Photo by Kat Pearson.
BY KAT PEARSON, GIRL IN THE GREEN
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Unless it’s an unscented rose. I have never really understood the point of them. Sure, they’re pretty, but they’re thorny! The only thing that makes up for rose thorns (and the black spot, sparseness and general painfulness of a rose shrub, especially here in subtropical humid Brisbane) is the SCENT. Nothing beats it. Rose-scented geraniums don’t even come close. But a good smelly old-fashioned rose is heaven scent (see what I did there!).
Roses have a long history and are thought to have been originally domesticated in China (thousands of years BCE). Rosewater and rose oil were used both medicinally and as perfume (to mask the stench of life – you know, the no deodorant or plumbing thing), and Cleopatra used roses in her skincare and as an aphrodisiac to lure her lovers. Nothing much has changed, and roses are still used in herbal medicines, food, cosmetics and perfumes.
There are lots of rose species and hybrids, and some are better at some things than others – the old hybrid Rosa x damascena makes great perfume, Rosa rugosa reputedly has the best tasting hips and petals (although all roses are edible) and hybrid tea roses arguably make the best cut flowers.
I love having roses in my garden, and while they’re pretty hardy, it can be a bit of a challenge to keep them looking lush. Your best bet is to choose a rose that suits your requirements. I choose ones that a) have a great smell and b) are bred for good black spot resistance, as that seems to be my main challenge! But there are still a few tricks to keeping them in tip-top condition.
Firstly, give them space. Humidity is a killer for lots of plants, and while it won’t kill your rose, it can sure leave it a diseased mess. Both pruning dense foliage out of the middle of each bush and not letting them be overgrown by other plants are crucial.
Secondly, keep them well fed and give them a good drink every so often. I’m on sandy soil and feed mine with organic pellets once a month, followed by a deep soak. If you’re on clay you can probably ease off a little but don’t ignore them! And finally, they love the sun. It helps keep their foliage dry and encourages good strong growth.
As a side note, if you’re near the Redlands area, I recommend you check out www.littleislandorganics.com.au. Rod sells Rocky Point products (which I personally love) and delivers locally for free! Let them do the heavy lifting and leave you to the fun stuff. Use the code GITG to get $1 off each product!
ABOUT KAT
I love gardening, and growing my own food and plants in general. I’ve been working on our current garden in subtropical Brisbane for the last five years but have been gardening for much longer in all sorts of places. I’m an ex-engineer, recently turned horticulturist (life’s too short not to work in something you love!). I grow edibles and ornamentals in an often wild, rambling jungle, filled with birds and bugs, including a handful of pet chooks and a dog (though to be honest you’re more likely to find him inside on the couch). Find out more at www.girlinthegreen.com.au.
