Saturday, May 12, 2001
Roses without thorns
By Tim Morehouse
Saints, martyrs and lovers have shed their blood on the thorns of roses while seeking their perfect reward. So have gardeners. For those who would prefer to grow roses without battling prickly thorns, there are a few varieties that are thornless — or nearly so.
In the natural system of checks and balances, the thorns of roses offer a slight deterrent to herbivores that might want to graze on them. But I have watched horses doing some freelance pruning of wild dog roses growing along a fence. Even though roses are tasty, some predators will stop short of the woodier portion of the canes where the thorns are most developed. Generally speaking, a rose can survive such browsing and regenerate.
Among older thornless varieties that are easily available is the Bourbon rose “Zephirine Drouhin,” introduced to commerce in 1868. It makes an excellent pillar or medium-size climber and should be planted close to the house where its rich perfume and thornlessness can be appreciated.
Its canes are smooth and burgundy-colored, with luxuriant, dark-green foliage. The exquisite blooms are a high-centered, satiny cerise-pink. I have found that this rose blooms only once a season, concurrently with the hybrid teas.
Another equally attractive thornless rose is “Kathleen Harrop.” This rose is identical to “Zephirine Drouhin” in form but it has pale pink blooms.
“Reine des Violettes,” introduced in 1860, is a hybrid with a moderate, recurrent bloom, but the multipetaled flowers are a distinctive violet in color and deliciously scented. These old-fashioned roses like rich, organic, well-drained soil, reasonable air circulation and plenty of sun.
There are a few modern rose breeders who are deliberately focusing their attention on thornless roses. Harvey Davidson, a rose breeder in California, has developed a series of hybrid teas that are thornless. His varieties will withstand temperatures as low as minus-40 degrees. He has named his progeny as follows:
• “Smooth Angel,” large cream petals with warm apricot-yellow centers; very strong tea fragrance. It grows bushy, to 4 feet tall.
• “Smooth Lady,” medium-size double-pink blooms and wonderful, spicy fragrance. This repeat bloomer grows 5-6 feet tall. The glossy foliage is mildew-resistant.
• “Smooth Melody,” a floribunda type, is clusters of medium-size blooms with red edges surrounding a white center. Its bushy growth will reach 3 feet tall.
• “Smooth Prince,” well-formed, large cerise-red flowers. The vigorous grower reaches 4 feet and has a light fragrance.
• “Smooth Satin,” beautiful high-centered peach-pink flowers with a scent sweet. It's an upright, bushy grower to 4 feet.
• “Smooth Velvet,” well-formed, dark red blooms with a light fragrance. It can reach 5 feet tall.
Contact Tim Morehouse at www.getmoregarden.com.
SOURCES
• For more information about thornless hybrid teas, contact Monrovia, (800) 666-9321.
• Rahn's Greenhouses in Winton Place (541-0672) for “Zephirine Drouhin”
• Heritage Roses of Tanglewood Farms, Fort Bragg, Calif, (707) 964-3748.
• Heirloom Old Garden Roses, St. Paul, Ore, (503) 538-5902.
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