In 1998, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the National Exhibition of Roses, some proposals were made, such as the foundation of a space dedicated to roses. That was how the Dot i Camprubí’s Rose Gardens were born.

From that moment on, three workshop schools started working on a project based on sustainability by reusing materials and resources: from road subbases made with curettage excess asphalt to treated wood, fertilizing lands with a sewage system or a complex system of rainwater and wastewater harvesting.

The park is named after two of the main international rose breeder families who were linked with Sant Feliu and the region: the Dots and the Camprubís.
In this park there are collections of roses, assembled according to some of their different classifications.

Roses have long been one of the most precious flowers due to their many qualities, these being aesthetic, cosmetic, medical or even religious and plastic.
The world of roses and rosebushes offers a wide range of qualities, properties and features (i.e. shapes, colours, sizes and scents). The botanic project classifies them in different ways, which is complex and difficult because of the vast quantity and varieties of roses (there are more than 30.000 classified roses), which increases year after year with new rose crossings. In consequence, this is a vivid, restless project which is constantly acquiring new varieties, aiming to complete and improve current collections, including more than 400 varieties and about 3.000 rosebushes.

Botanical rosebushes
Botanical rosebushes are the autochthonous ones to each country or continent, originating in the Northern hemisphere and being the ancestors of current rosebushes. All of them belong to the genre Rosa and are divided into four subgenres: Hulthemia, Eurosa (10 sections), Platyrhodon and Hesperhodos. This classification assembles them by characters, morphology and origin affinity.

Historical rosebushes
Through rosebushes, this collection covers the ancient civilizations, the Middle Age, the Renaissance, the Chinese civilization and the era of the great geographical discoveries. In this space we will find samples of rosebushes cultivated along History as well as rosebushes from other continents and the new species created from them.

Educational space - Morphology
This space includes the different parts of a rosebush and its diversity according to their appearance, fruits, stems, flowers, scents or leaves.

Ancient rosebushes
Under this title we will find rosebushes classified according to three criteria: species or varieties which appeared before 1867 (when the first tea hybrid was created), rosebushes created between 1867 and 1900, and the descendents of these ancient rosebushes. They are assembled in races, named after their originating species.

Modern rosebushes
These rosebushes appeared after a new process of hybridization originated from the first tea hybrids. The number of these plants never stops increasing and they are grouped under common features: tea hybrids, grandiflora, floribunda, multiflora, patio, carpeting, miniatures, etc.

Cut flower rosebushes
This collection compiles a range of rosebushes whose roses are suitable for making bouquets, floriculture works, etc.

Scented rosebushes
Undoubtedly, scent is one of the most valued features in a rose. Here we can find roses with scented leaves, fruits and especially flowers.

On the third platform on the ground floor, we can find the following collections:

Dot rosebushes
Different rosebushes obtained by this family, so much linked to our region.

Ferrer rosebushes
Valencian family that continues to produce and investigate new rose varieties.

Camprubí rosebushes
A collection of the most well-known varieties created by this family, so much linked to our region (still under research phase).

International rosebushes breeders
These are rosebushes obtained by the main international renowned breeders: Meilland (France), David Austin (Great Britain), Poulsen (Denmark), Kordes (Germany), Lens (Belgium), amongst others.

Text: Jaume Garcia i Urpí and Maria del Mar Godall

Pictures: Jaume Garcia i Urpí