Judging Old Garden Roses

Original by Lily Shohan & Stuart Dobson

Updated 1996, by Pete Haring, Russ Bowermaster & Steve Jones

Modified, Updated 2005 for PowerPoint by Steve Jones, Chairman, Program Services Committee

Modified, Updated 2007 by Susan Clingenpeel-National Horticultural Judging Chair with contributions from Paul Blankenship and Jolene Adams

An American Rose SocietyPresentation

© ARS 2007

This program was developed to supplement judging schools and seminars

which may be held during a time when Old Garden Roses are not available. As

an aid to establish a set standard of perfection, most of the roses depicted

represent superior blooms for the variety. Although some colors may not be

accurately reproduced, they are adequate for our purposes

Family Treefor the Genus (Rosa)

(approved by ARS, 1999)

• Species Roses

• Old Garden Roses

• Modern Roses

Species

• Often referred to as “WILD ROSES”

• Will germinate true to seed type

• Usually single type bloom

• Usually Spring Bloomers

• Bush Size – 2 ft. to 20 ft.

• Listed according to their Latin name

R. laevigata Species – Cherokee

Rose

Major OGR Classes

• Alba• Bourbon• Centifolia• China• Damask• Hybrid China• Hybrid Gallica

• Hybrid Perpetual

• Hybrid Multiflora

• Moss

• Noisette

• Portland

• Tea

Lesser Known OGR Classes

• Ayrshire

• Boursault

• Hulthemia

• Hybrid Bracteata

• Hybrid Eglanteria

• Hybrid Foetida

• Hybrid Semperviren

• Hybrid Spinosissima

• Hybrid Setigera

• Misc. OGR

OGR ‘Stud’ Roses

Rosa caninaRosa gallica

Rosa moschataRosa phoenicia

Rosa fedtschenkoanaAutumn Damask

Old Blush (Parson’s Pink China)

Slater’s Crimson ChinaPark’s Yellow Tea-Scented

RoseHume’s Blush Tea-Scented

Rose 

European Stud Roses

Oriental Stud Roses

Examples of the Major OGR Classes

Alba Semi-plena

Souvenir de la Malmaison Bourbon

Rose de MeauxCentifolia

LedaDamask

Archduke CharlesChina

Archduke CharlesChina

Charles de MillsGallica

Marchesa BoccellaHybrid Perpetual

Crested MossMoss

Alister Stella GrayNoisette

Comte de ChambordPortland

Catherine MermetTea

Judging Old Garden Roses

•  Most judges dread judging OGRs, but it doesn’t need to be that way

• Never assume, look up all roses in ARS approved references to make sure

• Study the most commonly grown OGRs seen at shows

• All judges should grow at least some ORGs

• Take climatic differences into account, and refrigeration

• Better to be safe than sorry

• If unsure, ask another judge

Point Scoring OGRs

• Form 25%• Color 20%• Substance 15%• Stem & Foliage 20%• Balance / Proportion 10%• Size 10%

• Total 100%

Form 25 %

• Usually most beautiful at fully open stage• Should have a circular outline• Symmetrical arrangement of petals• Judged according to variety

– Single– Very double

• Usually less formal• Quartering not a fault• OGRs have more form types than any other class

Rosa foetida bicolor

Rosa roxburghii

Königin von Dänemark

Louise Odier

Catherine Mermet

Color 20 %

• Petal color – bright – clear – clean – typical of the variety…..

• Stripes & color blotches are typical in some varieties and are not considered faults – symmetrical display

• Stamens fresh – color is the best indicator

Green Rose

Rosa gallica versicolor (Rosa Mundi)

Marbree

Roger Lambelin

Cardinal de Richelieu

Mermaid - Mermaid

Mme Hardy

Substance 15 %

• Crispness of the petals – closely related to petal color

• Firmness in appearance• Substance diminishes due to water loss ,

which may manifest itself as crinkled or darkened petal edges, limp, wilted

• Some OGRs naturally have a creping appearance to the petals even when fresh

Mme. Ernest Calvat 1888

Celsiana

Stem & Foliage 20 %

• Clean – Healthy– No spray residue– No dirt

• Free of blemish– No insect damage– No fungus infection

• Stem on Stem – permitted on OGRs and Shrubs only… and then only one instance.

• Side buds are allowed on OGRs and Shrubs

Dog leg –Stem-On-Stem

Rose de Rescht

Petite de Hollande

Balance & Proportion 10 %

• Stem on Stem allowed to help with balance & proportion on Species – OGR – Shrubs only

• By growth habit OGRs typically have shorter stems

Size 10 %

• Size must be judged according to what is typical of the variety

• The size of the bloom is important for judging the individual variety, but should never be used to determine the award winner

• The OGR class has tremendous differences in varietal size

Examples of Size Variation

•

R. banksiae lutea R. laevigata

Sprays

• Overall shape and configuration of the spray

• Form of the individual florets

Overall Form• Ideal spray – maximum symmetry• Top view: regular outline

– Circular – Oblong – Triangular

• Profile view:– Flat – Domed

• Irregular growth pattern is a distraction – penalization for FORM…

• Improper grooming / disbudding – penalization for FORM or STEM & FOLIAGE…

• Massive Spray – distraction – penalization for BALANCE & PROPORTION.

Laterals – Trailing Specimens

ARS OGR AwardsThe ARS Dowager Certificate is awarded to the best Old Garden Rose that was introduced prior to 1867, which includes "ancient" and those with unknown dates, but known to have existed before 1867

The ARS Victorian Certificate is awarded to the best Old Garden Rose that was introduced during or after 1867, or has an unknown date of introduction

The ARS Genesis Certificate is awarded to the best Species Rose

If the Genesis Certificate is offered, all Species must be entered in the Genesis class. If not, then the Species would be entered in the appropriate Dowager or Victorian class

ARS Publications

Best books for judging Old Garden Roses at shows:

ARS – Modern RosesApproved Exhibition NamesHandbook for Selecting Roses

Dobson/Schneider – Combined Rose List

Best for knowledge:

Peter Beales – Roses and Classic RosesPhillips/Rix – Random House RosesBrent Dickerson – Old Rose Advisor and rest of series

Top Exhibition Old Garden RosesVictorian

Rose de ReschtPaul NeyronPink PetMme Isaac PereireMermaidZéphirine DrouhinMutabilisBaron Girod de l’AinReine Victoria

From ARS Rose Exhibitors’ Forum, 2003, Bob Martin, editor

Dowager

Baronne PrévostMarchesa BoccellaSouv de la MalmaisonGreen RoseLouise OdierSaletMme HardyCharles de MillsYolande d’AragonOld BlushHenri Martin

OGR Rosy Reminder• Sombreuil - for many years shown as a Tea (and eligible

for Dowager Queen) is now classed as a LCl (and no longer eligible for Dowager)

The End