Rose Classification
There is no official system for categorizing roses, but there are many classifications that are used all over the world. The American Rose Society and the World Federation of Roses jointly set forth one of the most popular of these classification systems. Other systems are often used, but most of the rose societies in the world use this system.
The American Rose Society divides roses into three main groups: The Old Garden Roses, The Species Roses and Modern Roses. Commonly known as wild roses, the Species roses can be easily spotted by their simple five-petal flower, blooming just once a season, and can be anything from low ground-covering types to climbing roses. Species roses are also the stock from which every other group of roses has been cultivated. Growing naturally in most of the Northern Hemisphere, popular varieties include Dog Roses, Cherokee Roses, the French Roses, Gallic Roses, and the Redleaf Rose.
Old Garden Roses were much more recently recognized as a class of roses than Species Roses. Old Garden Roses were recognized before 1867, while Species Roses have been around for millions of years, pre-dating man.
The majority of Old Garden Roses usually bloom once upon the arrival of summer. Varying colors of Old Garden Roses come in a variety of sizes of shrubs and vines. Usually a white or pastel color, these "antique roses" are easy to care for. This makes them popular for lawns and home gardens. Many groups of roses are classified in the Old Garden Rose group. The China, Damask, Moss, Hybrid Perpetual, Tea and Noisette roses are included. A desirable trait of the "antique roses" is their strong scent which is very sweet.
Modern Roses descend from Old Garden Roses. A rose which has been identified after 1867 can be called a Modern Rose. The Modern Rose is produced from breeding a hybrid tea with a polyanthus. These roses have gained popularity with their beautiful colors that are both rich and vibrant. When properly cared for, the majority of these roses with bloom over and over. For this reason, horticulturists think this class of roses to be very attractive. The hybrid tea roses, grandiflora, as well as the floribunda are the most popular in the Modern Rose group. Unfortunately, these roses are unable to fully adapt to colder climates, yet are still loved by florists and gardeners alike.
There is more to classifying a rose than the three main groupings. Ancestry, color, growth habit, scent, date of introduction and size, along with blooming characteristics, further categorize roses. Horticulturists find it difficult to classify every single rose. Hybrid roses can seem like their own group. The American Rose Society seems to have found the most functional system despite continued debate on classification. Many rosarians all over the world have adopted this system of classification.