About the Gothenburg Rosarium

The Gothenburg Rosarium

Roses have always been cultivated by the Garden Society, but it was not until 1987 that the Gothenburg Rosarium was inaugurated. One of the driving forces behind its creation was the Reverend Göte Haglund, who had a wonderful rose collection which he donated to the Garden Society. Göte Haglund was in contact with rosariums and rose breeders all over the world.

It was decided from the outset that the rosarium would have a historical focus, allowing visitors to follow and understand the development of the garden rose across the millennia. Roses are therefore planted by classification grouping, usually based on common descent.

Each group of roses has a sign presenting it, and each species/variety has a sign with information including its name, origin or breeder, and the year of its documentation or breeding. The species roses, or wild roses, and their hybrids are systematically organised into subgenera and sections.

Flowering

The very best time to visit the Gothenburg Rosarium is in late June, when both the old garden and modern roses flower. Wandering among the old garden roses on a sunny summer’s day is a feast for the senses: the air is full of their scent and of buzzing bees, and all imaginable shades of pink fill one’s field of vision.

But a damp and chilly November afternoon in the company of roses is also quite agreeable – the vivid colours of the modern roses’ blooms stand out like lanterns in the grey mist. Another worthwhile autumn experience in the rosarium is when the rose hips of wild and several other once‑flowering roses reach ripeness.

Organic Maintenance

The Gothenburg Rosarium has been run on organic principles since 2000, at which time it was one of the first organic rosariums in the world.

Only organic fertiliser is used, such as cow and poultry manure or algae-based products. Chemical pesticides, which are toxins, are not allowed. Maintaining a natural balance is key – for example, the balance between pests and beneficial insects such as ladybirds eating aphids, or birds feeding their young with sawfly larvae from rosebuds.

Fungal diseases are controlled with biological compounds containing Trichoderma fungi that outcompete harmful fungi.

A preventive approach is essential: choosing sustainable varieties suited to the habitat, and maintenance such as pruning. Health and hardiness are central when selecting roses to grow. Correct pruning, allowing air and light into the plant, protects against disease and pests.

The diversity of plants in the rosarium supports biodiversity, improves soil quality, and reduces disease risk. Ground‑covering plants increase soil microbiome health and reduce nutrient leaching. That is why roses are planted with perennials, annuals and bulbs – both for ecological and aesthetic reasons – though roses still require space and air circulation.

Occasionally, roses must be removed and replaced. Instead of laborious soil replacement, French marigold (Tagetes patula) can be grown over the summer and incorporated into the soil in autumn to suppress root lesion nematodes.

The ongoing gardening work, continual changes, and natural cycles are part of the life of the rosarium – instructive, inspirational, and vital to the experience.