Before the 20th Century, roses were not widely grown by many home or “amateur” gardeners. Most roses were either grown by florists, or the more affluent members of society. The types of roses available before the 20th Century were species roses, old garden roses, early hybrid teas, rambling roses, and roses from some “new” classes – rugosas, and polyanthas. The only colors available were white, pink, red, red-and-white “striped” ones, and green. Many of the roses being grown were once-blooming, while many others were not hardy in the colder climates of America. The American Rose Society had just been formed a few years earlier, had around 200 members, and most of its members were florists.
Every decade of the 20th Century saw many notable contributions to the development of the rose. Each development built upon the previous developments to help make the magnificent flowers we grow today.
In 1900, the 20th Century started with a new color breakthrough – yellow. Noted hybridizer Joseph Pernet-Ducher, the “Wizard of Lyon,” introduced his new hybrid, ‘Soleil d’Or’, a repeat-blooming, orange/yellow hybrid of R. foetida persiana. This was a major breakthrough in garden rose coloring at the time and was quickly capitalized upon. A new class of Pernetianas soon followed. This brightly-colored class of roses flourished for most of the early part of the 20th Century, before being combined with the Hybrid Tea class in the late 1920’s. Nearly all of our brightly-colored flame-orange, brilliant-yellow, and bi-colored roses owe their coloring to ‘Soleil d’Or’.
In 1901, Jackson & Perkins, a wholesale nursery company selling grapes and strawberries in Newark, New York, introduced a new Hybrid Wichurana rose, ‘Dorothy Perkins.’ Their new introduction quickly became one of the most popular and widely-grown roses in the world, and introduced the pleasure of growing of roses to many. With the success of ‘Dorothy Perkins,’ the Jackson & Perkins Company refocused its sales efforts to become one of the world’s largest and most prolific rose-nurseries of all time.
For most of the first quarter of the 20th Century a retired physician, Dr. Walter Van Fleet, worked for the United States Department of Agriculture breeding new roses. His work using R. Wichurana and R. Rugosa was successful in obtaining hardy, healthy, “dooryard” roses that could withstand the harsh winter conditions in the colder regions of America. Among his many successes were ‘American Pillar’ (HWich, 1902), ‘Magnifica’ (HRg, 1907), ‘Silver Moon,’ (HWich, 1910), and ‘Dr W. Van Fleet’ (LCl, 1910). ‘Magnifica’ (9.0 rating) is featured in the top-rated roses of the American Rose Society 2009 Handbook for Selecting Roses (2009 ARS-HSR). Van Fleet’s hybridizing efforts formed the platform for the creation of hardy, healthy, repeat-blooming, climbing and pillar roses.
Early in the 20th Century a retired Anglican clergyman, The Reverend Joseph Hardwick Pemberton, crossed ‘Trier’ (HMult, Lambert, 1904) with a wide array of brightly-colored roses to create a new class of repeat-blooming, fragrant, hardy, and healthy class of roses called the Hybrid Musks. Among his many successes were ‘Star of Persia’ (HFt, 1919), ‘Penelope’ (HMsk, 1924), ‘Cornelia’ (HMsk, 1925), ‘I Zingary’ (Pernetiana/HT, 1925), and ‘Robin Hood’ (HMsk, 1927). ‘Penelope’ (8.8 rating), and ‘Cornelia’ (8.7 rating) are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
In 1912, William Paul of Great Britain introduced a Hybrid Tea rose of unknown origin, ‘Ophelia’. Originally used as a florist rose, ‘Ophelia’ is noted for its “perfect” spiral, exhibition form. ‘Ophelia’ had the unusual ability to pass on its exhibition form to its “sports” and seedlings. Nearly all of our modern-day Hybrid Tea roses can trace their ancestry back to ‘Ophelia’.
A major war raged in Europe from 1914 to 1918. This “war to end all wars” became an opportunity for German-born Wilhelm Kordes, who spent four and a half years as a prisoner on the Isle of Man. During that time, Wilhelm amassed great knowledge of the parentages of roses, and at the end of the war, he used that knowledge to develop hybrids from many greatly-underutilized cultivars and specie roses including R. Canina, R. Rubiginosa, and R. Spinosissima. His use of these roses helped to increase the overall health of his hybrids. He also created R. x Kordesii, a new specie obtained from a seedling of ‘Max Graf’ (HRg, Bowditch, 1919) crossed with an unknown red hybrid tea rose. R. x Kordesii was a major breakthrough in the development of shrub roses. Its chromosome count is an unexpected 28 (the count most commonly needed in creating modern hybrids). It breeds true from seed, and brought greater health, hardiness, vigor, and repeat-flowering to Wilhelm’s hybrids. Among his many successes were ‘Eva’ (HMsk, 1933), ‘Crimson Glory’ (HT, 1935), ‘Erfurt’ (HMsk, 1939), ‘Frühlingsmorgen’ (HSpn, 1940), and ‘Dortmund’ (HKor, 1955). ‘Dortmund’ (9.1 rating), is featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
Not all rose developments during the 20th Century were made by rose hybridizers and nurserymen. American Rose Society founder and owner of the Mount Pleasant Printing Company J. Horace McFarland authored and edited numerous books dedicated to the enjoyment of growing roses. Among his countless contributions to the rose were:
- The creation of the American Rose Annual
- The creation of Modern Roses
- Editing the American Rose Annuals from 1916 through 1943
- Serving as the president of the American Rose Society from 1930-1932
- Testing of new rose varieties at Breeze Hill, his home in Pennsylvania
McFarland’s plethora of notable civic achievements also includes:
- Serving as president of the American Civic Association from 1904-1924
- Working successfully to preserve the Niagara Falls
- Helping to create our National Park Service
- Supporting preservation of the great natural world
There are three roses named for McFarland, ‘Editor McFarland’ (HT, Mallerin, 1931), ‘Editor McFarland, Climbing’ (Cl HT, Roseglen, 1948), and ‘Horace McFarland’ (AARS, 1945, HT, Mallerin, 1944).
In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed into law the Plant Patent Act. This act protected the rights of rose hybridizers and their creations. As a result of being able to patent their roses, hybridizers no longer had to worry about other people “stealing” their creations. Rose hybridization increased dramatically, and numerous new hybrids followed. ‘New Dawn’ (LCl, Dreer, 1930), the repeat-blooming sport of ‘Dr W. Van Fleet’ (LCl Van Fleet, 1910), has the distinction of obtaining plant patent number one. There were two roses named for our former president, ‘President Herbert Hoover’ (HT, Coddington, 1930), and ‘President Herbert Hoover, Climbing’ (Cl HT, Dixie, 1931).
In 1938, a group of nurseries formed the All-America Rose Selections (AARS), a testing program dedicated to the testing of new rose varieties to determine the “best” varieties. Since the AARS started its tests, they have encouraged the rose industry to improve disease resistance, introduce roses which can be easily maintained, and help people enjoy the beauty of roses. Testing is done throughout the country, in many different climates, to determine which new varieties are “best” for the entire country. Home gardeners know that roses with an AARS seal of approval have been thoroughly tested in many different climates, and were the “best” of the current year’s introductions.
During the 1930s through the 1950s, Dr. Walter Dexter Brownell from Little Compton, Rhode Island, continued the work of Van Fleet, and introduced a number of “Sub Zero” roses, which had improved winter hardiness, greater black spot resistance, and improved disease resistance overall. Many of his hybrids have repeat-flowering in a wide array of colors, classes, and flower forms, including many yellow and orange, climbing and pillar roses. Among his many successes were ‘Golden Glow’ (HWich, 1937), ‘Pink Princess’ (HT, 1939), ‘Nearly Wild’ (F, 1941), ‘Golden Arctic’ (LCl, 1954), and ‘Rhode Island Red’ (LCl, 1958).
By 1945, the world was nearing the end of its second “war to end all wars,” and rose development continued to move forward. A beautiful yellow-and-pink bi-colored rose was introduced on behalf of François Meilland and was named ‘Peace’ (AARS, 1946, HT, 1945), “. . . for the world’s greatest desire.” ‘Peace’ (the great-granddaughter of ‘Ophelia’), inspired numerous people to start growing roses. ‘Peace’ was considered a breakthrough in Hybrid Tea development at the time, and became “the standard” by which all roses were judged for many years to come. Hybridizers were quick to use ‘Peace’ to create many new roses in the ensuing years.
During the 1940’s-1960’s “Papa Floribunda,” Eugene Boërner, head hybridizer for Jackson & Perkins, helped to popularize his “Floribunda” line of new Hybrid Polyanthas. Using ‘Pinocchio’ (F, Kordes, 1940), and many other roses, he created one of the most colorful lines of hybrid roses ever produced – from dark reds and bright yellows, to bi-colored and pale lavenders, and little bit of everything in between. Many of his roses were stepping stones to achieving many wildly-different colored roses in future hybrids. Among his countless successes, he introduced roses in many different classes including: ‘Lavender Pinocchio’ (F, 1948), ‘Aloha’ (Cl HT, 1949), ‘Masquerade’ (F, 1949), ‘Parade’ (LCl, 1953), ‘Apricot Nectar’ (AARS, 1966, F, 1965), and ‘First Prize’ (AARS, 1970, HT, 1970). ‘Parade’ (8.2 rating) and ‘First Prize’ (8.2 rating) are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
By the 1960s, an English farmer, David C.H. Austin, introduced his first old rose/modern rose cross, ‘Constance Spry’ (S, 1961), and introduced the world to his “English” roses. His new line of fragrant shrubs combined the old-world charm and fragrance of old roses, with the repeat-blooming of modern varieties. He chose many widely-different roses in his hybridizing efforts to create his new line of shrubs. Some of them include: ‘Aloha’ (Cl HT, Boërner, 1949), ‘Fashion’ (F, Boërner, 1949), ‘Iceberg’ (F, Kordes, 1959), ‘Mme Caroline Testout’ (HT, Pernet-Ducher, 1890), and ‘Belle Isis’ (HGal, Parmentier, 1845). He introduced countless roses, in many different colors, most with the informal old-fashioned rose forms and powerful fragrances, including ‘The Squire’ (1981), ‘Graham Thomas’ (1983), ‘Mary Rose’ (1983), ‘Belle Story’ (1985), and ‘Robbie Burns’ (1987). ‘Robbie Burns’ (8.8 rating) and ‘Belle Story’ (8.6 rating) are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
During the 1960s through the 1980s, Griffith Buck, a Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State College, hybridized roses using the extremely hardy, Russian repeat-blooming specie, R. Laxa var. Retzius crossed with ‘Josef Rothmund’ (HEg, Kordes, 1940) to create roses that would withstand the harsh cold winters and the humid hot summers of the midwestern United States. Among his numerous introductions include ‘Country Dancer’ (S, 1972), ‘Carefree Beauty’ (S, 1979), ‘Blue Skies’ (HT, 1983), ‘Distant Drums’ (S, 1985), ‘Golden Unicorn (S, 1985), and ‘Earth Song’ (Gr, 1986). ‘Carefree Beauty’ (8.6 rating), ‘Country Dancer’ (8.6 rating), and ‘Earth Song’ (8.2 rating), are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
No discussion of the 20th Century roses is complete without the inclusion of Reimer Kordes. Reimer had a long and prosperous career. He was the son of Wilheim Kordes, and was quite successful using his father’s hybridizing lines, along with many new lines of his own. Reimer created numerous roses in almost every class of the modern rose. Among his several hundred introductions, more roses (fifteen) are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR than any other hybridizer. Some of his highest-rated roses are: ‘Surrey’ (S, 1985, 9.0 rating), ‘Elveshörn’ (S, 1985, 8.9 rating), ‘Immensee’ (S, 1983, 8.9 rating), ‘Robusta’ (S, 1979, 8.8 rating), ‘Hannah Gordon’ (F, 1984, 8.8 rating), ‘Iceberg’ (F, 1959, 8.7 rating), ‘Rosarium Uetersen’ (LCl, 1977, 8.5 rating) and ‘Kardinal’ (HT, 1986, 8.5 rating).
During most of the 20th Century, Ralph Moore, the “Father of the Miniature Rose,” used R. Rouletti, and almost single-handedly created the entire miniature rose industry. He is credited with creating more miniature roses than anyone else, but his work was not limited to just creating miniatures. ‘Linda Campbell’, (HRg, 1991), ‘Playgirl’ (F, 1986), ‘Crested Sweetheart’ (LCl, 1988), ‘Topaz Jewel’ (HRg, 1987), and ‘Ralph’s Creeper’ (S, 1988), are just a few examples of his work with other types of roses. Among his more popular miniature roses are ‘Simplex’ (1961, 8.4 rating), ‘Magic Carrousel’ (1973, 8.5 rating), ‘Rise ’n’ Shine’ (1977, 8.4 rating), ‘Millie Walters’ (1984, 8.4 rating), ‘Sweet Chariot’ (1985, 8.4 rating) and ‘Angel Pink’ (1987, 8.5 rating), which are featured in the top-rated roses of the 2009 ARS-HSR.
On November 20, 1986, the rose-growing community reached its greatest achievement to date. Through the efforts of rose enthusiasts across the nation, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation Number 5574, officially declaring the rose as the National Floral Emblem and cementing the “Queen of Flowers” its rightful and permanent place in United States history. ‘Ronald Reagan’ (HT, Zary, 2005) was introduced after the former president’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease ended.
Late in the 20th Century, America had become a society that runs at “full throttle” to keep up with the pace the modern world requires. While many Americans still loved growing and showing roses, they didn’t have time to “baby” them. Roses needed to be “carefree,” have lots of blooms all season long, and had to “take care of themselves.” A new crop of rose hybridizers that were dedicated to creating these “carefree” roses was hard at work. One of the leaders in creating these “carefree” roses is William Radler. His 1999 introduction, ‘Knock out’ (AARS, 2000, S), a cross of ‘Carefree Beauty’ (S, Buck, 1979) by ‘Razzle Dazzle’ (F, Warriner, 1976) raised the level of disease-resistance in roses to an all-time high. Because of the excellent “carefree” qualities of ‘Knock out’, rose sales increased dramatically. The idea of planting a rose and then leaving it alone, started to become reality.
By the end of the 20th Century, the American Rose Society’s membership had grown to over 21,100 members. Most of the members were amateur gardeners. Roses were available in almost every imaginable color, except true blue. Roses had become easier and more reliable to grow then ever before. The 20th Century had had quite an impact on the development of the rose. Today, 20th Century roses are more popular than ever! A look into the top-rated roses featured in 2009 ARS-HSR features more 20th Century roses than any other century. Of the 134 top-rated modern roses featured, 128 were introduced during the 20th Century (the other six were introduced during the 19th Century). The rose has become a favorite of us all, following a lot of hard work and dedication from the people and their roses from the 20th Century.
