Rosa damescena cultivars or ‘Damask Roses’ have two distinct sections: the Summer Damasks and the Autumn Damasks. The former flower only once, and are large, thorny, quite open growing shrubs with intensely fragrant pink to white flowers. The latter, and their allies the Portland roses, are shorter, more compact shrubs with the ability to repeat flower in the autumn. Their colour range also includes red varieties and they share the same deep perfume. ‘Kazanlik’ is the most famous of the Damasks, being the one used commercially in Bulgaria and the Middle East for use in making rose oils and water.
Pruning Guide
Prune summer flowering varieties, once established, by a removal of one or two very old stems after flowering. Recurrent varieties have their stems shortened by one third in February/March.
