What Is the Difference Between Roses and Spray Roses?

Polyanthas

• Like all modern roses, polyanthas descended from species roses. The first polyantha was Paquerette, introduced in France in 1875. Though Paquerette's exact parents are unknown, the first polyanthas were probably the result of crosses between two Asian species, Rosa chinensis and Rosa multiflora. Though breeders still occasionally introduce polyanthas, the zenith of their popularity was in the 1902s and '30s. Among the best known polyanthas are the pink-flowered The Fairy; Perle D'or with its yellow blossoms; the purple Baby Faurax; and Cecile Brunner, another pink-flowered variety.

Noisettes

• Noisette roses have a French name, but were developed in the United States in the early 19th century and probably descended from a cross between Rosa chinensis and the musk rose, Rosa moschata. Spray-flowering noisettes, with relatively small fully double flowers, include the first noisette, Champney's Pink Cluster; the fragrant, white-flowered Aimee Vibert; Alister Stella Gray with its pale yellow blooms; and the pink Blush Noisette. Not all noisette shrubs feature small flowers. Those that do are generally larger in stature than the polyanthas.

Hybrid Musks

• Hybrid Musk roses were first introduced in the early 20th century and bred by Joseph Pemberton, an English clergyman and amateur rose hybridizer. Most of Pemberton's roses were bred from Trier, a variety with a polyantha parent. Not all the Pemberton roses are spray roses, but many fit the description. Among the spray types are Buff Beauty, with its buff-yellow, double flowers; Cornelia, which has sprays of soft pink blooms; the rose-pink, single-flowered Ballerina; and Danae, with clusters of yellow flowers. Pemberton roses are larger than the polyanthas, reaching 4 to 5 feet in height.

Multiflora Ramblers

• The largest spray roses are the multiflora ramblers, which can reach or scramble 10 to 12 feet or more. These nearly thornless shrubs can be trained to climb arches, pergolas or even the trunks of trees. Among the best known of the multiflora ramblers are Ghislaine de Feligonde, with yellow flowers that age to white; Seagull, an old favorite featuring clusters of single white blooms; and Veilchenblau, with blue-purple blossoms that age to mauve.