ROSA

Genus of about 150 species.

Grown for attractive, often very fragrant flowers and fruits (hips).

HYBRID TEAS - remontant (repeat-flowering), free-branching bush roses of upright or bushy habit with, usually, thorny stems. Excellent for formal beds and borders and as cut flowers.

FLORIBUNDA (cluster-flowered bush) - remontant, free-branching bush roses of upright or bushy habit, usually with prickly stems and glossy, dark green leaves. Flowers are single to double, sometimes scented, and usually in clusters. Suitable for borders.

CLIMBER - often vigorous roses with thorny, arching, stiff stems. Flowers can be single or in clusters, often scented. Some bloom in summer only (once-flowering), others are repeat-flowering.

RAMBLER - a diverse group of vigorous roses with long, arching stems and dense foliage. Flowers can be single or double and are borne in clusters mainly in summer. Suitable for training over fences, walls and pergolas or through trees.

SHRUB ROSES - initially the crosses of species roses and modern bush roses. Generally vigorous with distinctive growth habit. Flowers have varied forms, their beauty being in their massed effect. Most are strongly scented and require little attention. Rugosas have delicious fragrances, repeat well, bear large hips and are extremely disease-resistant.

SPECIES - and their hybrids include elegant forms, dainty foliage and simple flowers followed by hips of various shapes and colours and, again, most are completely trouble free.

UK natives are Field Rose, R. arvensis (an introduction in Scotland) with yellow flowers, Dog Rose, R. canina, extremely variable with pink to white flowers, Burnet Rose, R. pimpinellifolia, cream-flowered and the much less common Sweet Briar or Eglantine, R. rubiginosa, with its dark pink petals.