Shannon Curle Roses

Every rose has a prickle!

Even the famous saying gets it wrong, roses have never actually had thorns. Botanically speaking, what we call a thorn on a rose bush is actually a prickle and the difference is more significant than you might think!

A little botanical detail that changes the way you look at your roses🌹🌿🥀

Most people deadhead their roses and never see a hip. But the rose hip is one of the most fascinating parts of the plant! They are the fruit that forms after a bloom has been pollinated and hold the seeds that one day might become the next generation of roses.
Rose hips are also high in Vitamin C. Historically they have been used for everything from herbal teas to syrups and preserves.
Leave a few on your plant this season and watch what happens. The birds will find them before you do! 🐦🌹🌿
Any questions about your roses? Drop them in the comments or book a consult🙂.

There is something special about a rose
that grows on its own roots. Own root roses can last
for decades, recover from the harshest pruning, and
will never be taken over by their rootstock.
No Frankenstein roses. Every rose I grow is
own-root, the same rose from the soil up to its blooms.
An own-root rose, well cared for, can last for decades🌹🥀

As we move into winter, the big flushes are behind us, but don't be surprised to still see sporadic blooms on your roses! Any questions about your roses? Drop them in the comments or book a consult 🥀🌹
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A Rosarian is someone who loves roses, how they grow, why they bloom, and what makes each variety unique. Welcome to my corner of the rose world, and to this new weekly series where I'll be sharing the language of roses with you.

Every week I'll be unpacking a new rose term. Save this post, share it with a fellow rose lover, and feel free to ask me anything in the comments.🌹

My rose breeding journey in print! Pick up this issue of The Zimbabwean Gardener and let me know what you think🌹

I am loving the colour of this rose. Any suggestions on what it should be named??

Ebenezer made its debut at the Annual Garden Show, Harare in September 2025. Bred, grown, and rooted in Zimbabwe 🌹🥀🌿 - limited availability this year

Check out this awesome post about rose fossils! 🌹🌿🌿

COOL ROSE FACT: Did you know that the oldest rose fossils ever discovered were found in Colorado? They date to 34-40 million years (the Eocene Epoch) and were preserved by volcanic ash. The specific species ‘Rosa hilliea’ was found in the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant, Colorado. The ultimate OLD garden rose! 😂

(Image courtesy of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.)

Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal diseases that affects roses. Comment if you'd like to know more about rose care in Zimbabwe or contact me if you'd like help with your rose plants🌹🌹🌹
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