Alba Maxima

A snow white rose also thought to be the "White Rose of York" dating back to 1100 A.D.

Alba semi-plena

This may be the "White Rose of York" from the war of the roses in Englad. It is thought to have grown there since 1500, possibly 1100 A.D.

Alice Flores' Purple Hybrid China

Until now only seen in California cemeteries.

Austin Pink Damask

This is one of Fairmount Cemetry's most sweetly perfumed roses. There is alos a possibility this rose is "Duc de Cambridge"

Banshee

Whether you are a student of the rose or simply love the heady perfume and voluptuous forms of old roses, do come to Fairmount Cemetery each and every June and indulge in their rich histories and inviting colors. Help us prevent extinction of these living gems (over 2000 varieties of Old Roses have become extinct in the last 200 years) by taking cuttings of your favorite varieties to root and grow in your own garden.

For centuries the Rose has been humankind’s favorite flower, and Fairinount Cemetery is one of the finest places in the world to be entranced by hundreds of them! What follows now are photographs and identification of a few examples of the Fairmount rose collection.

In process, at this time, at both Fairmount and Riverside Cemeteries, is digitized photographing to document all varieties at both locations. The process used is that of laying the rose branch on a white background to enable detailed examination, a process used in Gwen Fagan’s respected book, ‘Roses at the Cape of Good Hope’.

Common Pink Moss

The Mossy growth on these buds smell of pine when stroked; blooms are very fragrant, grown since pre-1700

Chameleon Rose

Thought to be a hybrid of Rose Mutia Flora, Rose Wichuraiana entwined with an unknown garden rose. The blooms change color as they open and close.

Climbing American Beauty

One of the confirmed varieties at Fairmount

Desiree Parmentier

Identification of this old Gallica (pre 1841) has been hotly debated over the years. Also found in old Denver neighborhoods. Note the green "pippen eye" in the center of the bloom.

Dr. Huey

This once-blooming semi-climber is what modern roses are so often grafted onto, and if found in the newer section of Fairmount. Grafted roses died off in winter, leaving this root stock from 1920 to grow back in their place. It is a complex hybrid of "Rose Wichuraiana".

Fairmount Blaze

Seems to be the early 20th century (1932 U.S. Rose) climber "Blaze".

Fairmount Flouncy Pink

Also found in the 18th century cemeteries in New Jersey. It has a remarkable spicy-sweet fragrance from newly opened blooms. Cuttings have been sent to English Rosarian Beales for further study.

Fairmount Prosperine

Once a “Mystery Rose” is discovered, rosarians scour the pages of fine modem books like The Old Rose Advisor, Classic Roses, or The Old Rose Adventure plus old rose books and catalogs. They try to impartially compare the many entries to their find. The Denver Botanic Gardens library’s excellent collection has helped confirm the truly singular nature of the Old Roses and “Mystery Roses” of Fairmount Cemetery. And thanks to Fairmount’s focused efforts these roses are now safe for the pleasure of future generations of rose lovers, and as their fame spreads for future study by rosarians worldwide.

Fairmount Reds

The remarkable number of Old Roses and “Mystery Roses” discovered, to date, in historic Fairmount Cemetery (59 as of 1999!) was only hinted at in 1990 when rosarianjohn Stames noticed a lusciously fragrant but barely alive bush. Now back in commerce and growing in private gardens under the “study name” of “Fairmount Red”, it soon led to intense annual explorations of the cemetery to locate, study, catalog, identify, propagate and assign “study names” to other such living treasures.John routinely sends cuttings of new discoveries to noted rosarians like Peter Beales, President of the global Historic Roses Group of the Royal National Rose Society in England to increase their numbers and hopefully learn their true names. But the “study names” given to them when found (i.e. “Fairmount Red” or “Fairmount Proserpine”) persist year after year. Most old cemeteries have a half dozen or so Old Roses, often common ones, whereas Fairmount’s abundance continues to stump leading world rosarians with dozens of varieties that defy all efforts at identification. We can speculate as to why so many found a safe haven in a zone 5 cemetery with harsh dry winters, but survive they do. That may be why many settlers and their roses (grown from cuttings stuck into raw potatoes for the long wagon train).

Fairmount Semi - Double Pink

This mystery rose resembles but is not the 19th century Damask "Celsiana". It has a very unusual perfume some people find unpleasant.

Harison's Yellow

Discovered in a Manhattan garden in 1828, this is the “Yellow Rose of Texas” that pioneers brought out West as cuttings stuck into raw potatoes in their covered wagons. This rose is usually the first to bloom at Fairmount in the spring; late May/early June.