Very ‘Old’ Roses
When rosarians talk about ‘old’ roses, they are usually talking about classes of roses in existence before 1867 when the first hybrid teas were introduced. Our Heritage Rose Garden features many of these beautiful plants, but another part of the Garden celebrates a rose with an even more ancient history, Rosa nutkana, our very own native Nootka rose. We know from the fossil record that roses have been in existence for at least 35 million years. Fossils of several prehistoric rose species have been found on the west coast of North America, and one contemporary rose which most resembles them is the Nootka rose.
This rose was first described by Western explorers who saw it at Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It has large, bright pink, single flowers in late spring, usually on the end of its branches. Its thorns are quite prickly, and the plant can grow into a dense thicket if left untended. We have a lovely specimen in the North American Cultivar ‘Nativar’ Collection by the Plaza.
We also have other native western North American roses, including Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsii), along the fence east of Shaughnessy Restaurant. It looks similar to Nootka rose, but the flowers are paler. Another native, planted near the David Marshall sculptures next to the Plaza is prickly rose (Rosa acicularis). It is the provincial flower of Alberta and proudly displayed on its license plates.
Presented by: VBGA Volunteer Garden Guides