Rosarians in the North who fancy old roses make use of the hybrid musk rose to prolong the blossoming season of their gardens. This is because despite the fact that the hybrid musks possess the hardiness as well as ever blooming nature of the modern roses, while their softly shaded, modest blooms bear close resemblance to the roses cultivated several centuries ago.
At the same time, the musk fragrance of the hybrid musk rose possesses a delicate and antique aroma. Actually, this class of rose is a late comer and it only dates back to the beginning of this century.
The origin of hybrid musk roses can be traced back to a cross of a Noisette rose, repeat-blooming rose that is sensitive to cold, with a hybrid of a strong and enduring Chinese species known as Rosa multiflora. It is worth mentioning here that there is nothing spectacular about the hybrid musk rose plant.
The individual flowers of this class of roses measures anything between ¾ of an inch to 3 inches (1.9 cm to 7.6 cm) across.
As the stems are long as well as flexible, you may train them to grow along a fence or even prune them back occasionally to form a tall and thin shrub.
Introduced - 1936
The flowers of 'Belinda' rose are semi-double and they are in bloom almost continuously all through the growing season. The soft, medium flowers are borne on large erect clusters. Each flower of this hybrid musk rose variety measures about 1 inch or maybe even less and is composed of anything between 12 and 15 flowers having a light scent.
When the flowers are seen from a close range, they reveal their white centers. The plants of 'Belinda' rose have a vigorous growth and they have an upright and bushy nature.
You may maintain the plants in the form of a compact hedge by pruning them regularly or train them to grow on a pillar. The plants are fairly resistant to diseases and, similar to most other hybrid musk roses, they are capable of adapting themselves to light shade.
Introduced - 1937
'Ballerina' rose is excellent for growing in places having mild climates. 'Ballerina' is also capable of flourishing in the North. However, when this rose is grown at the northern periphery of its range, the plants may be killed and razed almost to the ground due to the severe winter cold.
However, characteristically the plant will send up new shoots to present a wonderful display of flowers in the ensuing summer. 'Ballerina' produces large trusses of small, single, pink hued flowers in abundance with each having an eye at the center and radiant yellow stamens. You may grow this rose in a mixed border or also in the form of a hedge.
Alternatively, you may also allow the plant to spill over a wall or train the plant to grow it in the form of a climber, bearing clouds of blossoms throughout the growing season. Once the flowering season is over, the plants produce small, vivid orange hued hips in the fall.
Introduced - 1939
The color of the 'Buff Beauty' flowers ranges from buff yellow to deep apricot - subject to the weather conditions prevailing in the place where it is grown. The flowers are flattened, borne in clusters and are richly scented. Each flower of this hybrid musk rose variety measures anything between 3 inches and 4 inches across.
The plants have a profusion of foliage which has a bronze-red hue and as it matures the color changes to shiny dark green. The canes of 'Buff Beauty' have a brown color and are smooth. 'Buff Beauty' is an extremely attractive plant having an elegant, arching habit.
Often the plants are broader than they are tall. This plant needs plenty of space, but still makes a beautiful specimen. You may train this rose to grow on a wall or a pillar or even use it in the form of a ground cover on the banks.
Introduced - 1925
'Cornelia' rose is well equipped to endure northern winters as well as southern summers. It is not bothered by either. This rose produces long and arching canes that spread elegantly to form a large, beautiful shrub.
You may also tie the plant white it is still young and train it to grow along a fence and even over an arch. If you restrain the growth of the plant by pruning it after the first flush of flowers end to form a mound that is about 5 feet in height as well as wide.
When grown in the form of a climber, the canes of the plant may grow up to several feet more. In June, 'Cornelia' plants cover themselves with numerous clusters of small, very double, apricot-pink blooms. While the flowers are very fragrant, the stamens have a golden hue. The plants continue to be in bloom well into fall.
Introduced - 1913
'Danaë' produces dark, glossy foliage that provides a graceful setting for the small egg-yolk yellow hued buds. These buds unfurl into clusters of creamy hued, semi-double flowers having delicate ruffled petals. Each flower of this hybrid musk rose variety measures about 2 inches (5 cm).
The flowers emit a potent fragrance that is described as a blend of fruit and musk. 'Danaë' rose presents a wonderful display in fall, when it repeats blooms alongside producing orange-red hips.
'Danaë' rose is enduring in the North as well as in southern Canada and, at the same time, it is an exceptional performer in places having warmer climates.
In fact, this rose performs exceptionally well when grown in the Southeast, where the canes may grow up to a length of 12 feet (3.6 meters). When grown in the South, 'Danaë' rose is also capable of enduring shade and can also flourish when it receives full sunlight for a couple of hours every day.
Introduced - 1939
'Erfurt' rose produces long and pointed buds that have rosy red hue. These buds unfurl into semi-double, deep cerise-pink hued flowers having white centers and vivid golden hued yellow stamens. When the plants start blooming, they do so continuously till the first frost of the season. The flowers of 'Erfurt' rose emit a pleasant musky scent.
The foliage of this rose is wrinkled with a coppery green pitch that augments the beauty of the brightly colored flowers. The foliage also has a leathery texture. The stems of this rose are brown and produce plenty of hooked thorns.
The plants of 'Erfurt' rose have a vigorous growth and bushy nature. The arching canes of the plant may spread outward up to a length of 6 feet.
The long blooming season of 'Erfurt' rose coupled with profusion of attractive foliage makes this hybrid musk rose an exceptional garden shrub, ideal for growing in garden beds or borders. Similar to other hybrid musk roses, 'Erfurt' rose is also capable of resisting diseases and, at the same time, endure some shade as well as poor soil.
Introduced - 1960
The flowers of 'Lavender Lassie' are not precisely lavender, but the semi-double, potently scented of this hybrid musk rose have distinct nuances of blue blended with pink. The flowers appear very striking when they are borne in large clusters.
When the plants are pruned occasionally, you can maintain 'Lavender Lassie' in the form of a large shrub or alternatively as an informal hedge. On the other hand, you may also leave the canes to grow unrestrained and train them to grow vertically up on a trellis or a wall.
Introduced - 1924
'Penelope' rose produces salmon-hued buds that unfurl into shell pink flowers. The color of the blooms fades as they mature. The semi-double flowers of this hybrid musk rose are borne in large clusters and make a wonderful display with radiant yellow stamens at their center. The flowers have a rich and musky fragrance.
The plants produce small coral hued hips in fall that adorn the canes for several weeks together. The leaves are ribbed and glossy and have a dark green color. The plants of 'Penelope' rose are dense and have a vigorous growth.
They grow equally tall and wide. This hybrid musk rose is a wonderful selection for growing in the form of a flowering hedge or together with other flowering shrubs. It is also suited for planting along with perennials in garden beds. 'Penelope' rose is capable of enduring partial shade and is quite resistant to diseases. However, it may be vulnerable to mildew.
Introduced - 1919
'Prosperity' rose produces pale pink hued buds that unfurl to reveal double ivory colored double flowers that habitually show a pink blush. Each flower of this hybrid musk rose measures about 1 ½ inches across and they are very fragrant.
The blooms appear all through the growing season in large and heavy clusters and display well against the copious dark, glossy foliage. This hybrid musk rose is vigorous and has an upright habit. The erect canes of this rose arch elegantly due to the weight of the flowers.
This is a bushy plant and grows as equally wide and tall and needs a large area in the garden. 'Prosperity' rose can be grown as a wonderful flowering hedge. The plants are capable of enduring partial shade.
Introduced - 1947
'Will Scarlet' produces radiant red buds that reveal semi-double, bright rose red flowers whose color is lighter towards their center. When grown in places having hot weather conditions, the flowers tend to have a shade of lilac at their centers.
This actually makes a particularly pleasing contrast with the numerous yellow stamens of the flowers. The flowers of 'Will Scarlet' have a delicate fragrance. The plants bloom in profusion in spring and once again in fall. Once the flowering season is over, the plants produce several clusters of round orange hued hips.
You may grow 'Will Scarlet' rose in the form of a large shrub and maintain at its best at a height of anything between 6 feet and 7 feet. The plants grow equally tall and wide. In addition, this rose is also an excellent climber often reaching up to a height of 12 feet on a pillar or a trellis. The form of 'Will Scarlet' rose is graceful and arching. The plants of this rose are capable of enduring partial shade.