Rose Rosa damascena

Rosa damascena, the classic “Damask” rose, is a venerable old-garden rose renowned for its intensely perfumed, semi-double pink blossoms. Highly prized for centuries in perfumery and traditional gardens, it bears large rosette flowers that combine an antique charm with exceptional fragrance. In bloom it produces a single flush of bloom in early summer, offering a spectacular display of warm pink rosettes that seem layered with petals. The plant itself is a vigorous deciduous shrub with arching canes and rich green pinnate foliage. Adaptable and hardy, it withstands cold winters and even poorer soils, making it suitable for informal hedges, cottage plantings, or oil rose plantations. The overall effect of R. damascena in the garden is one of Old world romance: clusters of softly colored blooms atop graceful shrubs, filling the air with a honeyed, classic rose scent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

R. damascena is a true Damask rose - essentially the archetype of the Damask group of old roses - and it occupies a unique place in both rose history and modern horticulture. This rose is an ancient cultivar or fixed hybrid (often cited as Rosa × damascena), with little variation among plants, indicating a long history of propagation from cuttings. It is typically classified among Old Garden Roses or Damask roses. Botanically, it appears closely allied to the Gallica roses (for example, it was once called R. gallica var. damascena), but differs in its bushy, somewhat arching habit and denser armature of prickles and bristles. Compared to many other antique garden roses, R. damascena produces moderately to fully double blooms that are pink or blush in color – giving it one of the richest, warm-pink color tones among once-blooming roses. The old rose form is a cupped, rosette style.

Horticulturally, this cultivar remains distinctive and prized today largely for its fragrance and historical associations. It has been cultivated continuously for over a millennium as the source of “attar of roses” (rose oil) and rose-water. Its flowers are thicker, more petalled and more fragrant than those of its presumptive wild ancestors (such as the single-flowered Musk Rose R. moschata or the Gallica roses). In a garden setting, R. damascena stands out for its lavish old-rose charm - the clustered pastel pink blooms nodding on long stems among prickly, yet elegant foliage – and for its rare status. It is far less common in modern landscapes than newer repeat-flowering shrubs, which makes it especially coveted by collectors and heritage rosarians. Its relevance in a modern garden lies in its fragrance and ornamental beauty, as well as its historical legacy (for example, it is the “mother” of Damask roses used for perfume and the iconic Bulgarian rose oil industry). Unlike more refined hybrid teas, R. damascena has a somewhat wild aspect: stout canes crowned with clusters of quaint rosettes. That said, its reliability, winter hardiness and adaptability have kept it in cultivation despite the trend toward repeat flowering varieties.

FLOWERING

R. damascena is generally once-flowering: it produces a single, concentrated flush of blooms each late spring to early summer. This habit is typical of the classic “Summer Damask” group to which it belongs. The flush can last several weeks, with peak bloom often in late May or June in temperate climates. In normal conditions, the blooms appear mostly on previous year’s wood - meaning pruning should be done soon after flowering to avoid cutting off next year’s flower buds. Occasionally, in mild climates or particularly vigorous shrubs, a very light second flush or a few scattered blooms may appear in late summer (a trait more common in the related Autumn Damasks), but R. damascena is not generally repeat flowering. Its flowering habit is best described as dramatic but brief: a fleeting summer rose pageant.

Flower bud:

Flower buds of R. damascena are long and ovoid, tapering to a point. They are held upright or slightly drooping on long, bristly stalks. When young, the buds are often a fresh olive-green with flushed pink or reddish tones as they swell, becoming more rosy as they mature.

The sepals are a notable feature: narrow and pointed, often significantly exceeding the bud in length, with slender, elongated “tails” at their tips and glandular hairs on the backs. These sepals reflex strongly at flowering, peeling back to reveal the inner bloom; the longer sepals, sometimes slightly expanded distally, can remain visible beneath the open flower, giving a star-like backdrop to the blossom. Each bud is protected by these hairy, reflexing sepals, which typically drop off shortly after the bloom opens.

The peduncle (flower stem) is long, often several centimeters, and densely covered with small prickles or bristles, so the bud is well-armed against browsing. In late spring warmth, the bud gradually opens from the center outward, unfurling petals in a slow, elegant manner that can take a day or two from half-open to fully expanded.

Bloom:

The open flower is what truly defines R. damascena. Blooms are medium-sized, typically 5 - 7 cm in diameter (about 2 - 3 inches), though under favourable growing conditions the flowers can be larger, up to 8 cm, though size can vary with growing conditions. The flower form is traditionally rosette or quartered, with petals arranged in concentric circles around a central boss. Depending on the clone, petal count can range from moderately double with about 15 - 25 petals, to very double with 30 - 50 or more petals. Generally R. damascena is considered semi-double to double flowered rose.

The overall shape is somewhat flat but richly layered, with an old-fashioned charm - the petals are loosely arranged so that the blossom often looks slightly shaggy or rumpled, rather than perfectly symmetrical. The color is a warm rose-pink; early in the bloom it may have deeper pink tones, fading slightly to a paler pink or even silvery blush as it ages, but the pink remains the characteristic hue throughout. Occasionally individual petals may streak a bit lighter, giving a gentle variegated effect, but the flowers are not strongly bicolor or multicolored.

Flowers are produced mostly singly on long stems, but often in small loose clusters of 3 - 5, up to a dozen in very floriferous plants, depending on the season and the vigor of the plant. Each cluster is fairly lax – meaning the flowers are spaced out – because R. damascena was traditionally grown for oil distillation (dense clusters would make harvest difficult). In a garden context, this results in an airy cluster of flowers where each bloom stands on its own stalk, creating a graceful spray effect. The petals, when fully open, often have gently scalloped or slightly wavy edges, and are thick-textured, as is common in old roses, giving them durability in transit to distilleries. Because R. damascena is once-blooming, the sheer number of flowers that open together gives an intense visual display - the bush can be literally smothered in pink rosettes at peak. Under rainy or windy weather, the heavy double flowers can droop or suffer petal drop, so sheltered planting is advisable during the bloom period.

Petals:

The petals of R. damascena contribute greatly to its classic look. Each flower carries dozens of petals, arranged in multiple overlapping whorls. Early in the season the petals are usually a bright medium pink with a velvety texture; as the bloom ages, the color may lighten to a softer, silvery pink but generally holds its hue well through several days of bloom. Petals are broad and ovate with gently rounded tips; many have softly ruffled or scalloped margins, lending a slightly frilled appearance to the flower face. The texture is substantial - not as satiny as some hybrids, but thick enough to resist light rain. Typically the petals do not fade dramatically to white or yellow, unlike some older roses; they maintain a pleasant pink tone until petals start to drop. In very hot or cold extremes, petal color can be affected, for example, intense summer heat might fade them slightly. With age, the inner petals may become more loosely held, causing the bloom to flatten. By the end of its life on the bush, a R. damascena flower will often open fully flat, showing a ragged petal spiral. However, given the powerful fragrance, few growers mind this end stage.

Fragrance:

It is impossible to describe R. damascena without emphasizing its legendary scent. The fragrance is exceptionally strong and multilayered - typically described as a classic “true rose” perfume, rich and warm with honeyed, slightly spicy undertones. Some note hints of citrus or geranium, and often a muskiness, perhaps from its moschata heritage, but generally the overall impression is the full-bodied old-rose scent. Most observers call it heady, deep, and lingering. The strength is such that a handful of open blooms can perfume the entire garden area around the shrub, and on still summer mornings it is often most potent. The scent is the reason R. damascena became famous in perfumery; it contains much higher oil content than many other roses. Unlike many modern roses bred for appearance only, this cultivar’s fragrance is not weak or one-dimensional - it is consistently rated as one of the most intense and appealing among roses. The scent may vary subtly from clone to clone and with conditions, some harvested Damasks are noted to have slightly different “notes” depending on soil and climate, but always the rose essence predominates. Dry petals or rose-conserves made from R. damascena are prized in cooking, underscoring the purity of its aroma.

Reproductive parts:

The stamens and pistils of R. damascena are mostly hidden under layers of petals. The visible reproductive structures are thus minimal in a very double bloom. Inside each blossom there is a cluster of golden stamens surrounding the very center, but usually only a small portion is exposed, the rest tucked under inner petals.

Fertility of the cultivar is not well-documented in horticultural literature, but historical use was for cut flowers and oil rather than breeding, so seed production has not been emphasized; however, hips will form if blooms are not removed. The rose hips (fruit) are typically small and round to ovoid, turning orange-red by autumn. They are not especially ornamental, more a waste product of unfertilized blooms in an oil field, and most gardeners cut off spent blooms to keep the bush tidy.

PLANT

R. damascena belongs to the Damask class of roses, often listed as Rosa × damascena, which also falls among the Old Garden Roses. It is effectively an ancient hybrid between Gallica and Moschata roses. The plant of this rose is a deciduous shrub with a bushy, upright to arching habit. Mature height of well-established plants commonly ranges from about 150 to 250 cm (5 - 9 ft), and width of about 150 - 200 cm (5 - 8 ft). The growth is fairly vigorous: new canes arise freely from the crown, and the overall shape is somewhat vase or fountain-like due to the arching branches. It is usually grown as a multi-stemmed shrub, either on its own roots or budded onto hardy rootstock. Unlike some older species roses, R. damascena does not sucker prolifically from roots, therefore it does not become weedy and is easier to manage as a garden plant. Because it blooms on previous-year wood, pruning should not be severe in late winter; best practice is to remove one or two of the oldest canes each year and to prune immediately after flowering.

In cultivation, R. damascena is fairly easy to handle. It thrives in full sun with at least 6 hours per day and tolerates typical garden soils from clay to loam, as long as drainage is good. Rich, humus soils encourage the healthiest growth and flower production, but the plant is also known to grow in fairly poor or rocky soils with adequate moisture. It is moderately drought-tolerant once established, though soil dryness during bud formation can reduce the bloom. The shrub is wind-firm enough but appreciates some windbreak when in bloom to prevent bloom drop. Ornamental uses include formal or informal rose beds, hedges, some train it as a hedge for harvest, and herbal gardens. When in leaf and outside of bloom, the bushy foliage has an attractive texture and color that complements many perennials, but its principal ornamental value truly is the floral display and scent in mid-summer.

Foliage:

The leaves of R. damascena are typical of Shrub roses. They are compound, pinnate leaves about 5 - 10 cm long, with five to occasionally seven, leaflets per leaf. Leaflets are oval to elliptic with a sharp tip and a slightly rounded to wedge-shaped base. The leaflets are usually dull or matte green on the upper surface and a lighter, gray-green or tomentose beneath. The margins of each leaflet have single, coarse serrations. The upper surface of the leaf is generally smooth to the touch with a subtle sheen, providing an attractive deep green backdrop to the pink blooms. When new leaves emerge in spring they are reddish-tinted, quickly turning to medium or dark green. Autumn foliage color may turn a subdued golden-yellow before dropping, though this is not a striking feature. The overall foliage is medium sized and is fairly dense along the stems. This duller, greyish underside of the leaflets can lend a textured or smoky cast to the foliage mass. In general, the leaves are typical of shrub roses: decorative, but subordinate to the bloom and fragrance.

Leaflets:

The leaflets are arranged oppositely along the rachis except for one terminal leaflet at the tip. Each leaflet petiole is short except the terminal one, which is sessile or nearly so. Along the rachis (leaflet midrib), fine bristles or prickles may be present on the underside, a trait common in the class. Veins on the leaflets are pinnate, with a central midrib and lateral veins running to the serrated edges. The texture of the leaflet is leathery and tough, an adaptation to withstand sunny, dry conditions. Glossiness is moderate – the upper surface has some sheen but is more matte than many modern hybrid roses. New shoots and new leaves often have bristly hairs or glandular fuzz on the stem and petiole, which can give a slightly sticky feel. Overall the foliage is well-formed and clean, rarely showing unusual lobed shapes; it has the classic “rose look” with oval leaflets and defined serration.

Wood:

The woody framework of R. damascena consists of upright to arching canes that are fairly straight and robust. A well-established bush may produce a central cluster of main canes of 2 - 4 cm in diameter, from the base, which then branch repeatedly. The branching is moderately dense - enough to support many flower stems, but not so congested that the plant chokes itself. New shoots are up to 1- 2 cm thick and elongate vigorously in spring. As canes age into the second or third year, they often take on a reddish-brown bark. The overall architecture tends to an informal shape: there is no strong single leader, and the branches can spread somewhat horizontally under their bloom weight. Gardeners often allow the shrub to form a loose mound or spill over a bit, rather than forcing a strict upright form. The wood is graft-compatible: the rootstock-scion union is usually at the base and not a distinguishing visual feature. When cutting for propagation, the wood of R. damascena is noted to root readily from mature (hard) wood, indicating relatively high vigor.

Prickles:

This rose is fairly well-armed with prickles. The larger prickles on the main canes are stout, curved, and plentiful. They range in length from 1 - 2 cm in length on average, and are hooked downward. The colour of new prickles on young shoots is often reddish, maturing to tan or gray-brown as they age. These major prickles occur at the nodes and along the lower two-thirds of each cane, and can be considered dense compared to a smooth garden rose. Working among the canes of this rose variety needs to wear gloves and be cautious; it also makes the plant deer-resistant.

Small prickles:

In addition to the large prickles, the canes and even pedicels and peduncles bear numerous small prickles or glandular bristles. These are usually fine, stiff, and reddish when new, turning brown. They almost give a fuzzy feel to the stem. There are so many of them that the stems feel almost velvety with prickles.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

As an old garden rose, R. damascena tends toward robustness but is not immune to the usual rose diseases. It is considered reasonably hardy and often requires less feeding than modern hybrids. It copes well with cold winters as it is rated roughly suitable for growing in climates similar to USDA zone 4 or H6/H7 in the UK scale.

Many authorities note that Damasks have good vigor and often a fair level of hardiness to pests, but they can still contract common fungal infections, especially in humid climates. Specifically, R. damascena is known to be susceptible to black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) under poor conditions, as many once-flowering shrubs are. Leaf spot issues may also arise in wet weather. Rust is a lesser issue, but it is not immune to this disease. Generally it has better-than-average disease resistance, likely because it evolved in relatively dry climates and with low maintenance. However adequate air circulation and avoiding excessive nitrogen late in the season help minimize problems - Damask rose usually needs less chemical control if given a sunny spot and regular pruning for air flow.

Tolerance of drought is fair once established - it will survive dry spells better than moisture-loving Teas or Bourbons - though it does need some water in summer to produce big blooms. It adapts to many soils from acid to slight alkaline, and can even handle light salt spray and wind to some extent, which is why it is still grown in exposed rose valleys in Central Asia.

The name Rosa damascena itself comes from “Damascus”, Syria, though the plant may have originated elsewhere, perhaps Persia. In early botanical texts, it was indeed associated with Damascus by poets and apothecaries. The various synonyms reflect its long history in different cultures.

Rosa calend​​arum (Munich and Borkhausen) and Rosa belgica (Miller’s earlier name) were once applied to Damask roses in Central Europe; over time, R. damascena Mill. (1768) became the accepted name. The English “Damask Rose” (or Damask or “Damask June”) mirrors the French “Rosier de Damas” and the German “Damassener Rose” - all meaning rose of Damascus.

The term “Summer Damask” distinguishes it from the “Autumn Damask”, which blooms longer.

“Damas ordinaire” (ordinary Damask) was a French nursery label, and “Double Red Damask” an old English trade name referring to the dark pink color and double form.

In Persian, this rose is known as Gul-i Muhammadi (“Mohammadan rose” or “Rose of Muhammad”), a name dating back many centuries, reflecting its sacred symbolism and uses in the Islamic world (Kashan, Iran, is famous for cultivating it).

Other synonyms like Rosa gallica f. damascena or Rosa incarnata were earlier attempts to classify it among Gallicas and other old roses. In practical horticulture, “Damask rose” almost always means what we call Rosa damascena.

As a traditional heritage rose, R. damascena has not been entered in modern rose trials and thus holds no modern cultivar awards. It predates modern awards systems. It has not won ADR, AARS, or similar awards (those typically go to modern hybrids). In practice, its “awards” are cultural: it is honored in rose festivals (e.g. in Bulgaria or Iran) and regarded as the “queen” of perfumed roses, but no formal horticultural awards have been recorded. It remains a historic variety rather than a prize show rose.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Precise breeding records for Rosa damascena are absent, as it is not a modern cultivar but an ancient, naturally occurring hybrid or domesticated selection. It was clearly in cultivation by at least the 16th century as noted by herbalists and likely much earlier in the Middle East or Central Asia. In botanical nomenclature, the name Rosa damascena Mill. was validly published by Philip Miller in 1768, although an earlier mention by Herrmann in 1762 is sometimes discussed. Older synonyms such as Rosa calendarum (Borkhausen, 1797) reflect attempts to name local forms, but there is no “parentage” record like those kept for modern hybrids. In short, its origin is traditional horticulture.

Modern genetic studies have shed light on its lineage: DNA evidence indicates that R. damascena likely arose from a complex hybrid involving at least three species. The most commonly cited combination is a cross of Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata, followed by pollination with Rosa fedtschenkoana (a Himalayan musk rose). In formal terms one can state following formula:

  the seed parent is a product of cross between R. gallica × R. moschata;

  the pollen parent is likely to be R. fedtschenkoana;

This triparental origin was supported by genetic analysis in the late 20th century and helps explain its mix of traits (fragrance from moschata, quintuplet petals from gallica, hardiness from fedtschenkoana). However, these “parents” were never bred by humans in a recorded nursery – they likely interbred in gardens or fields where multiple rose species grew. The crossing probably occurred centuries ago and R. damascena was then cloned and spread by cuttings. Therefore, while we can speak of ancestral species, R. damascena should be regarded as essentially a natural (or semi-natural) hybrid cultivar. ¹

R. damascena arrived in Europe by the Renaissance, and by the 18th - 19th centuries it was grown on botanical gardens, for example, specimens in Tasmania botanical gardens by 1859 called R. damascena. It has not been formally introduced or patented in modern times. It is usually listed as “old European” origin or as coming “from Syria” in nursery catalogs, reflecting the lore of its Damascus connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In the wider context of rose history, R. damascena is essentially the archetypal Damask rose - the kind of rose that 18th -19th century rosarians wrote about as Damask or “Gul-e-Muhammadi.” In older rose classification it was grouped among the Alba or Gallica hybrids at times, but today rosarians usually call it a Damask (one of the oldest classes of garden roses). In modern rose growing, Damasks like R. damascena are less common in gardens than in commercial fields for oil. However, enthusiasts of antique roses still grow it.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Rosa damascena is a historically rich and robust rose, distinguished by its opulent pink rosette blooms and intoxicating fragrance. It is a tall, thorny shrub that blooms once each summer, offering an intense floral display used traditionally for rose oil and perfumes. The plant is hardy and vigorous, with glossy pinnate foliage setting off the very double flowers. Its heritage is that of an old Damask rose, with origins likely in a triparental hybridization of Rosa gallica, moschata, and fedtschenkoana. Today it remains valued for fragrance and garden character, though it is largely replaced in modern commerce by related cultivars bred from the same Damask lineage. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  warm, medium-pink blooms in dense very -double rosettes provide an old-fashioned classic rose beauty;

  very strong, sweet-rose scent with honeyed and spicy notes, far surpassing most garden roses;

  single spectacular flowering in early summer, characteristic of true Summer Damasks;

  hardy shrub suitable for climates like USDA zone 4, RHS H6/7, that grows tall with arching canes;

  used for millennia in rose-oil production, with a storied heritage linking it to Damascus and ancient cultivation.

Propagation of R. damascena follows standard Old-Rose methods. Hardwood cuttings taken in late fall or winter (dormant canes 20–30 cm long) strike readily when treated with rooting hormone in a cold frame or sheltered bed. Softwood cuttings in spring or early summer can also succeed under mist, though older wood is often easier to root. Chip-budding or whip-and-tongue grafting onto a hardy rootstock (such as Rosa spp. rootstock) is a common nursery method to propagate named clones. Layering (pinning a cane down to root) is another approach for producing new plants. Seed propagation is generally avoided for cultivar maintenance, but would likely yield variable results.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The supposed parent species of R. damascena imparted distinct traits, so comparing them highlights the damask’s uniqueness.

Compared to Rosa gallica (the “French rose”), R. damascena has much more luxuriant, thicker blooms: Gallica roses typically have smaller, flatter or simpler flowers, while damascena’s blooms are fuller and more petalled. Gallica foliage tends to be shorter and often glossier, whereas damascena’s leaves are larger and slightly greyish beneath.

In contrast to Rosa moschata (the Musk rose), which bears small single white flowers and emits a pale musky aroma, R. damascena produces dramatically larger clusters of pink double flowers with a richer, sweeter scent. Moschata also tends to climb or scramble, whereas damascena remains a free-standing shrub.

If Rosa fedtschenkoana (Himalayan musk rose) contributed pollen, that species brings extreme hardiness and a tendency to form many suckers; damascena shares the hardiness but not the rampant suckering. Fedtschenkoana’s blooms are pure white and single, quite different from damascena’s pink doubles.

Thus, R. damascena combines the sturdiness and glossy leaves of fedtschenkoana with the abundant pink petals of gallica and the strong aroma heritage of moschata. Formally, where the parents have simple to few-petalled flowers, R. damascena shows greater doubling and fragrance; where the parents differ in color, R. damascena settles on a warm medium-pink. In plant habit, damascena is intermediate, with more branching than moschata, which is climbing, and more size than many gallicas. Overall, R. damascena is more floriferous and ornamental than its single-flowered parents, and its fragrance is a hybrid of their aromas.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

A closely related, commercially available rose is Rosa × damascena ‘Kazanlik’. In comparison, ‘Kazanlik’ tends to be a somewhat more compact shrub, typically about 100 - 150 cm tall, with similarly vigorous growth and pink blooms. The flowers of ‘Kazanlik’ are semi double or loosely-formed semi-double rosettes with a moderately shaggy petal texture, whereas R. damascena in its classic form may have a denser, more layered rosette. Colorwise, both are similar warm pinks, though some growers note that ‘Kazanlik’ blooms are sometimes a touch paler or cooler pink, while R. damascena can carry a richer, salmon-tinged pink in certain clones. Both are extremely fragrant with the signature Damask scent; however, connoisseurs often say true R. damascena’s fragrance is more complex and intense: historically, ‘Kazanlik’ was bred for oil yield and disease tolerance, and while still very scented, is optimized for ease of culture. In foliage and stem, ‘Kazanlik’ may have slightly smaller leaflets and somewhat fewer prickles, giving a marginally tidier look; R. damascena usually has coarser leaves and heavier prickles. Disease resistance is generally high in both, but ‘Kazanlik’ might outperform R. damascena in marginal conditions. Gardeners note that ‘Kazanlik’ also forms showy red hips if the flowers are not cut, somewhat more than typical R. damascena.

USDA 4

USDA Zone 4 - hardiness guide