Dunn Formal A New Era Garden Jean–Baptiste Guillot, gardener to Arguably the most widely–recognized Emperor Napoleon and Empress flower, the beauty and diversity of modern Josephine of France, is credited e s i s ta n c e

is celebrated in the Dunn Formal Rose with creating the first modern R Garden, given in memory of William R. J. rose in 1867. He used so–called

Dunn, Jr., who first envisioned a botanical “hybrid perpetuals,” which were i s e a s e D good excellent excellent excellent susceptable mildew powdery black spot and powdery susceptible mildew excellent black spot susceptible fair susceptable mildew powdery black spot susceptible garden in Birmingham. Originally designed weakly re–blooming, and tea roses in 1963, and updated by Robert Kirk in from China in his breeding, and 1988, this beautiful and popular feature is named his initial creation– the

laid out in a classic cross–axial style, with first – ‘La France.’ a n c e r

strong formal (mirror–image) symmetry. Along with the huge size and rich a g

Bird’s Eye View r

Elegant structures provide architectural fragrance of its flowers, it boasted a F moderate highly fragrant light fruity slight violet & heavy sweet moderate mild to fruity to sweet none little to mildly fragrant old strong perfume raspberry counterpoints: a columned cypress pergola, first in the world of roses: a heavy, dedicated to Beverley Dunn, offers a shady reliable and dramatic season–long Roses in Commerce r respite. At either end, large urns (see our flowering cycle. From this esteemed o l o C

Growing roses is big business in the landscape and cut flower trades. r Sculpture Guide for more information beginning the modern rose era The introduction of a new rose results from years of research, breeding,

on sculptures), given in honor of Jeanne began; since then countless hybrid l o w e

and field evaluations, and represents a substantial investment in F rose–pink ochre pink to blend red double yellow white creamy rose–pink medium pink pink medium yellow intense pinkish–red red Cunningham, billow with seasonal teas, floribundas, grandifloras, money and time. Such a venture promises financial reward and merits offerings. The garden is in bloom from polyanthas, climbers, miniatures

legal protection. The first plant patent in the United States was issued t April until frost, with a spring peak around and, more recently, shrub roses, h

for a rose, the known as ‘New Dawn,’ in 1931. Today, new rose e i g mid–May and a fall peak in mid–October. have been bred. varieties are backed by massive marketing campaigns, conspicuous H 4–5’ 2-3’ 3-5’ 50’ up to 4-8’ 2-4’ 8-10’ 7’ up to 1-2’ 6-12’ 4-5’ The collection consists of up to 115 varieties packaging and, often, celebrity names to accompany their patents. of hybrid roses. Rosa ‘Peace’ Rosa ‘Henry Fonda’ Commercial production of roses is concentrated in the U.S.A., as well as France, Holland, Israel, Mexico and Colombia. y p e T shrub tea hybrid shrub climber (thornless) tea hybrid climber grandiflora miniature polyantha tea hybrid Rosa ‘Rhapsody’ ‘Lutea’ ‘Queen Elizabeth’ ‘Bucbi’ ‘Meiberos’ ‘Radrazz’ ‘Madame Plantier’ Wild’ ‘Nearly Dawn’ ‘New ‘Rise ‘N Shine’ ‘Russeliana’ ‘JACopper’ a m e o ta n i c a l

B N Rosa Rosa Rosa banksiae Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa / a m e k r N e m a d a o m m o n r C T Beauty™ rose Carefree Elle® rose Knock Out® rose Lady Banks’ rose Mme. Plantier rose Wild rose Nearly rose Dawn New rose Queen Elizabeth Rise ‘N Shine rose rose cottage Russel’s Honor® rose Veterans garden guide feet in warmer ones. cold climates and up to five about three feet in height season. Plants generally reach off and on throughout the strongly perfumed and bloom They are often moderately to lilac or lavender) hybrid teas. there are even “blue” (actually, the most complete among roses; central cone. The color range is double flower with a high delicately into a delightful pointed form that opens beautiful in bud, with a long per stem and are particularly They generally bear one flower H

y Growing Roses R B i d T

s a e As popular as they are, roses are not the easiest plants for average

: gardeners to grow. So–called shrub and landscape types are notable Dunn Formal exceptions, but most hybrid roses are demanding, requiring full sun, consistent moisture, good drainage, timely and proper pruning (encourages re–blooming), and regular treatment for pests. In our a Garden of Collections until frost. they continue to flower to bloom in spring, Among the latest roses semi–double or double. blooms may be single, red, and orange. The shades of white, pink, on short stems in clusters of small flowers small leaves and dense height, they have 18 to 24 inches in bushy plants, averaging Generally low– P moist, humid climate, roses are especially prone to fungal infections, y t n lya o and leaf and root diseases; for healthy plants, repeat chemical h

s a applications are almost a certainty. :

growing, perfumed varieties. this class does contain several highly generally known for their fragrance, flower. Although floribundas are not this group; they are rarely out of perhaps the main characteristic of fully double. Constant bloom is but most modern hybrids are are single–flowered or semi–double, come in a full range of colors. Some across) on moderately long stems and flowers (up to two to three inches clusters of small to relatively large than hybrid teas. Floribundas bear form more attractive, less rigid plants three and a half feet. They generally height, ranging from 18 inches to Floribundas are quite variable in F

o l The Dunn Formal Rose Garden is an official All–America r i b Rose Selection Display Garden; new introductions are n u d

s a displayed every year and it perennially wins AARS : maintenance awards. To learn more about roses, visit The Library at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Get involved with the Birmingham Chapter of the American Rose Society whose members actively tend this garden; call our Volunteer Office at 205.414.3962. rather than in bursts. over the flowering season generally bloom continually as perfumed. Grandifloras teas, although often not bud and bloom as hybrid are as attractive in both best cultivated varieties, large flowers that, in the teas. They bear clusters of to the leaves of hybrid in large, shiny leaves similar are generally well–clothed upright–growing plants that climates. They are sturdy, in height, even in harsh often reach five feet or more Tall–growing roses, these G r n a Note: This garden is closed to visitors once a week for d

i Rosa ‘Elle’ f

o l maintenance, usually Tuesday. r s a

: However, shrub and landscape roses are markedly different than Rosa ‘Elina’ their kin. These user–friendly roses were popularized (and breeding Most are everblooming. from shrubby to creeping to climbing. and more growth forms than any other, as wide a color range as any class of rose or single; fragrant or odorless. They have simple, semi–double, or double; clustered 18 inches in height. Their flowers can be or can easily be maintained at less than Generally speaking, they either remain on thin stems with diminutive foliage. group is a combination of small flowers feet. The major characteristic of this miniatures eventually grow to three reach more than six inches, many other while truly tiny miniatures rarely difficult. Even their height is deceptive: many different forms, defining them is Since miniature roses are available in so M

iniatu efforts were concentrated) because beginner and average gardeners, r es

: and landscape designers demanded

easy care, reliable performance and pest–tolerance along with their flowers. These adaptable roses grow in a dense, shrub–like fashion, and although their individual flowers are smaller, most are stunning in and home. fragrance for the garden with most providing and winter–hardy, grow, disease–resistant, in general are easy to multifaceted group that Roses comprise a fragrance. Old Garden for their beauty and when they were revered of the Roman Empire date back to the time of today’s roses. Some are the predecessors Old O

l bloom, repeat well, and offer some ‘Strike It Rich’ d Rosa G

a fragrance; a few have attractive D R

n e fruit, called hips. Chemical R applications are seldom necessary The publication is donated by: The Dunn – French Family Birmingham Botanical Gardens s e s o for health and vigor. Fred Spicer: Text. Andrew Krebbs: Photography. Rob Lagerstrom: Photography. : Rosa ‘Hot Cocoa’ Gooseprints: Design. Special Thanks: Bob Eskew and George Zary.