|
Each year at Portland Nursery we carry more than 300 varieties of roses. Our roses begin to arrive in January and our selection is complete by the beginning of March.
You’ll find many of your standby favorites as well as new delights on our helpful buyer’s list: Rose buyer’s list 2008
Please note that roses can often sell out quickly. It is always best to call ahead to ensure that specific varieties are in stock
Rose types
At Portland Nursery we divide our rose selections into eleven Rose Class subsections. (Click on the links to go to class definition)
Climbing Roses
Modern climbing roses are no more than very tall-growing versions of shrub roses. Most grow to about 8-12’ tall, and require tying and support. They will not twine around a post on their own. Climbing roses that are grown only vertically will produce flowers only on the tips of their growth, so for best flower production, train upward and then outward. Any rambler roses we may carry (30-40’ and one bloom) are kept in the Heritage subsection.
A few of our favorite climbing roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| All Ablaze |
Cecile
Brunner CI |
Iceberg CI |
Joseph's Coat |
Zephirine Drouhin |
BACK TO TOP
English Roses
One of the newest races of roses, bred by David Austin. These combine the very large, densely petalled look and heavy scent of antique roses with modern virtues of smaller sized bushes and repeat bloom. Many grow as the Hybrid Teas, upright and shrubby, but a few, like ‘Graham Thomas’, grow to be very large. Sometimes growth is spindly the first couple of years, but eventually they form a strong plant. Pruning - Most are thinned of crossing and weak growth. Then cut back the remaining canes by 1/3 of the total growth.
A few of our favorite English roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Abraham Darby® |
Falstaff |
Graham Thomas |
Jude the Obscure |
Windermere |
BACK TO TOP
Floribunda Roses
Flowers occur in clusters and are typically smaller than Hybrid Tea roses. Used for cutting and garden display. Often plants grow in a more shrubby round shape. Disease resistance varies. Pruning - Remove all twiggy and crossing growth. Shorten remaining canes to ½ the original length. Cut just above the nearest outward-facing bud.
A few of our favorite Floribunda roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Betty Boop™ |
Black Cherry |
Ebb Tide™ |
Hot Cocoa™ |
Lime Sublime™ |
BACK TO TOP
Grandiflora Roses
Grandiflora roses bear very large multiple roses at the ends of strong tall stems. Generally they have larger bloom and a much taller habit, often over 5’ tall, with good disease resistance. Their long stems and classic rose form lend them well to cutting and using in arrangements. Pruning - Prune like the hybrid teas, but leave selected canes at 24-36” long.
A few of our favorite Grandiflora roses: (click photo to enlarge)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| About Face™ |
Catalina |
Heart O'Gold |
Melody Parfumée™ |
Queen Elizabeth |
BACK TO TOP
Heritage Roses
These are roses which have been in cultivation since 1850 or earlier. Moss roses, Musk, Bourbon, Alba and Damask roses are found in this group. Many of these are very large shrubs (think blackberry brush) with incredible old-rose scented flowers. Some will bloom only once per season for a few brilliant weeks in spring, and a few will repeat bloom. Pruning - Plan to have a pair of sheers in one hand and a tome on old roses in the other!
We carry a select few Heritage roses. Here are some examples:
- Baronne Prevost - 1842 Hybrid Perpetual
- Madame Plantier - 1835 Alba
- Rose de Rescht – ancient rose from Persia, introduced to the trade in 1940
- Souvenir de la Malmaison – 1843 Bourbon
Our favorite Heritage roses: (click photo to enlarge)
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Baronne Prévost |
Madame Plantier |
Rose de Rescht |
Souvenir de la Malmaison |
BACK TO TOP
Hybrid Tea Roses
The most popular rose by far, providing a tremendous range of color, fragrance, form, and disease resistance. It is generally long stemmed with a single rose per stem. Pruning - Select the 5 to 7 most robust canes and remove all other to the point of origin. Prune the selected canes to 18-24” long. Cut just above an out facing dormant bud or leaf scar.
Some of our favorites are: (click photo to enlarge)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Aromatherapy |
Double Delight™ |
John F. Kennedy |
Mister Lincoln |
Spellbound |
BACK TO TOP
Landscape Roses
These roses vary greatly in growth from ground cover roses to large shrub roses. Most require less maintenance than other types. Generally, they are marketed as disease resistant. To be used as a summer flowering shrub in the landscape. Usually mediocre cutting flowers. Pruning - Varies by cultivar. Please ask for details at Information.
A few of our favorite landscape roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Easy Elegance Paint the Town Garden path™ |
Double Knockout |
Fragrant Lavender Simplicity® |
Snowcone |
Baby Love™ |
BACK TO TOP
Miniature Roses
These are like smaller versions of Hybrid Tea Roses. They have mini flowers rather than a mini plant. Although, the plant size is generally in proportion to the flowers. Micro mini roses are available seasonally through the color department.
A few of our favorite miniature roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Autumn Sunblaze® |
Coffeebean™ |
Lemondrop |
Raspberry Punch |
Ruby Ruby™ |
BACK TO TOP
Rugosa Roses
Our hardiest and most disease resistant roses. Many are five petaled and many form enormous rose hips. The range in height and color is vast. Most repeat bloom. Pruning - None required, though some may be desired. Do not spray.
A few of our favorite Rugosa roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Blanc Double de Coubert |
Rosa Rugosa |
Purple Pavement |
Topaz Jewel |
Wildberry Breeze |
BACK TO TOP
Species Roses
These are “wild” roses, as they occur in nature, not a hybrid. Most grow large and have only one annual bloom. These are for large gardens. Pruning - Little or none required.
A few of our favorite wild roses: (click to enlarge photos)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Rosa nutkana |
Rosa banksiae lutea |
Rosa glauca rubrifolia |
Rosa pisocarpa |
Rosa woodsii |
BACK TO TOP
Tree Roses
BACK TO TOP
Thank-you to Peggy Acott and our suppliers for the photos:
|
