Best Damask rose?

Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA

last year

Wondering what your favorite Damask is, wanting to buy the Autumn damask but seeing what else there is to choose!

Featured Answer

Melissa Northern Italy zone 8

last year

They're all pretty wonderful if you ask me, but they like my conditions: temperate/Mediterranean, but getting warmer and more humid in summer and with longer and more erratic droughts. I like 'Quatre Saisons', repeat-flowering; then there's 'Celsiana', always lovely, and a big general favorite, 'Ispahan'. My plant of the last is about twelve feet across, to give you an idea. I want to get a sucker or cutting of the 'Quatre Saisons' that grows on a local farm by a ditch, but haven't yet gotten around to it. My Damasks get some disease but don't care, and generally look good. I don't do anything in particular for them: no water, fertilizer, disease/pest treatment; I just clean out weeds and old and dead growth now and then..

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Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
Location? Blackspot pressure? Enough chill hours?
Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA
Original Author
last year
Z6, mild BS, yes
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Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA
Original Author
last year
Thanks for your comment @Melissa!

Quatre Saisons is on my buy list this black Friday, can't wait!
Ross 5b IA
last year
I grow only two Damasks (as opposed to Perpetual Damasks), but they're both among my favorite roses: 'Celsiana' and 'Madame Hardy'. Both are worthy of a spot in any garden.
Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA
Original Author
last year
@Ross Thank you for your mentions.

Celsiana is one I looked into, very beautiful old Damask. And quite the stunner too!

Madame Hardy as well, extremely beautiful white, button style blooms.
NollieSpainZ9
12 months ago
I found the fragrance of Madame Hardy disappointing, quite light and grassy, but the blooms are simply gorgeous.

If portland damasks count, my favourite is Mme. de Sévigné. Sadly, I believe it’s very difficult to source in the US now, although it was US growers that originally inspired me to get it. Superficially, the blooms are very similar to those of Mme Isaac P, with the same intense fragrance, but the petals have more substance so resist both heavy rain and strong sun better. Plus it’s healthier than MIP, repeats better and can be grown either as an upright climber or kept a compact shrub shape if space is limite…