Polyantha roses are not exactly gone, but they are certainly not as easy to find as they once were. Some are still available through specialist rose nurseries, especially those that carry heritage, old-fashioned, or less common roses, but they do not usually get the same attention as modern shrub roses, floribundas, hybrid teas, or heavily marketed new releases.
Part of this is probably simple fashion. Gardeners’ tastes change, and nurseries naturally concentrate on roses that sell well. Newer roses are often promoted more strongly, and protected modern varieties may also be part of commercial breeding and licensing programs.
Older polyanthas, many of which are long out of protection, may not offer the same commercial incentive, even if they are still excellent garden plants.
That is a shame, because polyanthas have a lot to offer. They are usually compact, generous with their flowers, and often very useful in smaller gardens, borders, edging, and cottage-style planting. They may not have the glamour of a large hybrid tea bloom, but they can be charming, tough, and wonderfully free-flowering.
Featured Polyantha Rose: Perle d’Or
Perle d’Or is a beautiful old polyantha rose with soft apricot, peach, and cream tones. Its name means “pearl of gold,” which suits it well, because the flowers have a warm, glowing softness rather than a hard bright color.
It is sometimes described as having a look similar to Cécile Brunner, but with warmer coloring. The blooms are small and charming, carried with the light, graceful character that makes polyanthas so appealing.
Perle d’Or is a good example of why polyantha roses still deserve attention. It may not have the size or drama of a modern hybrid tea, but it has charm, history, and a gentle garden presence that many larger roses cannot quite match.
We Have The Polyantha To Thank For Floribunda Roses
Polyantha roses are also important because they helped lead to the development of floribunda roses. Early rose breeders crossed polyanthas with hybrid tea roses, hoping to combine the generous cluster-flowering habit of polyanthas with the larger blooms and wider color range of hybrid teas. The result eventually became the floribunda class, which is one reason polyanthas deserve more credit than they often receive. They may look modest beside some modern roses, but their influence on rose breeding has been enormous.
Characteristics Of The Polyantha
Some characteristics of a polyantha are a short, shrublike growth. Typically they have many small clustered flowers that bloom repeatedly. They can range in colors from white, pink. red, and yellow and gold, most commonly being pink and red.
They are known for being winter hardy, but seem to fare best in the more temperate climates…not too hot or too cold. They are relatively disease resistant but can get the occassional blackspot.
Deadheading is recommended with easygoing pruning. They work great as small hedges or as standalone shrubs.
Polyantha Roses Worth Considering
The Fairy is probably one of the best-known polyantha roses, and for many gardeners it is the first one that comes to mind. It has masses of small pink flowers and a low, spreading habit, which makes it useful for borders, edges, and informal planting.
Cécile Brunner is often called the “Sweetheart Rose,” and it is easy to see why. The small, perfectly shaped pink blooms have a delicate charm, and the rose has remained popular long after many other polyanthas have faded from view.
Marie Pavié is a lovely older polyantha with soft white to blush flowers. It has a gentle, old-fashioned feel and is a good choice for gardeners who like pale, graceful roses rather than bold modern colors.
Margo Koster brings warmer color to the group, with small coral to salmon-pink blooms. It is a good reminder that polyanthas are not all pale pink or white.
China Doll is a compact pink polyantha with a neat habit and plenty of flowers. It suits smaller gardens, edges, and places where a full-sized rose would be too much.
Baby Faurax is a small mauve-purple polyantha, and an interesting one if you want something a little different. Its color gives it more character than many people expect from such a small rose.
Polyanthas may not dominate nursery catalogues the way they once did, but they are still worth seeking out. For small gardens, cottage-style planting, edging, and anyone who enjoys roses with history and charm, they still have plenty to offer.
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