Damask Roses~the original old fashioned rose, used for attar of roses

The Damask rose was introduced officially in Europe during the XIII century, brought from Persia; but was probably in Europe before that, since it shows up in ancient Roman frescoes, specifically the Autumn Damask rose. R. damascena can be found nowadays in the wild around Morocco, Andalusia, the Middle East and the Caucasus.

These roses are shrub roses and are also included on what is referred as Old Garden Roses (OGR), Heritage roses or Antique roses. Damasks are related to gallicas. Summer damasks are crosses between gallica roses and R. phoenicea and autumn damasks between Gallicas and R. moschata.

These varieties are very resistant, vigorous and robust, with vicious thorns. Develop into large and tall plants, mostly growing to around 4ft x 36 in / 1.2m x 90cm. Use a damask rose in the garden as a feature, by itself or in mixed borders and beds.

Easy To Grow

Damask roses require minimal care and are easy to grow. They love any type of soil, except chalk. Give them some general fertilizer in spring and rose food in mid-summer and cover the soil at their bottom with organic mulch and they will be happy. Some pruning should be done in late winter or early spring. Just cut out the weak or diseased stems and enough just to establish a good plant shape. Do cut dead heads in late summer also.

Exceptionally Fragrant

Image courtesy of karenswhimsy.com

Damasks flowers are the most fragrant ones from the Old Garden Roses. They are famous for their fragrances, which enchants everyone. In ancient times they were grown for perfume, rose oil or attar of roses. Cosmetic products were made from them. There is recent research made on R. damascena essential oil, to prove its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-microbial activities.

Most roses only have one flush of flower, in summer. An exception is, for instance, the rose ‘Autumn Damask’ that flowers during summer and autumn, repeatedly. Flowers are semi-double or double blooms made of velvety petals. Damask roses are known for their 60 petals and were treated as queens in Persian and Arabian gardens.

Some to try on your garden:

• ‘Pink Leda’ – medium pink, double blooms
• ‘Ispahan’ aka Rose d'Isfahan, Pompon des Princes – pink double flowers
• ‘Celsiana’ aka Abondante, Belle Couronnée, De Cels, Incarnata Maxima, La Coquette, Mutabilis, Van Huysum - light pink, semi-double blooms
• 'La Ville de Bruxelles' aka Ville de Bruxelles – medium pink, double blooms
• 'Rose d'Hivers' - white flowers, shade tolerant
• 'Blush Damask' aka Blush Gallica, Rosier de Damas à Petale teinte de rose – light pink double flowers
• 'Professeur Emile Perrot' aka Kazanlyk – medium pink, double quartered flowers
• 'Omar Khayyám' – medium pink, double quartered flowers
• 'Madame Hardy' aka Mme Hardy - pure white blooms, with delicious strong fragrance and light green foliage
• 'Madame Knorr' aka ‘Comte de Chambord’ - warm pink flowers; repeat flowering, in early summer to mid-summer, repeating in early autumn to mid-autumn.
• ‘Madame Zoetmans’ aka Mme. Soetmans, Mme. Zoetmans, Madame Zöetmans – white, Double Quartered flowers.
• ‘Autumn’ aka Rosa × damascena var. semperflorens, Four Seasons, Quatre Saisons, Autumn Damask - medium pink double flowers, very fragrant. Repeating flowering during summer and autumn.