When I was a small girl learning about roses from our old Latvian neighbor, the only place to get roses from was Jackson and Perkins roses. My grandmother had J&P roses, my mother had J&P roses, and often to this day, if I ask someone what kind of roses they grow they say, ‘Jackson and Perkins’ roses! There is a reason for this. After many years of planning and work, Charles H. Perkins and his father-in-law Albert E. Jackson grew a business in Newark, New Jersey that really promoted beauty.

Origins

Charles Perkins really became interested in roses in the 1880’s, and hired a rose hybridizer named Alvin Miller who developed a pretty pink rambler that was named ‘Dorothy Perkins’ after Charles’ granddaughter. This rose was introduced in 1901 and became popular all over the world. She still thrives on the great arches at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, the oldest municipal rose garden in the United States, and she also adorns the walls at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom.

The company grew with Perkins family members at the helm, and the next hybridizer hired was Gene Boerner who is widely known as the father of the floribunda rose. At the 1939 World’s Fair, J&P constructed a 10,000 square foot garden filled with 8,000 roses. This is where the brand new floribunda ‘World’s Fair’ was introduced, and about 40,000 budding rose growers signed up to have information mailed to them or to purchase the rose directly. Smart marketing…an instant customer list!

Growing business

J&P started a catalog and sent it to all interested parties, and then their business really took off. Gene Boerner continued his hybridizing program until his death in 1967 when he had accumulated 14 AARS winners, including three awards arriving posthumously. The last was for ‘First Prize’ in 1970, who resides in my current garden. J&P was purchased by Harry and David and was moved to Tustin, California where William Warriner was hired to be the next rose developer. He accumulated 19 AARS awards in his tenure, and in 1985, Dr. Keith Zary took over from where Bill Warriner left off. In Keith’s time as hybridizer, he developed 9 more AARS winners, until the program went bankrupt.

AARS

In case you don’t know, All American Rose Selections (AARS) was a rose testing program that spun off from the American Rose Society in the 1930’s. There were 20 test gardens all across these great United States, and rose hybridizers could submit their best roses for the two year trial at a rather large price. Climbing roses take longer to establish, so they were trialed for three years. During my time as an AARS Test Garden Judge, it was my responsibility to evaluate all the test roses in 18 different areas. In order for any rose to win the coveted AARS prize, that rose had to be outstanding in all the test gardens across the country. AARS folded in 2010.

Newest Roses

Here, I’d like to say a few words about Dr. Keith Zary’s roses. J&P is still introducing his roses every year although he no longer works for them. I believe his roses are beautiful and outstanding…take a look at the picture above. This is his rose, ‘Crescendo.’ This gorgeous rose changes color all season; humid weather brings on more color. The bloom can be over 6″ in diameter and it has perfect exhibition form on 4′ stems. I love it, and its vigor is legendary.

Always and Forever

‘Always and Forever’ is a long-stemmed perfect dark red rose that has reeled me in over the last few years. I had thought that ‘Veteran’s Honor,’ another of Keith’s roses, was the best red rose ever, but now in my garden, these two run neck and neck. I love the deep crimson color and the velvety petals. ‘Always and Forever’ is a showstopper in the garden.

Enchanted Evening

‘Enchanted Evening’ is a recent addition to my gardens, several years ago. I love lavender roses because they are almost always fragrant, and this one does not disappoint! She is a sweet little fragrant floribunda that blooms in delicate clusters. If you need fragrance in your garden, ‘Enchanted Evening’ is for you…I can’t tell you how many times I have burst into song just visiting her…’some enchanted evening…’

April in Paris

‘April in Paris’ is a cream and pink blend with lovely form and a delicious, rosie fragrance. ‘Sweetness’ is a beautiful violet hybrid tea that also sports a beautiful scent. ‘Pope John Paul 2’ is a blinding white with diamond crystals in the petals under the summer sun; also sweetly perfumed. ‘Moondance’ blooms in creamy white clusters many times during the season.

I could go on and on. J&P certainly has had some financial problems over the years, and some folks have told me they are out of business. This is not true! They are still growing roses in California and Arizona and they are based in South Carolina these days. I love J&P roses. Last year, I ordered some bare-rooters and I couldn’t believe how big and robust they were after two years in the field! They have an online catalog and while you’re there, sign up for their beautiful hands-on, living color paper catalog, just like your grandmother did. Enjoy thumbing through the catalog and fall in love with roses all over again.