The Heritage Rose District of New York City is the first and only rose district in the country. It is the result of the efforts of the Office of the Manhattan Borough President and the Heritage Rose Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of old roses.[1]
The Heritage Rose District includes the western portion of Northern Manhattan between West 135th and West 163rd streets, with Broadway and Trinity Church Cemetery at its center. There are also additional plantings on the grounds of Trinity Cemetery and at several nearby locations. The Heritage Rose District, with an initial collection of over a hundred roses, was established by the Manhattan Borough President’s Office and the Heritage Rose Foundation in Fall 2009.[1]
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The Heritage Rose District generally encompasses the western portion of Northern Manhattan between West 130th and West 162nd streets, with Broadway and Trinity Cemetery at its nexus. Several plantings in the neighborhoods of West Harlem and Washington Heights are inspired by local history. In each planting, all of the roses are varieties that grew in Manhattan during the 18th and 19th centuries—many of which were originally grown in gardens located in Northern Manhattan. The roses planted in the Heritage Rose District have been donated by nurseries across the country, from as far away as California.[2]
Inspired by newly-planted heritage roses at the graves of New Yorkers interred in Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, the Rose District was established as a means to strengthen the community’s ties to the area’s history and to raise the visibility of their neighborhoods. The Heritage Rose District was also created as a way to link the numerous cultural resources of Upper Manhattan.[3]
The planting of those roses was spearheaded by the Heritage Rose Foundation. In the Spring of 2009, the Foundation planted the Harison's Yellow, thought to be the original “Yellow Rose of Texas,” near the grave of George Folliott Harison, who in the 1830s created this rose in his Manhattan garden. In addition, at the grave of John James Audubon, the Foundation planted the “Audubon,” a red rose created to celebrate the famed naturalist whose estate became Trinity Church Cemetery.
As a result of their plantings that spring, the Office of the Manhattan Borough President became interested in the Foundation’s work. On October 24, 2009, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, along with NYC Parks & Recreation Manhattan Borough Commissioner Bill Castro and Stephen Scanniello, president of the Heritage Rose Foundation, broke ground on the nation’s first official “Heritage Rose District” in West Harlem and Southern Washington Heights.[4]
The Heritage Rose Foundation was established in 1986 and is devoted to the preservation of old roses. It is a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of heritage roses and promotion of their culture; as well as to establish gardens where these roses may be grown and appreciated by the public; to promote public knowledge and appreciation of heritage roses and their preservation.[5]
The Heritage Rose District of NYC welcomes proposals for additional planting sites. Proposed sites should meet the following criteria: plenty of sunlight, protection from the elements, separation from walking paths, protection from road salt and other de-icing agents, and dedicated maintenance by an individual or organization. Sites surrounded by fencing and/or on raised beds are particularly well suited.[4]
The majority of roses selected for the Heritage Rose District are known to be grown in New York City before the twentieth century. Some were created in the city, while others were imported from around the world. All celebrate the neighborhoods of West Harlem and Washington Heights and the history of New York City.[6]
Descriptions taken from the Manhattan Borough President's Office website and provided by the Heritage Rose Foundation. Single quotes with a name denote a known name. Double quotes denote a “study” name, meaning the rose is in commerce but its origins have been lost.[6]
Both of these ancient varieties are gallica roses dating back to medieval times. ‘Rosa Mundi’ is a striped sport, or mutation, of the red ‘Apothecary’s Rose’. These spring-blooming shrubs were included the 1811 inventory of the Elgin Botanic Garden. Dr. David Hosack, the curator of this long-gone garden, is buried in Trinity Church Cemetery.
Christened in 2004, this red rose celebrates the famed naturalist who is interred at Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum. Five-petalled fragrant roses cover this four-foot shrub all summer long. This rose is planted at Mr. Audubon’s grave on the eastern portion of the Cemetery at Broadway and W. 155th.
Named for the daughter of a reformed drunkard, this climbing rose created by Samuel Feast was introduced to NYC from Baltimore in 1843. After his death, Feast’s nursery became part of the Baltimore estate known as “Harlem.” The light pink roses bloom in June.
Of Dutch origin pre-18th century, this popular rose was undoubtedly in early Dutch gardens in New Amsterdam. A tall-growing shrub, ‘Celsiana’ produces pink flowers in June.
Also known as cabbage roses, centifolias were grown in Manhattan’s Dutch gardens as early as 1650. One interesting citing of this rose was by Fredika Bremer, author of The Homes of the New World (1853). Ms. Bremer observed female inmates in the Tombs tending a bed of these shrubby pink roses.
The cherry-red roses of this small plant were sold at the Harlem-based nursery of Floy and Sons in 1835, two years after it was first produced in Paris. One of the many popular continuous-blooming French roses found in gardens of New Yorkers, it was also noted in the 1842 garden of D. Monck. Monck grew roses for the cut flower/florist trade. Monck had one entire greenhouse devoted to ‘Cramoisi Supérieur,’ where he grew them in pots.
A red rose with strong fragrance, ‘Duchess of Portland’ was grown in 18th century Manhattan in kitchen gardens. During the 19th century, ‘Duchess of Portland’ was used to create a new class of roses known as Portland roses. Swiss-born horticulturist Daniel Boll sold many Portland roses at his nursery located at 52nd street and Bloomingdale Road.
The nursery of Noe & Boll (located near present day Times Square) listed this rose in their 1837 inventory. It’s appropriate that Daniel Boll, a Swiss born gardener, would sell this rose. It’s suspected that this rose is of Swiss origin, as well. A short growing climbing rose. ‘Fellemberg’ (also spelled ‘Fellenberg’) produces cherry-red roses throughout the summer and autumn.
This tall growing, extremely fragrant white rose was discovered in 20th century England by Graham Stuart Thomas. It’s thought to be Rosa moschata (the Musk Rose), an ancient species rose that was considered by many to be extinct. Native to northern Africa, the musk rose was brought to New Amsterdam by Dutch settlers in 1672.
Only two plants of this small–flowered red rose are known to exist today. The oldest grows in Baltimore’s Green Mount Cemetery, the other is newly planted on the grave of Mr. George F. Harison in Trinity Church Cemetery. Harison’s plant was grown from cuttings taken from the Baltimore cemetery. It’s possible that this rose may be the long lost 1854 variety ‘Beauty of Greenmount’[sic], a red shrub rose created by James Pentland while he was the head gardener of Green Mount cemetery. Pentland’s rose was included in the inventory of 19th century New York nurseries.
Green color, no fragrance, and small blooms - this rose was a popular conversation piece among the elite gardeners of NYC when it was first sold during the 1830s. Of unknown origins, this three-foot shrub was rumored to be a sub-rosa symbol for the Underground Railroad. Peter Henderson, nurseryman from Jersey City, described in best in 1894: “...of no beauty whatsoever, only sought for as a curiosity.”
Deep yellow, fragrant blossoms adorn this tall growing shrub rose. Thought by some to be the “Yellow Rose of Texas,” this beauty created a sensation when first introduced in NYC around 1830 by George Folliott Harison, who created this rose in his Manhattan garden. ‘Harison’s Yellow’ is planted near Mr. Harison’s grave in Trinity Church Cemetery.
A pale pink rose popular among gardeners and florists of 19th century New York. In 1842 ‘Hermosa’ rose was grown in the greenhouses of D. Monck, a florist on 2nd Avenue near 28th Street. ‘Hermosa’ means “lovely” in Spanish, and is a fitting name for this beauty. In 1879, Jersey City florist Peter Henderson discovered a climbing form of this small shrub and named it ‘Setina’.
Sr. Lorenzo de Zavala, a distinguished Mexican statesman, brought this crimson rose, named in honor of Louis XVIII of France, to NYC circa 1835. Eventually moving to Texas, Zavala had a strong disagreement with Santa Anna and fought with the Texians [sic] in the Battle of San Jacinto. It was said that his wife watched the battle from her garden, where this rose was planted. The Zavalas always maintained a home in New York City, where he may have also planted this rose. There are those who call this the “Red Rose of Texas”-- perhaps it also is the “Red Rose of New York?”
The deep pink, intensely fragrant rose was introduced from France in 1853 to honor the wife of Daniel Boll of Noe & Boll Florists, New York City. The nursery was located in what is now Times Square. Daniel Boll is buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in a grave that had been forgotten for many years until recently located by members of the Heritage Rose Foundation.
Pure white with a green button eye, this fragrant damask rose can grow to five feet tall and wide. On June 22, 1837, this green-eyed beauty was offered for sale at Noe & Boll, Florists of Manhattan.
This fragrant red Bourbon rose of unknown origin has been found in gardens throughout the world. One such discovery was in the garden of Mattie Breedlove, whose garden was in an earthen, swept yard - characteristic of her African culture. Ms. Breedlove allowed cuttings to be taken, thereby returning this beautiful rose to commerce. The Harlem garden of John M. Bradhurst, a Manhattan apothecary, was famous for its collection of Bourbon roses.
A fragrant white rose of unknown origin discovered on the island of Bermuda during the 20th century. It’s a variety of a tea rose, a class of 19th century roses thought to be too delicate for northern climates. However, R. F. Carman (buried in Trinity Church Cemetery) was praised for his superb collection of tea roses. The Carman garden was north of the cemetery.
Pale pink with exquisite blooms, this fragrant 19th century Irish beauty was introduced to New York gardens during the influx of Irish immigrants. The large roses are produced all summer on a 5-8’ upright shrub.
Small flowers of white and pink with a delightful fragrance are produced in clusters throughout the summer. According to tradition, this moderate growing shrub was created by George Washington circa 1790 and named by him for his mother, Mary Ball Washington.
Princess de Nassau’ covered arbors and fences in 19th century New York gardens with fragrant creamy-white roses all summer long. Of French origin, this was one of the many “Musk Cluster Roses” sold in Manhattan during the 1840s.
Sr. José Marrero-Torrada, a horticulturalist who wrote Las Rosas del Ayer - a fine monograph on the heritage roses of Puerto Rico, recently discovered this rose on the islands. “Puerto Rico” is upright shrub that produces medium-sized, fragrant creamy-white roses all summer long. Some rose experts suspect that this found rose may be the same as the Bermuda Mystery Rose “Maitland White”.
This fragrant reddish-purple rose, named for King Louis XVIII of France, was the most popular florist rose in Manhattan during the 1840s. A good garden plant as well, this medium-sized shrub was especially beautiful in the garden of R. F. Carman in 1841.
Sold in New York City as long ago as 1844, this climbing rose was planted near graves and used in mass plantings in the garden style cemeteries of the Victorian era. A rose of uncertain heritage, this purple red June blooming hybrid has many aliases. One, ‘Old Spanish Rose’, leads some rose experts to believe that this beauty sold in New York City during the 1830s may have been brought to America by explorers from Spain.
Scotch roses, native to Great Britain, came to Manhattan with the earliest English settlers. The plants in our collection, unknown pink and white varieties, were recently collected from cellar holes in upstate NY where they’ve existed for centuries without any care. In 1811 these spring-blooming roses were included in the Elgin Botanic Garden (present-day site of Rockefeller Center).
This pink June-blooming rose is suspected by some to be ‘Celsiana’, but not everyone agrees. Those who live in Sag Harbor know it as “The Shipwreck Rose.” On its way to Manhattan nurseries, the clipper Louis Philippe went aground, causing the crew to throw the cargo (champagne, potted trees, precious French roses) onto the sand. This rose was rescued and today thrives in gardens of Sag Harbor.
One of the most popular French roses ever introduced, this light pink very fragrant Bourbon dates to 1844. Introduced thirty years after the death of Empress Josephine, this ever-blooming shrub rose was a nostalgic nod to her famous chateau and gardens. This fashionable rose was prominently displayed in gardens of 19th century New York City Francophiles.