What are Old Roses?
The rose is often considered a symbol of timeless, classic beauty. Just as beauty comes in many shapes, sizes and colors, so do roses. There is one type of rose, however, that is steeped in the history of the world, and that is the old rose classification. An old rose is any rose class that was in existence before 1876, when the first hybrid tea roses started to appear on the market. The widely agreed upon classes of roses that fall into this category include Albas, Damask, Gallica, Centifolia, Moss, Portland, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Rugosa, China, Tea, and Noisette. All of these roses have distinct histories that can be traced to specific origins throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. Despite the variations between the classes of old roses, they generally share the same growing habits and characteristics. Old roses do not require as much maintenance as other roses, and they are surprisingly hardy and will thrive in nearly any soil type or environment. Old roses have been fo
