Prior to the introduction of China and Tea roses to Europe, roses grown there bloomed once per season; bear in mind that the climate for northern and central Europe is characterized by relatively short summers. Most roses would come out of dormancy, bloom, and go dormant again, all within a relatively short time span. While the China and Tea roses brought repeat bloom to Europe, they were not reliably cold hardy in northern reaches. Rose Autumn Damask, introduced into Europe almost two thousand years (yes, twenty centuries) before either China or Tea roses was in fact the first remontant rose introduced into Europe.

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Damask rose Kazanlik is named for the Kazanlik valley in the Balkan mountains of Bulgaria, famous for the production of attar. As one might expect, given the origin of its name, Kazanlik has exceptional fragrance. Despite having excellent fragrance, Kazanlik is not necessarily recommended for a place in the garden. It’s not that it is a poor garden subject; it’s just that there are many more worthy subjects. Flowers are pink and fade quickly, and growth habit is awkward. Blooming once, in spring, Kazanlik will reach four to six feet in height.

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Introduction to Historic Roses
There is evidence from fossil records that roses have existed for millions of years. First cultivated in China, roses were introduced to Europe for ornamental purposes by the Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire, roses were primarily used for medicinal purposes until their re-emergence centuries later.

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