'/> Fascinating Flowers: January 2015

Monday, January 19, 2015

The Best and Classic Old Garden Roses

Loved and desired by many… how well do you know about the best and classic "Old Garden Roses"?

No doubt, roses are the most commonly recognized flower in the world. Its bloom beautiful, fragrant and inviting, and represents love at its deepest. But how well do you know this flower that is desired by many? Read on to learn more interesting and fascinating facts about the best and classic ‘Old Roses’.

Alba Roses

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Alba roses comprise a variety of old garden rose native to England and Northern Europe. A natural hybrid between rosa canina and damask rose, they are shrubby plants that can reach up to 9 feet in height. Alba roses are characterized by their fragrant scent, grey-blue green foliages, and large blooms.

They bloom in mid- to late June; the lovely flowers come in white or shades of pink. A popular choice for gardens, alba roses suit well to any given climate condition. Some popular alba rose varieties are: Semi-Plena, Felicite Parmentier, Queen of Denmark, Small Maiden’s Blush, and Celestial.

Damask Rose

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The Damask rose (Rosa damascena), a rose hybrid out of Rosa moschata and Rosa gallica that traces its root back to ancient times. They are deciduous shrubs, quite hardy, robust with nasty thorns that can reach 3 to 7 feet in height. The flowers emit perfume-like scent and harvested for rose oil.

There are two known varieties namely: ‘Summer Damask’ roses which blooms only in summer and the ‘Autumn Damasks’ which bloom both summer and autumn. Flowers are known for its 60 petals and comes in light pink to light red. Popular Damask roses include: Madame Hardy, Blush Damask, Celsiana, Ispahan, Madame Zoetmans, and Omar Khayyam

Gallica Roses

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One of the oldest species of old roses, Gallica roses (Rosa gallica), are grown by the Persians way back in the 12th century B.C. Indigenous to southern and central Europe, gallica roses are hardy shrubs growing uprightly up to 4 to 5 feet. They bloom once a year with fragrant, clustered flowers in shades of deep pink, white, maroon, purple and/or spotted blossoms. Some of the well-known Gallica roses are: Rosa Mundi, Belle Isis, Charles de Mills, Apothecary’s Rose, Complicata, and Belle de Crecy.

Cabbage Roses

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Cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia), comprises about 200 varieties of old rose introduced by Dutch rose breeders between the late 15th and early 17th century. They are hardy and thorny shrubs, reaching to 1.5–2 m tall. They bloom once a year in June, the large, round and fragrant flowers come in shades of white, crimson, pink, or dark red-purple. Examples of Rosa centifolia include: Bullata, Fantin Latour, Chapeau de Napolean, Petite de Hollande, and Village Maid.

Portland Roses

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The Portland Rose, known since 1792, is a hybrid rose that resulted from cross-breeding an Autumn Damask Rose and a China rose. They are small and spreading bushy plants growing upright to about 4 feet tall. One of those old roses that repeat blooms, the short-stemmed blooms about 3-4 in in diameter are very fragrant and vary in colors – white, pin, orange, red or purple. Examples of Portland roses: Jacques Cartier, Comte de Chambourd, James Veitch, Rose de Rescht, Indigo, and The Portland Rosee.

Moss Roses

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Moss Rose (Portulaca grandflora), is a hybrid rose originating in South America around 1700. They are small, lanky but fast-growing shrubs reaching to 30 cm in height. They have thick leaves and stems covered with sticky moss-like substance, thus the name. They bloom once a year with showy flowers that come in shades of white, pink, yellow, purple, red or orange. Examples of Moss roses: Goethe, Mme Louis Levêque, William Lobb, Henri Martin, Général Kleberg, Mousseline, and Salet.

Bourbon Roses

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From Ile de Bourbon in the Indian Ocean, Bourbon roses first showed up in Paris in 1819 and is believed to be a product of cross-breeding a Rosa chinensis and a variety of Rosa damascena. They are vigorous growers that can reach 6 feet in height. Another repeat bloomers, flowers are fragrant varying in color from white, deep red, blush pink, and white stripes. Examples of Bourbon roses: Boubon Queen, Reine Victoria, Louise Odier, Madame Pierre Oger, Boule de Neige, and Souvenier de la Malmaison.

Hybrid Perpetual Roses

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A rose breed introduced during the 1800’s, this bloom is the result of cross-breeding China Hybrids and Bourbons. They are typically hardy and erect bushes with large, 40 petals fragrant flowers. Flowers bloom in clusters or singly and in shades of white, pink, carmine or maroon. They flower recurrently, in spring and again in fall. Examples of Hybrid Perpetual roses: Frau Karl Druschki, Ferdinand Pichard, Reine des Violettes, and Baroness Rothschild.

Rugosa Roses

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Rosa rugosa are tall, hardy shrubs native to Japan, Korea, China, and Siberia. This erect, leafy, multi-branched with vicious thorns plant can reach 4 to 5 feet in height. Widely planted as ornamental plants, Rugosa rose bloom late spring to early summer. Flowers come in shades of white, pink, and purple. The slightly fragrant flowers vary in petal structure from can single, semi-double, or double. Examples of Rugosa roses: Henry Hudson, Blanc Double de Coubert, Sandy, Sarah van Fleet, Pink Grootendorst, Hansa Fru, and Hansa – Double.

China Roses

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The China rose comprises hundreds of hybrid that are cultivated in Chinese gardens as early as the 11th and have reached the West around the late 1700’s. Another old rose type that repeat blooms, they are showy nor very hardy shrubs, but are very adaptable to both drought and humid heat. China roses can reach 2 to 3 feet tall. in height and drought. Flowers are small and come in shades of white, blush pink, dark crimson, orange and green. Examples of China roses: Old Blush China, Hermosa, Fabvier, Mme Laurette Messimy, and Cécile Brünner.

Tea Roses

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The predecessor of modern day Hybrid Teas, tea roses is a cross between Rosa chinensis and several species of Bourbons and Noisettes. The breed was introduced to the West in 1810 and 1824 by the British. They are characterized by their glossy leaves, slender stems with few thorns and large, cup-shaped flowers. They bloom nearly year-round from summer to the fall. Flowers vary in colors from The red, warm pink, white, tones of gold, yellow, or orange. Examples of Tea roses: Catherine Mermet, The Bride. Anna Oliver, Duchesse de Brabant, Isabella Sprunt, and Maman Cochet.

Noisette Rose

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Noisette rose, a cross between hybrid between ‘Old Blush’ China and Rosa moschata, traces its origin in in North America around 1811. They are excellent climbers with shiny leaves and smooth stems that can reach 20 feet or more in height. Another repeat blooming plant, flowers come in shades of pink, white, yellow or red. Examples of Noisette roses: Mme Alfred Carrière, Bouquet d’Or, and Blush Noisette.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Meet Dracula Simia - the 'Orchid Monkey'

Have you come across this unusual Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia)? Read on to know more about these unusual orchids' flowers.

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Shocked? No the images are not photoshopped! They are for real! The Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia) actually exists. It’s quite easy to guess how this remarkable orchid got its name - it has an an uncanny resemblance to a small monkey's 'grinning face'.

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The orchid species was only named in 1978 by the botanist Carlyle A. Lueren. The Dracula genus comprises more than 120 species. Dracula simia translates to "little dragon monkey, with reference to its long fang like petals," resembling the fangs of Count Dracula of film and fiction fame.

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This unusual orchid only grows in the cloud forests of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. In general, species of Dracula enjoy cooler temperatures.

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Dracula simia blooms at any season, and flower anytime it like. The flower smell a lot like a ripe orange.

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Somewhat ironic, because with the flower's eerie resemblance to a monkey's face, you’d expect it to smell like bananas, right?

Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Anniversary Flowers – Part One

Perfect flowers that match your wedding anniversary celebrations.

Flowers are one of the most popular anniversary gifts. Romantics like to give bouquet of fresh flowers on their wedding anniversaries. Here is a listing of the flowers often associated with the 1st through 10th wedding anniversaries.

Pansy – First Wedding Anniversary

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The pansy belongs to a large group of hybrid, half-hardy plants growing up to 23 cm tall. The pansy flower is about 6 cm in diameter, but some cultivars produce smaller or larger blooms. Many pansies come in an array of vibrant colors. Though several varieties produce bi-colored flowers, pansies come in a wide range of flower colors such as yellow, blue, red, white, pink, gold, orange, violet, lavender, and even black (very dark purple).

Cosmos - Second Wedding Anniversary

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Cosmos are annual and perennial plants of about 26 species in the family Asteraceae. This plant is native to Mexico and South America. This flowering plant grows to about 0.3–2 m tall having simple leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers are between 2-4 inches in diameter and occur in white, yellow, pink, orange, maroon yellow, and scarlet colors.

Fuchsia – Third Wedding Anniversary

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Fuchsia comprises about 110 recognized species of woody, flowering plants native to Central and South America. Most of the species are shrubs growing to about 0.2–4 m tall. The brightly colored flower has pendulous “eardrop” shape pointing downward. The flower itself is composed of a petal-like lobes called sepals red in color; and a petal occurring in various colors including dark red, orange, purple-blue, white as well as yellow.

Geranium – Fourth Wedding Anniversary

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Geraniums are perennial flowering plants consisting of about 200 species native to Southern Africa. The plant grows to about 15 – 60cm tall. The cup-shaped flower cluster floats on top of the plant It comes in a range of colors including white, red, pink, mauve, blue and magenta. Blooms can produce a variety of scents, depending on the cultivar

Daisy – Fifth Wedding Anniversary

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Daisies are simple yet sophisticated flowers in the floral world. This perennial flowering plant has smooth evergreen leaves and multi-branched stem producing multiple blossoms. The flower itself is composed of disk florets (yellow center) and petal-like ray florets. Generally, a daisy has white ray florets (petals), although sometimes it can be pink, red, magenta, purple or bronze.

Calla Lily – Sixth Wedding Anniversary

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The Calla lily is a perennial bulb native to Southern Africa. One of the most beautiful flowers in the floral world, calla lilies grow to about 1-3 feet tall. The green leaves 1 1/2′ long are shaped like arrowheads. In general calla lilies have white, waxy flowers, although some cultivars produces shades of pink, yellow, green, pink, purple, and orange.

Jack-in-the-pulpit – Seventh Wedding Anniversary

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Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from an underground stem base. It averages around 30 to 65 cm tall with irregularly-shaped leaves, growing to about 8-15 cm long. The flowers contained on a short stalk under the leaves are yellowish-green, with purple or brownish stripes. Each flower has a spathe, made from a single leaf, with a with an overhanging hood folding over its top.

Clematis – Eighth Wedding Anniversary

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Clematis is a semi-evergreen perennial vine that grows up to about 10 m high. Clematis is widespread in Europe, North America, Central America, Australia, and China. Generally, the fragrant flowers come in white, star-shaped blooms, although other varieties occurs in yellow, pink, blue, purple and red. Aside from the popular star-shaped flowers, clematis flowers occur in various shapes including; bell, tulip, and saucer.

Poppies – Ninth Wedding Anniversary

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Poppies are flowering plants comprising the genera of Papaveraceae. More than 100 poppy species native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia are cultivated as ornamental plants. Poppy plants can grow up to 4 feet tall. Flowers are either single or double having 4 to 6 petals. Poppy flowers come in almost any color, depending on the variety.

Daffodils – Tenth Wedding Anniversary

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Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus comprising more than 50 species and many hybrids. These fragrant flowers come in a trumpet shaped blossoms enclosed by a perianth (a ring of six floral leaves). Flowers have bi-color patterns such as: pink, yellow-white, yellow-orange, white-orange, pink, and lime green. Flowers come in different sizes – from a half-inch flowers on a 2-inch stems. to 5-inch blooms on 2-foot stem.

For those celebrating their 11th wedding anniversaries and onward, just wait for Anniversary Flowers Part Two.