Quest for the Rose:: A Historical Guide to Roses

I learned more from reading "Quest for the Rose" than any other horticulture book I have read. It is a fascinating book. After reading "In Search of Lost Roses" I became very interested in roses throughout history. Humans have been breeding roses for different characteristics for thousands of years. This book teaches modern rose lovers practical lessons about different varieties of roses: which roses grow well in hot climates, or dry climates, or the most northern climates, which grow tall and will clamber up a nearby tree or wall, and which will stay small and compact. All these characteristics are determined by the plant's ancestors, and the country of their origins. As an example, I had always heard that it is very hard to find a cold-hardy yellow rose. "Quest for the Rose" explains that the genetics that favor a yellow bloom originated in the most uniformly warm climates of the world. If you love roses, and are curious about their development over the years, you will really enjoy this book. Make sure to also read "In Search of Lost Roses", about a horticulturist's discovery of historic roses.

The importance of this book in serious rose research lies in the photographs of the roses in their growing habitat. Most rose books show close-ups of the flowers, rather than the entire bush, making it difficult to see how large the flowers are in relation to the leaves and the plant. Seeing the plants growth habit is also important in choosing a rose, which this book illustrates most admirably. In addition, the historical facts and cultivation information reward the researcher with the most complete volume on roses published to date. If you must buy only one rose book, this is the one to own!

This book provides an in depth history of the rose, plus modern roses. It gives good descriptions of the plant, its care and even its scent. Lots of good photographs