China Roses

During the late eighteenth and early ninteenth centuries european explorers and merchants returned to Europe carrying plants from the far east. Among these were a small handful of roses. Four were used over and over again in the hybridization of roses: Old Blush, Slater's Crimson China and Park's Yellow Tea Scented China were among them. The chief characteristic of the chinas is their tendency to bloom repeatedly through the season. Several are very nicely branched and fragrant. Furthermore, most will resist the fungal diseases that can quickly destroy many other roses growing in hot, humid weather. From a gardener's point of view their biggest disadvantage might be the informality of the blossom, or the fact that they need warm, sunny weather and mild winters to thrive and survive. When their minimal requirements are met, however, they can be quite an impressive part of a garden.