Marin Rose Society - Yellow Roses

Award of Merit Article

A DOZEN WONDERFUL YELLOW ROSES
by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian

Do you ever notice when walking through a rose garden or nursery that there are more pink, red and white roses than any other colors? The majority of old roses fall into these color classes and have been used most often by hybridizers. There are very few naturally occurring yellow roses, and it is believed that all current yellow roses can trace their heritage to Rosa foetida – one that dates back to the 1500s. The yellow to orange coloring in roses appears to be a recessive trait that would disappear under the dominant influence of pink. In 1900, a French hybridizer introduced Soleil d’Or, a cross between a red hybrid perpetual and Rosa foetida persiana. This cross created a yellow rose that was able to survive interbreeding. Unfortunately, Rosa foetida (which by the way has a rather sickly sweet odor) was very susceptible to black spot, and this trait has been carried forward to many modern yellow roses.

The good news is there are many wonderful yellow roses – hybrid teas, floribundas, shrubs and miniatures. Included below are a dozen roses that have an ARS rating of 8.0 or better and are classified as a light yellow, medium yellow or dark yellow color. I grow many of these and can attest to their overall great performance.

Name Type Color ARS Rating Year Introduced

Elina Hybrid Tea Light Yellow 8.8 1984

Fairhope Miniature Light Yellow 8.1 1937

Frulingsgold Hybrid Spinosissima Medium Yellow 8.1 1937

Gold Medal Grandiflora Medium Yellow 8.5 1982

Golden Wings Shrub Light Yellow 8.9 1956

Graham Thomas Shrub Deep Yellow 8.2 1983

R. banksiae lutea Species Light Yellow 9.1 1924

Mermaid Hybrid Bracteata Light Yellow 8.6 1918

Mrs Oakley Fisher Hybrid Tea Deep Yellow 8.4 1921

My Sunshine Miniature Medium Yellow 8.6 1986

Rise 'n' Shine Miniature Medium Yellow 8.5 1977

Sunsprite Floribunda Deep Yellow 8.5 1977

A DOZEN WONDERFUL YELLOW ROSES by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian

A DOZEN WONDERFUL YELLOW ROSES
by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian