarana N, white, semi-double, 1879 8.7
- Old Blush Ch, medium pink, semi-double, 1751 8.7
- Souv de la Malmaison B, light pink, double, 1843 8.7
- Alba Maxima A, white, double, before 1867 8.6
- Ards Rover Cl HP, dark red, double, 1898 8.6
- Baronne Prevost HP, medium pink, double, before 1841 8.6
- Duchesse de Brabant T, light pink, 45 petals, 1857 8.6
- Henri Martin M, medium red, semi-double, 1862 8.6
- Konigen von Danemark A, medium pink, very full, 1816 8.6
- Mermaid HBc, light yellow, 5 petals, 1918 8.6
- Pink Pet Ch, medium pink, double, 1928 8.6
- Stanwell Perpetual HSpn, white, double, before 1836 8.6
Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras
- Irish Elegance HT, orange blend, 5 petals, 1905 8.9
- Touch of Class HT, orange pink, 30-35 petals, 1986 8.9
- Elina HT, light yellow, 30-35 petals, 1984 8.6
- Marijke Koopman HT, medium pink, 25 petals, 1980 8.6
- Olympiad HT, medium red, 30-35 petals, 1983 8.6
- Pristine HT, white, 28-35 petals, 1977 8.6
- Silver Jubilee HT, pink blend, 30-35 petals, 1977 8.6
- Captain Thomas Cl HT, light yellow, single, 1935 8.5
- Dainty Bess HT, light pink, single, 1925 8.5
- Dainty Bess, Cl Cl HT, light pink, single, 1935 8.5
- Kardinal HT, medium red, 30-35 petals, 1986 8.5
- Baronne Edmond de Rothschild HT, red blend, 40 petals, 1970 8.4
- Double Delight HT, red blend, 30-35 petals, 1976 8.4
- Elizabeth Taylor HT, deep pink, 30-35 petals, 1986 8.4
- Gold Medal Gr, medium yellow, 30-35 petals, 1981 8.4
- Louise Estes HT, pink blend, 35 petals, 1991 8.3
- Mister Lincoln HT, dark red, 35 petals, 1965 8.3
- Mrs Oakley Fisher HT, deep yellow, single, 1921 8.3
- Dublin HT, medium red, 35-40 petals, 1983 8.2
- Earth Song Gr, deep pink, 25-30 petals, 19765 8.2
- First Prize HT, pink blend, 25-30 petals, 1970 8.2
- Folklore HT, orange blend, 44 petals, 1976 8.2
- Gemini HT, pink blend, 25-30 petals, 1999 8.2
- George Dickson HT, medium red, 36 petals, 1912 8.2
- Henry Ford HT, medium pink, 30 petals, 1954 8.2
- Kathleen Mills HT, pink blend, semi-double, 1934 8.2
- Moonstone HT, white, full, 1998 8.2
- Smooth Prince HT, medium red, 26-28 petals, 1990 8.2
- Suffolk HT, white, very full, 1984 8.2
- Tournament of Roses Gr, pink blend, 25-30 petals, 1988 8.2
Miniatures & Mini-Floras
- Jean Kenneally Min, apricot blend, 22 petals, 1984 9.1
- Jeanne Lajoie Cl Min, medium pink, 40 petals, 1976 9.1
- Irresistible Min, white, 43 petals, 1990 9.0
- Minnie Pearl Min, pink blend, 25 petals, 1983 9.0
- Pierrine Min, orange pink, 40 petals, 1988 9.0
- Whiteout Min, white, 20 petals, 1989 9.0
- Giggles Min, medium pink, 18 petals, 1987 8.8
- Gourmet Popcorn Min, white, semi-double, 1987 8.7
- Rainbow's End Min, yellow blend, 30-35 petals, 1984 8.7
- Robin Red Breast MinFl, red blend, single, 1983 8.7
- Baby Grand Min, medium pink, full, 1994 8.6
- Angel Pink Cl Min, orange pink, double, 1987 8.5
- Magic Carrousel Min, red blend, double, 1973 8.5
- My Sunshine Min, medium yellow, single, 1986 8.5
- Peggy "T" Min, medium red, 5 petals, 1988 8.5
- Snow Bride Min, white, 20 petals, 1982 8.5
- Little Artist Min, red blend, semi-double, 1983 8.4
- Millie Walters Min, orange pink, 45 petals, 1984 8.4
- Rise 'n' Shine Min, medium yellow, 35 petals, 1977 8. 4
- Rise 'n' Shine Cl. Min, medium yellow, 35 petals, 1990 8.4
- Ruby Pendant Min, mauve, 25-30 petals, 1980 8.4
- Simplex Min, white, single, 1961 8.4
- Starla Min, white, 20-25 petals, 1990 8.4
- Sweet Chariot Min, mauve, 55-60 petals, 1985 8.4
Climbers and Hybrid Wichuranas
- Democracie LCl, dark red, 1935 8.9
- Royal Sunset LCl, apricot blend, 20 petals, 1960 8.9
- Clair Matin LCl, medium pink, 15 petals, 1962 8.8
- Sombreuil LCl, white, very full, about 1880 8.6
- Dublin Bay LCl, medium red, 25 petals, 1976 8.6
- New Dawn LCl, light pink, 35-40 petals, 1930 8.6
- Altissimo LCl, medium red, 7 petals, 1966 8.5
- City of York LCl, white, 15 petals, 1945 8.5
- Compassion LCl, orange pink, 36 petals, 1973 8.5
- Newport Fairy HWich, pink blend, single, 1908 8.5
- Rosarium Ueteresen LCl, deep pink, very full, 1977 8.5
- America LCl, orange pink, 43 petals, 1975 8.3
- Don Juan LCl, dark red, 30-35 petals, 1958 8.2
- Parade LCl, deep pink, 33 petals, 1953 8.2
- Pierre de Ronsard LCl, pink blend, 40-55 petals, 1985 8.2
- Rhonda LCl, medium pink, double, 1967 8.2
- Fourth of July LCl, red blend, 10-16 petals, 1999 8.1
- Galway Bay LCl, orange pink, 20 petals, 1966 8.1
- Pink Perpetue LCl, medium pink, 32 petals, 1965 8.1
Shrubs
- Dortmund HKor, medium red, single, 1955 9.1
- Eddie's Crimson HMoy, medium red, semi-double, 1956, 9.1
- Henry Hudson HRg, white, 25 petals, 1977 9.0
- Magnifica HRg, dark red, full, 1907 9.0
- Surry S, light red, semi-double, 1985 9.0
- Elveshorn S, medium pink, 35 petals, 1985 8.9
- Immensee S, light pink, single, 1983 8.9
- Lyda Rose S, white, single, 1994 8.9
- Sally Holmes S, white, single, 1976 8.9
- William Baffin HKor, deep pink, 20 petals, 1983 8.9
- Gartendirektor Otto Linne S, deep pink, double, 1934 8.8
- Golden Wings S, light yellow, single, 1953 8.8
- John Cabot HKor, medium red, 40 petals, 1978 8.8
- Nevada HMoy, white, single, 1927 8.8
- Penelope HMsk, light pink, semi-double, 1924 8.8
- Robbie Burns S, light pink, 5 petals, 1987 8.8
- Robusta (KORgosa) S, medium red, 5-8 petals, 1979 8.8
- Roseraie de l'Hay HRg, dark red, double, 1901 8.8
- Ballerina HMsk, medium pink, single, 1937 8.7
- Cornelia HMsk, pink blend, double, 1925 8.7
- Jens Munk HRg, medium pink, 25 petals, 1977 8.7
- John Davis HKor, medium pink, 40 petals, 1986 8.7
- Morgenrot S, red blend, single, 1986 8.7
- Pearl Meidiland S, light pink, 28-32 petals, 1989 8.7
- Belinda HMusk, medium pink, semi-double, 1936 8.6
- Belle Poitevine HRg, medium pink, semi-double, 1894 8.6
- Belle Story S, light pink, 35 petals, 1985 8.6
- Carefree Beauty S, medium pink, 15-20 petals, 1979 8.6
- Country Dancer S, deep pink, double, 1972 8.6
- Heidelberg HKor, medium red, 32 petals, 1959 8.6
- Knock Out S, red blend, single, 1999 8.6
- Pink Meidiland S, pink blend, 5 petals, 1985 8.6
- Russelliana HMult, mauve, double, before 1826 8.6
