6
Miniature Bushes, Climbers and Trees
Growing roses is an adventure. Who wants them all the same-like so many cookies from one cutter, iced in different colors?
DOROTHY STEMLER
When we speak of types of miniature roses we usually mean the three general forms; bush, climber and tree. Until rather recently the bush form was the only one available. As far as anyone knows miniatures were first found growing as dwarf or miniature bushes. Since these were easily grown in pots, had a long season of bloom and the plants were easily transported, it is not surprising that this is the type which was extensively cultivated. Small compact bushes were also more easily protected from harsh winter weather.
In the not too distant past little was known of the laws of heredity and so development of really different forms of growth habit was slow. Miniature roses were not always as popular as they are today; until the discovery of Rosa roulettii in 1917 no real efforts to develop new kinds had taken place.
By crossing several of the old polyantha varieties with Rosa rouletti (and later with 'Tom Thumb') a number of new miniatures were originated, but they were all dwarf bushes. Since by far the major portion of all roses planted, both large and small, is the bush type this was of no real concern. Miniature roses were grown because they were small and so, beginning with 'Tom Thumb,' the chief claim to fame was that these tiny roses were "the world's smallest" or had a bud "no larger than a grain of wheat" or you could have a "bouquet in a thimble."
But as rose breeders continued to experiment and gardeners acquainted themselves with miniatures, new things were bound to happen. First, as the quest for new kinds was pursued, varieties larger in both plant and flower appeared. One of the first of these was 'Baby Gold Star' which got its yellow color from a hybrid tea. As time went on more successful crosses were made. Today we have a wide variety of hybrids available for our gardens.
While it Is true that one or two of the earlier miniatures gave rise to climbing sports they are not recurrent. The real story of climbing miniatures is of more recent origin. It had its beginning in some fortunate crosses which I made here at Visalia, California. (See Chapter 19.)
From these crosses, and others made more recently, have come most all of today's array of everblooming climbing miniatures. These little roses are miniature counterparts or the larger flowered everblooming climbers growing in your gardens today.
Climbing miniatures may now be had in several colors including red, pink, white and yellow. Plants grow two and one-half to five feet high and with good care will bloom repeatedly from spring to frost. They may be trained on posts, fences, or small trellises. Allowed to grow naturally they will develop into bushy arching shrubs. If you lack room for large full size plants get out your pruning shears and shape the plants to fit your space. Climbing miniatures, like bush varieties, flower on new wood.
The miniature rose tree is the third type. This is not a natural genetic form. These roses are made or trained into shapely trees by the skilled nurseryman and gardeners.
Who shaped the first miniature rose tree? No doubt someone noticed a stronger growing shoot arising from the base of a bush variety. By carefully pruning and training it a miniature tree rose was born. This method is still used, but it has two major objections. First, it is difficult to train two or more trees to grow exactly alike, even using plants of the same variety. The proper shoot often does not arise when wanted; it may be weaker or stronger than the plant next to it, thus uniformity in growth and height are never attained. The second objection is that such a plant is constantly sprouting from the base and will, if not carefully watched, return to the bush form.
Therefore, the majority of miniature tree roses are grown by one or the other of two methods involving the use of pre-grown full length trunks to which the head (top) is grafted or budded. Methods of producing these are described and illustrated in Chapter 12.
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