Old-World Beauties

Heirloom roses are making a comeback worldwide as a result of their heavenly perfume and disease and drought resistance

- Lizette Jonker

Most gardeners grow popular modern roses for their exhibition blooms and aren’t aware of their resilient, highly fragrant ancestors.

These heirloom or old garden roses (OGRs as they are referred to) are easier to grow than you think. They’re drought and disease resistant and usually grow into huge bushes without a lot of care. They require no spraying, minimal pruning, have interesting foliage and beautiful and fragrant flowers. They also sport juicy hips in autumn and most of them have serious thorns, making them good for security hedges.

Although many only bloom once a year in spring, this flush is so generous and the plants so big that they are spectacular. Even one or two placed between modern roses will add their magical perfume.

Some old roses have single blooms and big hips in autumn, others have quartered flowers with many petals and groups of small fragrant flowers. The tea roses smell appropriately like tea, while ‘Meg Merrilies’ has apple-scented leaves. Rose hips can be used to make jams and preserves. The petals of fragrant old roses make wonderful pot-pourris, jams, sauces and ice cream.