Most gardeners dream of having abundantly blooming, practically unhealthy, unpretentious roses in their plots that are hardy to our climate and have an amazing aroma. Someone will say that such plants do not exist in nature. And he will be wrong, because we are talking about real-life flowers called musky roses. Today we will introduce you to the most common hybrids belonging to this numerous genus.
Selection history
At the beginning of the 20th century, Peter Lambert (a breeder from Germany) developed the “Trier” - a variety that became the first to be related to musky roses. The selection result not only shocked ordinary gardeners, but also impressed specialists. Lambert developed a very fragrant, plentiful (and repeated) blooming rose. Other breeders also started breeding new varieties. For example, Lambert’s assistants, Bentall’s wife, created the “ballerina” variety, Joseph Pemberton (England) became the author of such varieties as “cornelia”, “penelope”, the huge nursery Lens Rosen opened Louis Lena (Belgium) where for many years they have been growing and bring out new varieties of magnificent fragrant plants. Musk roses are the name of a fairly extensive range of hybrids, such as:
- phoenecia,
- moschata;
- mulliganii;
- arvensis;
- multiflora;
- sempervirens.
Plant Features
The best varieties of musky roses can be huge (up to two meters in height) plants or quite compact. Such roses are ideal for growing in a small garden, on a flower bed. Musk roses differ from their decorative "relatives" in that it is better to admire them at a distance, rather than close. In this case, you can fully appreciate the magnificence of these flowering bushes.
Unlike the flowers of the usual garden roses, in musk hybrids they, collected in brushes, bloom almost simultaneously, turning the bush into a kind of air cloud. All musky roses bloom very profusely, so they are a real find for lovers of bright colors in the garden landscape. The flowering period is accompanied by minor breaks for rest, which allows gardeners to admire the magnificence of the bushes throughout the season.
It should be noted separately the exquisite aroma of these roses. It is very strong, with floral-fruity notes, giving off a little musk - a substance that is valued in perfumery. Moreover, in order to feel it, there is no need to bend down to the flowers, a musky rose (photo you can see below), even one, is able to fill the whole garden with magnificent aroma. The most fragrant varieties include Cornelia, Felicia, and Daphnia.
Where is it better to plant bushes?
We have already said that it is better to admire these flowers at a distance, so they should be planted in the very last row of the flower garden. Varieties with a strong aroma will be appropriate next to the gazebo or garden benches. In the foreground, flower beds can be grown, perhaps, only musky roses sort "ballerina".
Small flowers of this plant form spherical bushes. Musk roses look great with other varieties of roses, for example with a teahouse, as well as with decorative cereals. Climbing varieties are best planted next to clematis, together they create a wonderful visual range.
Musk roses: care
According to most gardeners who already grow these plants in their plots, their advantages include simple cultivation and care. Such roses tolerate shading well, able to grow on not very rich soil. Although many flower growers note that these roses are responsive to care. The main rule that everyone who is going to grow these fragrant flowers should remember is the order of pruning. In these plants, only dead and diseased shoots are removed.
For the winter, roses are weighed down. This is easy to do, as the shoots are very flexible. Musk roses do not need vaccination for propagation; they are propagated perfectly by cuttings. These roses are very hardy, and if you want to grow a rose garden on your plot, then it is best to start with musky varieties. Below we will present the most popular of them.
Balerina
Bushes of this variety are spreading and dense, reaching a meter in height. The leaves are shiny, leathery. Spikes with a reddish tint. The buds are slightly elongated and pointed from above. The flowers are small (no more than four centimeters in diameter), fragrant, painted in pale pink, collected in large inflorescences (up to 100 buds).
The variety is characterized by long and abundant flowering. With proper pruning, it blooms repeatedly.
Schwerin
The variety is distinguished by vigorous and sprawling bushes with large glossy and dense leaves. The flowers are semi-double, medium size (up to five centimeters). They are painted in a rich cherry red color and collected in small inflorescences (up to eight flowers). Buds pointed at the edges, elongated.
Robin hood
Very effective plant with raspberry flowers. It grows to a meter and a half in height. Width - about one hundred and twenty centimeters, wider specimens are much less common. The variety is resistant to disease. Although the flowers of this species are quite small, they easily compensate for this “drawback” by flowering in large brushes throughout the season.
Flowers can be of two types: semi-double and non-double. All of them are painted in cherry or raspberry tones, with a white center, and a large number of white “streaks” on the petals. The center of the flower is decorated with a bunch of golden stamens that turn brown quite quickly. The brushes are thick, often resembling large raspberry balls. The leaves are dark green. The variety is vigorous, resistant to disease.
Cornelia
A plant with delicate pink and apricot flowers. The bush grows to one hundred and sixty centimeters with a width of more than one and a half meters. Small semi-double flowers impress with their huge number. They bloom from coral red buds.
The flip side of the petals remains salmon pink. This variety differs from other wavy petals. In extreme heat, color usually fades. Flowers form large brushes. In the first flowering, up to twenty-five pieces, in the fall their number is almost double. The leaves are dark green, shiny. Shoots are smooth, almost without thorns.
Rose felicia
This variety is famous for its salmon-pink flowers. The height of the bush reaches one hundred and sixty centimeters, a width of about one hundred and eighty centimeters. The variety is resistant to disease. Many flower growers consider this to be one of the best hybrids of musky roses. It has the largest flowers, the most beautiful color and the longest flowering period.
Terry flowers, long petals, with a pink with an apricot hue back and creamy bases. Flowers are formed in large brushes (up to fifteen pieces). In autumn, the brushes become larger, and their number increases (up to fifty pieces). The bush is quite sprawling, but requires only minimal pruning, especially in the early years. The foliage is large, dark green, shiny, the thorns are large.
Musk roses: owner reviews
Judging by the reviews of gardeners, musky roses have become a real discovery for many of them. They are very pleased with their purchase. The bushes are very picturesque, do not require complicated care.
Many admire the exquisite aroma of these flowers and flowering throughout the season. Experienced growers believe that musky hybrids are great for people who are just starting to grow roses.