This year was established by the American Rose Society to commemorate the introduction of the first hybrid tea rose. All roses introduced after 1867 are considered to be modern roses. Old roses are very fragrant and offer a wide variety of growth habits. Rosa gallica grows just 3 to 4 feet forming a nice compact bush. Rosa alba varieties may grow 6 to 9 feet in height.
Modern roses are the most common type of rose found at the garden center or nursery.
Most are grafted onto a hardy root stock and must be protected from winter injury. The hybrid tea is the most popular rose grown. Flowers are produced singly on long stems from early summer until frost. The polyantha rose is a cross between Rosa multiflora and the hybrid tea. The floribunda rose is a cross between the hybrid tea and the polyantha.