Your cart is currently empty!
The Many Faces of the Damascus Rose
Exploring the timeless varieties of one of the world’s most fragrant flowers.
For centuries, the Damascus rose — or Rosa × damascena — has been celebrated as the queen of scent. Its perfumed petals have filled apothecaries, distilleries, and palace gardens from Persia to Provence. Beyond its fragrance, this historic rose carries a deep heritage, embodying romance, resilience, and beauty that transcends eras.
Today, gardeners and perfumers alike cherish its varieties for their unique charm, form, and fragrance. Here’s a guide to understanding the main types and some of the most beloved cultivars of the Damascus rose.
A Brief History
The Damascus rose is thought to be a hybrid of Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata, with possible contributions from Rosa fedtschenkoana. It’s named after Damascus, the ancient Syrian city that served as a hub of rose cultivation and trade during the Middle Ages. Crusaders and traders brought it to Europe, where it quickly found a home in monastery gardens and royal estates.
With its rich, deep scent and graceful, double-petaled blooms, the Damask rose became both a symbol of love and a source of precious rose oil — the essential ingredient in the world’s finest perfumes.
Two Great Families of Damask Roses
1. The Summer Damask
The Summer Damask (Rosa × damascena nothovar. damascena) is the quintessential old rose — intensely fragrant, gorgeously full, and fleeting. It blooms just once a year, typically in early summer, producing a lavish flush of pink, semi-double flowers.
These roses were historically cultivated for the production of rose oil, particularly in Bulgaria’s Valley of the Roses and in parts of Turkey and Iran. Their brief flowering season is compensated by the sheer volume of blooms and the intensity of their perfume.
Best for: Traditional gardens, heritage collections, and anyone who values fragrance above all else.
2. The Autumn Damask
The Autumn Damask (Rosa × damascena nothovar. semperflorens), also known as the “Four Seasons Rose” or Quatre Saisons, holds a special place in rose history. It is believed to be the first repeat-flowering rose introduced to Europe.
Blooming first in early summer and then again sporadically into autumn, this variety blends old-world charm with a hint of modern convenience. Its soft pink blooms are deeply scented and appear on a shrub of medium size and bushy form.
Best for: Gardeners seeking the romantic look of an old rose but with more than one flowering period per year.
Notable Cultivars
‘Ispahan’
Sometimes called “Pompon des Princes,” Rosa ‘Ispahan’ is one of the finest of all Damask roses. Its clear pink, double blooms appear in generous clusters, releasing a rich, classic rose fragrance. Although it blooms only once, it does so over a notably long season — up to six weeks.
This variety forms a vigorous, well-shaped shrub that thrives in both formal and cottage-style gardens.
Ideal for: Those seeking an elegant, long-lasting display with traditional Damask charm.
‘De Rescht’
Compact and endlessly fragrant, Rosa ‘De Rescht’ is a deep purplish-crimson rose often classed as a Damask-Portland hybrid. Unlike many old roses, it repeats its flowering throughout the season, making it a rare combination of historic beauty and modern reliability.
With its small stature — around one metre tall — and powerful scent, it’s perfect for small gardens, courtyards, or containers.
Ideal for: Urban gardeners and lovers of strong fragrance who want a Damask rose that blooms repeatedly.
‘Madame Hardy’
For those who prefer white roses, Rosa ‘Madame Hardy’ offers a pure, refined alternative. Dating back to the 1830s, this Damask-descended rose features fully double white flowers with a delicate green button eye at the centre.
The perfume is heady and complex, and the shrub’s elegant habit gives it a distinguished air in both formal borders and historic gardens.
Ideal for: Lovers of classic white blooms and refined, old-fashioned beauty.
Choosing Your Damascus Rose
| Feature | What to Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Blooming Habit | Once-flowering (Summer Damask) or repeat (Autumn Damask, De Rescht) | Determines how long your rose will provide blooms. |
| Fragrance Strength | All Damasks are aromatic, but some are especially intense (De Rescht, Ispahan) | Key for fragrance gardens or rose-water production. |
| Growth Habit | Compact (De Rescht) vs tall and arching (Ispahan, Summer Damask) | Match to the size of your garden space. |
| Colour | Pink is traditional, but options include deep crimson (De Rescht) and white (Madame Hardy) | Adds variety to garden palettes. |
| Hardiness | Damasks are generally robust, though some older varieties appreciate winter protection | Important for colder or wetter regions. |
Growing and Caring for Damask Roses
Damask roses thrive in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. They are hardy, but like most old roses, they benefit from good air circulation to prevent mildew and black spot.
For once-flowering types, avoid pruning heavily in winter — blooms form on old wood. Instead, prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape. Repeat-flowering varieties can be trimmed more regularly.
Mulch well, feed after the first flush of flowers, and water during dry spells. For those growing roses for petals or oil, harvest blooms early in the morning when fragrance is most intense.
Florist Thoughts
Whether you’re drawn to the fleeting extravagance of the Summer Damask or the dependable charm of the Autumn Damask, every variety of Rosa × damascena carries centuries of story and scent.
Plant one, and you’ll not only grow a rose — you’ll cultivate a living piece of history, breathing perfume into your garden that has enchanted poets, perfumers, and dreamers for over a thousand years.