Australia is a country of wide ranging climatic conditions.

To provide cultivation information in specific terms is too difficult and not really appropriate.

This section will offer articles written by heritage rose growers from the many and varied regions of Australia. They will talk about what works for them and we hope you will find something that is valuable to answer your queries.

Caring for Old Roses

Its easier than you think!

In fact, old roses, unlike modern Hybrid Tea roses, resent hard pruning. A light trim in winter ( or just after flowering if it is a once only flowering type), a bit of fertiliser in the growing season (spring), the occasional soak of water in the dry times and some space and sunlight. Easy.

If your rose sends out long canes peg them down –you’ll get more flowers along the horizontal stems. Don’t forget roses are one of the toughest, drought hardy plants once established (usually after 2 years)) which is why these oldies have survived despite neglect for many years.

No rose however likes the commonly used glyphosate herbicide, which is the biggest destroyer of “ mother plants”. The chain saw and the whipper snipper come a close second.

Please do not use them near your roses. If a plant has to be removed, try to get a cutting growing from it in autumn or contact your nearest Heritage Roses in Australia group!

Barossa and Beyond Regional Group, Angaston , South Australia.

Roses Possums Don't Like

This is not a scientifcally proven article but rather a point for discussion and contributions.

 

Wal Johnson fron the Victorian State Rose garden has observed the possums love some roses and tend to ignore others.

This is a list of some he has noticed they tend to leave alone. If you have possum problems, you might like to try them.

Nancy Hayward - one of Alister Clark's better Gigantea hybrids. A lipstick pink which will clmb up a reasonable structure.If you can make some of the canes towards the horizontla, it will throw up some good laterals. Fairly hardy, but the canes are not very flexible.

Gladsome - another Alister Clark, but this time a rambler with a tendency towards polyantha. Spring flowerer and basically a light greem foliage, evergreen. Can be rampant but easily controlled, with long arching canes. A bright pink with very yellow stamens.

Laevigata - Species. Evergreeen foliage, creamy white flowes, but has a very short spring flowering season. Vicious thorns (which is probably why the possums don't like it) and can be frost tender. A different rose but not highly recommended for any area where people are likely to brush against it.

Souvenir de Mme  Leonie Viennot - A tea, rose pink flower, dark  green foliage. Can cover a huge area if left alone. It is a mass of flowers n the spring and repeats rather welll. ( typical tea flower). Climbs well and is comparatively easily trained. Typical tea thorns.

Felicia - Hybrid Musk. Not used as a climber in the State Rose garden but is in my own garden). A pale pink, double with typical Hybrid Musk perfume. I have trained the long leaders along my neighbours pergola on the fenceline. It covers an area of 2 metres high and 6 metres long. The possums eats my lemons, but have never touched Felicia. Well recommended.

Titian - one of Reithmullers floribundas. Probably his best. Deep double blooms in clusters and singles. Works well as either a pillar or by using the laterals to espalier along the fence. Also recommended and worth a look.