This week… Heirloom roses

HEIRLOOM roses are also known as heritage roses, antique roses, old garden roses, shrub roses and old-fashioned roses. Strictly speaking, these are roses that were developed before the first modern rose arrived on the scene in 1867, but in practice any roses developed more than 100 years ago can be classified as heirloom roses.

Sue Martin of Piedmont Master Gardeners says: “The heirlooms are described as hardy, disease-resistant, carefree, prolific shrubs that don’t require much tending. But the showstopper is their wondrous fragrance, mentioned over and over again. They also offer a wide variety of forms ranging from shrubs to tall, arching plants up to 20ft (6m) in height.”