Meilahti Arboretum also features a Rosarium presenting a collection of shrub roses. The Rosarium was started in 1991 and underwent a major renovation along with the park furniture, entrances and gates to the north and south in 2006–2007. Most of the rose varieties were switched during the renovation.
All the roses in the Rosarium are shrub roses. The renovated grounds also include perennials and a pergola for climbing roses and clematis. The shrub roses were selected together with the Finnish Rose Society. The nameplates include the name of the variety in question as well as the year in which it was created (if known).
The Rosarium specialises in European historic roses and Finnish varieties. The plants are grouped according to their historical or botanical background. In addition to familiar and traditional varieties, such as the Valamo Rose and Mustiala Rose, the collection includes many old and unidentified varieties that have been found in different parts of Finland. European historic roses include the French Rose, the Damascus Rose, cabbage roses and moss roses.
The Helsinki chapter of the Finnish Rose Society has helped maintain the Rosarium over the years. The Finnish Rose Society was founded in 1989 to bring together rose enthusiasts, researchers and cultivators. The organisation promotes the cultivation of old and hardy roses, experimenting and using roses, and historical research into roses.
The best time to enjoy a rose scented picnic in the park is summertime between mid-June and mid-August.
Signpost of the Rosarium
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Rosarium
The rose collection in Meilahti Arboretum includes over 100 different species and varieties of shrub roses. All the roses are so-called shrub roses, with no floribunda or hybrid tea roses. The only floribunda rose collection in Helsinki is located in front of the Winter Garden. The varieties have been selected in collaboration with the Finnish Rose Society. Each rose is labeled with a nameplate, which also includes the variety’s year of origin if known.
The rose garden primarily showcases European historical roses and hardy Finnish roses. The varieties are grouped according to their historical or botanical background. The collection also includes many so-called “found roses,” which are old, unidentified roses discovered in various parts of Finland, as well as familiar heritage roses such as the Valamo rose, the midsummer rose, and the Mustiala rose. New Finnish rose varieties are presented in two sections. European historical roses in the collection include fragrant French roses, Damask roses, Bourbon roses, and moss roses.
The peak blooming period for the roses is from early June to August. The Finnish roses bloom first, followed by the European roses in July.
The maintenance of the rose collection has greatly benefited from the invaluable help of the Helsinki local group of the Finnish Rose Society, which meets in the garden once a month during the growing season. The society’s experts also guide annual summer rose tours.
The Finnish Rose Society – Finska Rosensällskapet rf
was founded in 1989 as a link between rose enthusiasts, researchers, and growers. The society promotes the cultivation of old and hardy roses, supports rose trials and usage, and educates about the history of roses.
The variety list of the Meilahti Rosarium
New Finnish varieties
- ’Veronica Sundman’
- ’Karin Schade’
- ’Lumo’
- ’Sointu’
- ’Tove Jansson’
- ’Loiste’
- ’Sävel’
- ’Ilo’
- ’Asta’
- ’Charles de Baudelaire’
Alba-group
- ’Joséphine de Beauharnais’
- ’Sini’
- ’Semiplena’
- ’Prinsesse de Lamballe’
- ’Maiden’s Blush’
- ’Tertin Kartano’
Bourbon-group
- ’Great Western’
- ’Frontenac’
- ’Zigeunerknabe’
Francofurtana-group
- ’Empress Joséphine’
Centifolia Muscosa -group
- ’Major’
- ’Célina’
- ’Nuit d’été’
- ’Nuits d’Young’
- ’Henri Martin’
Damascena-group
- ’Blush Damask’
- ’St. Nicholas’
- ’Celsiana’
- ’El Ariana’
- ’Forstmeisters Heim’
Gallica-group
- ’Violacea’
- ’Gloire de France’
- ’James Mason’
- ’Charles de Mills’
- ’Duchesse de Montebello’
- ’Tuscany’
- ’Président de Sèze’
- ’Petite Orléanaise’
- ’Alain Blanchard’
- ’Belle de Crécy’
- ’Anaïs Segalas’
- ’Ville de Londres’
- ’Rosa Mundi’
- ’Officinalis’
Pimpinellifolia-group
- ’Aïcha’
- ’Frühlingsgold’ (KESKAS-853)
- ’Linnanmäki’ (KESKAS-686)
- ’Matti Hesperia’ (KESKAS-813)
- ’’William’s Double Yellow’
- ’Aurora’
- ’Poppius’
- ’Kerisalo’
- ’Papula’
- ’Juhannusmorsian’
- ’Ensi’ (KESKAS-820)
- ’Glory of Edzell’
- ’Metsätalo I’
- ’Ruskela’
- ’Dunwich Rose’
- ’Grandiflora’
- ’Red Nelly’
- ’Plena’
- ’Paimio’
- ’Dunwich Rose’
- ’William III’
- ’Urheilulehto’ (KESKAS-894)
Rugosa-group
- ’Hansa’
- ’Thérèse Bugnet’
- ’Lac Majeau’
- ’Katri Vala’ (KESKAS-225)
- ’Mont Blanc’
- ’Pohjolan Kuningatar’
- ’Souvenir de Philémon Cochet’
- ’Roseraie de l’Haÿ’
- ’Agnes’
- ’Louise Bugnet’
- ’Pierette’
- ’Marie Bugnet’
- ’Dart’s Defender’
- KESKAS-234
- ’Belle Poitevine’
- ’Dwarf Pavement’
- ’Ritausma’
- ’Schneekoppe’/’Snow Pavement’
- ’Pappilan Neito’
- ’Henry Hudson’
Found roses
- ’George Will’
- ’Martta’
- ’Alavanhovi’
- ’Rovala’ (KESKAS-889)
- ’Rosa acicularis’
- ’Kjal 13’
- ’Malvankukka’
- ’Schalin 8’
- ’Schalin 5’
- ’Schalin 2’
- ’Tarja Halonen’
- ’Ristinummi’ (KESKAS-847)
- ’Splendens’
- ’Pietarinruusu’
- ’Kempeleen Kaunotar’
- ’Foecundissima’
- ’Tornedal’
- ’Arno’
- ’Olkkala’
- ’Onni’
Various roses planted as climbing roses
- ’Violacea’
- ’Katri Vala’ (KESKAS-225)
- ’Mont Blanc’
- ’Telén’
- ’Thérèse Bugnet’
- ’Kaika’