Roses that are Classified as Gallica

Among the oldest of the roses bred and cultivated in Europe are the gallicas. This group posesses a number of good qualities. The flowers can be neatly formed as in Duc de Guiche, pictured. They are frequently fragrant. The plants will frequently thrive in poor soil, survive drought, grow in fairly deep shade, and produce a crop of flowers each year despite suffering all these insults each year. There are a few roses in other classes that are this tough, but only the albas as a group can compete with the gallicas in all these areas.

Gallicas, when they find a spot to their liking, tend to spread out and make themselves at home. Some may find a few cultivars border on being invasive. The fact that they bloom only once a year is not a serious flaw, except that if they are not growing really good soil, they may be a bit miserly with blooms. This can put the gardener in the position of wishing the rose would thrive or die; lesser roses would have the courteousy to just give up and leave space for something more vigorous. Despite these minor flaws , gallicas deserve a place in most gardens.