What’s that, you say? Aren’t all roses fragrant? And do not they all just smell like … roses? The answer to all three questions, quite simply, is not any. Some roses lack any type of odor altogether, and those which are fragrant provide an unexpectedly vast array of scents. Granted, they’ll all start out with something of a rosy odor, but from that you might be amazed at the additional aromas which exist in the rose world. Here are six types of scents you’ll be able to find and flowers that provide; take a glimpse — or a sniff — on your own.
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1. Clove. So many flowers have a sweet odor that it’s refreshing to find some that ramble over to the hot side. Spices like clove and cinnamon remind me of the holidays — that they offer an instantly homey scent and feel.
‘Fragrant Cloud‘ has a wonderful spicy odor on 5-inch coral blooms in USDA zones 5 to 9. This early-summer bloomer, growing up to 5 feet tall, is right in the home as a hedge or at the back of a border or bed.
Other hot bloomers include ‘Scent from Above’, ‘ ‘America’, ‘ ‘Sweet Intoxication’, ‘ ‘Westerland’, ‘ ‘Strike it Rich’ and ‘Lilian Austin’.
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2. Licorice. Who doesn’t love a sweet anise odor? This old-fashioned odor places me in my happy place; it’s reminiscent of childhood visits to candy shops.
This climbed, ‘Julia Child’, honors its namesake nicely with its gold 4-inch blooms and quaint odor. It’s a smaller tree rose, growing up to 2 1/2 ft tall and wide, and flourishing in late spring to early summer in zones 6 to 9. Additionally, it is unusually heat resistant and disease resistant — a plus in almost any garden.
More licorice-scented roses include ‘Summer Nights’, ‘ ‘Tahitian Sunset’, ‘Monkey Business’ and ‘Butter Cream’.
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3. Antique. This is the odor most of us imagine when we think of roses; if you’re looking for a strong rosy addition to your garden, these are the flowers you desire.
One of the best is ‘Melody Parfumee’, a stunning dark lavender rose growing up to 5 feet tall and 4 ft wide in zones 5 to 10. It’s an ancient- to late-summer bloomer with ruffly flowers in clusters.
More classic rose odor can be had with ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, ‘ ‘The Countryman’, ‘ ‘Falstaff’, ‘ ‘Harlow Carr’ and ‘William Shakespeare’.
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4. Fruit. The fruity roses are a large bunch, with scents ranging from apple to citrus. I adore these roses because they seem really clean and fresh, marrying well with additional blossom blossoms.
Try ‘Midas Touch’, a strong yellow hybrid tea rose with 3- to 4-inch blooms from early summer to midfall. This can be a smaller increased, developing just 3 feet tall and wide, so it’s perfect for the front or middle sections of your beds. Grow it in zones 7 to 10.
Other fruity roses include ‘Pink Promise’, ‘Olympiad’, ‘Enchanted Evening’ and ‘Wild Blue Yonder’.
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5. Raspberry. Yes, I know raspberry is a fruit and we have just talked about sweet aromas, but it’s raspberry. Any flower that smells like a raspberry deserves another mention, in my opinion.
Have a look at ‘Moondance’, a stunner that by virtue of its colour and odor reminds me of raspberries and cream. White blooms with creamy centers look in early to late summer, reaching heights up to 5 ft and widths up to 4 feet. Grow it in zones 4 to 10.
More raspberry-scented roses include ‘Alnwick’ and ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’.
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6. Light and sweet. Sometimes you merely want a hint of odor, and here is where these roses provide. Vintage, sweet and light — nothing overpowering or exotic.
‘Geoff Hamilton’ is a great alternative with its baby-pink petals and classic climbed form. It grows to 6 ft tall, so make sure you give it space in the back of your edge. It blooms in late spring to early summer and boasts excellent disease resistance.
More softly scented roses to try are ‘Hot Cocoa’, ‘Hot Tamale’, ‘ ‘Agatha Christie’ and ‘Angela Rippon’.
More: Expert Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses