Rosa: Roses in the Garden Roses in the Garden

TSO logo

Sponsor this page

For information about how you could sponsor this page, see How You Can Help

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rosa: Roses in the Garden' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rosa-roses-in-the-garden/). Accessed 2024-03-29.

Family

Glossary

hybrid
Plant originating from the cross-fertilisation of genetically distinct individuals (e.g. two species or two subspecies).
bloom
Bluish or greyish waxy substance on leaves or fruits.
bud
Immature shoot protected by scales that develops into leaves and/or flowers.
glaucous
Grey-blue often from superficial layer of wax (bloom).
hybrid
Plant originating from the cross-fertilisation of genetically distinct individuals (e.g. two species or two subspecies).
lax
Loose or open.
receptacle
Enlarged end of a flower stalk that bears floral parts; (in some Podocarpaceae) fleshy structure bearing a seed formed by fusion of lowermost seed scales and peduncle.
section
(sect.) Subdivision of a genus.
simple
(of a leaf) Unlobed or undivided.
style
Generally an elongated structure arising from the ovary bearing the stigma at its tip.
variety
(var.) Taxonomic rank (varietas) grouping variants of a species with relatively minor differentiation in a few characters but occurring as recognisable populations. Often loosely used for rare minor variants more usefully ranked as forms.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rosa: Roses in the Garden' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rosa-roses-in-the-garden/). Accessed 2024-03-29.

Graham Stuart Thomas

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

The genus Rosa has had a greater effect on gardens – and their design – in this country than any other genus of hardy plants. Rhododendrologists may feel inclined to dispute this statement but roses are grown in far more gardens throughout the country than rhododendrons. Certain roses have been treasured for hundreds, even thousands, of years in the cradle of our Western civilisation, and for equally long other kinds have been treasured in China. In Europe and adjoining countries R. gallica and some of its derivatives were appreciated as much for the fragrance that lingers in the dried petals as for the beauty of the flowers, which is understandable since the uses of plants were valued before their beauty. Much later, in perhaps mediaeval times, their value was enhanced by the discovery of distilling flowers to create scented waters. Meanwhile as a garden plant, there is evidence that the compact types were valued as hedges to surround a garden; their prickly stems would deter intruders and also made a support for drying washed linens. By degrees their beauty captivated gardeners and chance hybrids or sports were carefully preserved; eventually, long after they had occurred and without record of the provenance, they were recorded and described in early books.

In this way the Gallica derivatives of the Old World were preserved until the great awakening to the individual beauties of plants in the 19th century. From mediaeval times through the 17th and 18th centuries roses and all other flowers, ornamental and otherwise, were grown in areas devoted to produce of various kinds, fruit, vegetables, herbs and simples, with an ever-increasing number of purely ornamental plants; none of these was given space in the great formal layouts followed by the informal landscape gardens of the wealthy trend-setters, in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Early in the 19th century however the growing of roses and ornamental plants generally was given a tremendous fillip. So many new plants had been brought to Europe – and specially to Holland and Britain – that there were enough delights to fill even a large garden. Napoleon’s wife, the Empress Josephine, made a garden at La Malmaison near Paris where she grew every rose she could find, and many other plants as well. Her garden may not only be regarded as housing the first international collection of roses – and thus starting their present popularity – but as being one of the first gardens in the new genre, where the design was explicitly to demonstrate the beauties of the plants themselves. This style has since become known as the Gardenesque, a term invented by Loudon. P.J. Redouté painted over 150 of her roses for Les Roses, 1817–24.

As the century passed by, artificial aids to the display of roses in gardens were invented, treillage of various kinds, arches, pillars and swags, principally designed to show off the grace of lax growing roses and other climbing plants.

In a less decorative way roses were increasing too. Around 1800 four ancient Chinese garden hybrid roses had reached Europe. The European garden roses were mostly sturdy bushes flowering at midsummer only; the Chinese were less sturdy but flowered for so long as the weather was warm, from spring to autumn. During the century hybrids were raised at first by chance and later deliberately – combining in great part the special attributes of these two historic groups of roses, at first in the race known as Bourbon, and later in the Hybrid Perpetuals. By 1906 some 11,000 names of roses were recorded by Léon Simon and Pierre Cochet in their Nomenclature de tous les Noms de Roses.

In 1876 the National Rose Society was founded and had an immense influence on the rose. Its shows were greatly concerned with prize-winning blooms. For this reason, with the multitudes of varieties available from such noted firms as Thomas Rivers and Sons of Sawbridgeworth and William Paul at Cheshunt, gardens of specialists tended to become mere assemblies of rose bushes. In order to accommodate ever more plants in a given area, and to add height to the weaker growers, the art of budding on to stems of Rosa canina, dug out of the hedgerows, was invented. Thus was the society (now the Royal National Rose Society) responsible for the new conception of the rose as a florists’ flower, rather than a garden shrub. Today the Society’s widespread influence embraces all aspects of rose culture; its grounds are laid out in the gardenesque style of La Malmaison and contain examples of all types of roses, species and hybrids, old and new.

True to his general attitude to horticulture, and aided by the introduction at the turn of the century from China of two noted species, William Robinson (1839–1935) sought to call attention to the shrubby beauty of roses lost through the excessive desire for specimen blooms. Rosa hugonis and R. moyesii have proved two of the most popular of wild roses in the charm of their simple flowers, graceful growth and dainty foliage and of course the notable showy heps of the second species. These and other species mainly from the Far East arrived just at the time when the influx of foreign shrubs was at its peak, and with cotoneasters, berberises and the like caused gardeners to realize that the rose started life as a flowering shrub.

Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) in her book Roses for English Gardens (1902) had the same desire, but also was the principal devotee of the use of the graceful rambling roses, for use in covering arches, sheds and fences, and scrambling into trees. In addition her great artistic capabilities led us away from the dull repetition of roses in rows in beds and borders to their greater use in formal and informal garden design. The Victorian craze for bedding plants in serried display on the lawn – a direct descendant of the parterre of the 17th century – began to give way to beds of roses, since by 1920, and indeed earlier, the Hybrid Tea race had begun to lose the gawkiness of many of the Hybrid Perpetuals, and was developing into a race of plants 2–3 ft in height in many colours. Very often sunken rose gardens were made, reminiscent once again of looking down on the pattern of a parterre. On the other hand apart from the stereotyped breeding of bedding roses Robinson and Jekyll were the main influences which opened the eyes of gardeners to the very varied beauties and uses of the rose. Today the excessive vigour of many moderns makes them unsuitable for small formal beds.

The end of the Second World War was a time of reassessment of our heritage of roses. Certain devotees had preserved many of the old French 19th-century roses and it was soon realised that they had vigour, unique floral shape and colouring. Against this had to be balanced the fact that most of them flowered only at midsummer. A few of the better Hybrid Perpetuals and Bourbons had survived the decades of neglect also, and together with a number of hybrids raised by Wilhelm Kordes in Germany and coupled with some of the more distinctive species, shrub roses began to be used by garden designers with increasing impetus (many of the Kordes roses were by-products in his courageous attempts to breed the hardiness of some species into the Hybrid Teas and Floribundas, thus making them suitable for the rigours of a continental climate). With the increase of amenity planting, forms and hybrids of Rosa rugosa were found important, being tough and hardy, dense and prickly, and with a long period of beauty from flower and hep. It is these of which the greatest number are produced and sold annually in Europe for public display and use, in parks, on road islands, etc.

The bulk of the rambling roses extolled by Jekyll were of pale colours. Later hybrids improved this matter; even so with few exceptions ramblers flower only once at mid-summer. Rosa moschata and R. wichuraiana flower from July onwards, and a few hybrids such as ‘Aimée Vibert’, ‘Phyllis Bide’ and ‘Paul Transon’ point to the fact that ramblers could be induced to flower for more than a few weeks, and also be fragrant. The small size of the ramblers’ flowers was repeated in excellent dwarf hybrids which, originally known as Dwarf Polyanthas or Poly-poms produce masses of bloom over a long period and have been merged with the Hybrid Teas to produce the Floribundas. The wider appreciation of the diverse beauties of the rose today has resulted in modern strains once more embracing flowers of only five petals or of old-style dense doubling, and colours which were achieved earlier in the century. Though there are so many species with first class attributes of growth, foliage and flower colour, heps and long flowering period, it takes many generations of breeding for the characters of a given species to be absorbed and eventually given out again through the modern involved strains of roses. Even R. rugosa, a rose introduced from the Far East nearly 200 years ago, and repeatedly producing hybrids, has not as yet made its influence really felt. Shrub roses of graceful habit but with recurrent flowering are a long way off, though there is a glimmer of encouragement to be found in ‘Autumn Fire’, ‘Gold Bush’ and ‘Cerise Bouquet’.

Colours, Scents and Shapes

The old French Gallica rose hybrids were of white, pink (both light and dark), mauve, lilac and maroon. The darkest tints owe their origin to the potentialities of R. gallica. The most prized varieties were those with fully double flowers of cupped shape, often with the central petals turned into the receptacle devoid of its floral parts, providing what is known as a ‘button eye’. Sometimes the centre revealed its pale green carpels as a pointel, or again the petals might be arranged in groups, known as ‘quartered’. Their fragrance was sweet and soft, inherited from R. gallica, R. canina and R. moschata; the latter has always been renowned throughout history for intense sweet fragrance. Thus were the Gallicas, the Damasks, the Albas and the Centifolias heavily endowed. Apart from the above soft colours, clear light yellow, or brilliant sulphur was also found in R. foetida and R. hemisphaerica.

The influence of the characters of the China rose hybrids during the 19th century gradually brought about a considerable change in shapes, colours and fragrance. From R. gigantea the China hybrids brought pale yellow, a long bud composed of petals rolled or scrolled, and a delicate fragrance of tea. R. chinensis, the China rose itself, brought true dark crimson, a colour unknown in the old European roses. These tints brought delicate coppery and salmon-pink tones into the early Tea roses and the Tea-Noisettes, which were the first yellowish or apricot-tinted roses to be seen in Europe. Thus R. gigantea made new history in Europe by being the progenitor of climbing roses with large yellow blooms.

Known and grown since before 1600, Rosa foetida was eventually used for hybridising by Pernet-Ducher in Lyon, France in 1883. The result of bringing this species into the strain of Hybrid Teas was that not only its brilliant yellow colouring was used, but that its sport R. foetida ‘Bicolor’ (‘Austrian Copper’) provided brilliant tomato-red. Coupled with these strong colours it brought an unpleasant fragrance and the progeny later became subject to ‘black spot’ fungus. To the deepening or fading, or even changing, colouring of the old European and Chinese roses was brought the potential of red on the upperside of the petals and yellow at the back, as in the ‘Austrian Copper’. Thus, this one rose believed to be a natural sport of R. foetida, unique in its colouring in the rose world, has changed the garden strains of roses from whites, pinks, mauves, maroons, pale yellows and flesh tints to a range of brilliancy. The brilliant tones were yet further developed by the Dwarf Polyantha ‘Gloria Mundi’ (a sport of the dark red ‘Superb’) which suddenly acquired a new pigment, pelargonidin, in 1929, which is the reason for the brilliant roses of today. The heavy fragrance of Rosa foetida has been almost bred out and today’s roses whether shrub or bedding varieties or climbers display as mixed a series of hybrid scents as they do colours.

Display of Flowers, Fruits and Foliage

There are no truly spring-flowering roses in the British climate but in sheltered gardens on sunny walls the Banksian roses and R. ‘Anemone’, may be expected to provide flowers by mid May followed quickly by the Burnet or Scots roses, R. pimpinellifolia, and R. hugonis, R. foetida and various hybrids such as ‘Maigold’. The main mass of old French roses and the species flower in the second half of June: R. multibracteata, R. foliolosa, R. fedtschenkoana, R. moschata and R. wichuraiana extend the season for species into September. Before then the heps of several early flowering species, such as R. moyesii and R. rugosa and their relatives will be developing, the main autumn show being in September and October. Heps of ‘Autumn Fire’ and ‘Scarlet Fire’ are late in colouring and the latter are often brilliant even in January. A few roses excel in autumn colour, particularly brilliants tints occurring in R. virginiana, R. foliolosa and R. nitida; R. pimpinellifolia turns to purplish red tones, R. rugosa to bright yellow. During the summer months foliage other than the normal green is found on R. glauca (R. rubrifolia); the leaves are glaucous reddish purple in full sun, glaucous grey in shade. R. fedtschenkoana, R. beggeriana and R. murieliae have pale glaucous leaves. Forms of R. sericea are noted for the bright red colouring of the large, flattened, translucent prickles.

In shape and colour the fruits of roses vary considerably. Most are rounded or oval, orange red. Very rounded fruits, small and nearly black are found in R. pimpinellifolia; large, rounded, red in R. rugosa; flagon-shaped orange-red in R. moyesii and its relatives; plum-purple and bristly in R. villosa; green and prickly in R. roxburghii.

CULTIVATION

It will be seen from the above cursory appraisal and historical notes that the rose offers many attractions to gardeners and that even its prickles are at times an asset. Roses thrive in a variety of soils but heavy clay, so often recommended, is unnecessary and even undesirable; pure chalk will produce luxuriant growth in the more vigorous species when grown on their own roots; any good well-drained garden soil will prove effective; light sandy soils will suit specially the Burnet and Rugosa roses. The more that roses are hybridised, the more will they in general prefer a well nourished garden soil. Most thrive in full sunshine, but the best quality blooms usually come from the cooler north and west, or partly shaded gardens in the south-east of the country. While R. pimpinellifolia, R. virginiana, R. rugosa, to name but a few, will take full exposure to wind and sunshine, many of the Chinese species seem to prefer a little shade, and indeed they blend well with semi-woodland planting, on somewhat acid or limy soil.

The species of the Synstylae section, such as R. arvensis, R. brunonii, R. helenae, R. filipes and others like the Dog Rose of our hedgerows, indicate from their very nature that they prefer their roots shaded. In nature they hoist themselves up through bushes and trees by means of their hooked prickles, eventually getting their flowering branches into the sun. In the garden roses will always be found at their best when growing in a cool root-run. This is sometimes difficult to achieve when siting a somewhat tender rose such as R. bracteata, R. banksiae, or Tea hybrids, which need and deserve the shelter of a sunny wall. Watering in times of drought, or shading of the root-area with other bushes and dwarf plants or a mulch is helpful. One has only to go to an old untended garden and find there big luxuriant plants of unpruned roses thriving on neglect to realize that the typical rose beds of today, on an open sunny lawn, with bare soil and hard annual pruning, is a type of cultivation very far from the ideal for a rose.

There are roses to suit almost any type of garden, or position in a garden except a bog or darkest shade from dense overhanging trees – though R. arvensis and ‘Ayrshire Splendens’ will thrive and flower, hanging down in long trails under dense trees. This is a special use for roses of the Synstylae section and also the ramblers. It is best to plant well away from the trunk of the tree, and so that the prevailing wind will carry the long shoots into the branches. Once inside the crown of the tree shoots will grow through the canopy of foliage and the real beauty of the rambling or climbing rose will then be achieved by their shoots hanging down under the weight of blossom. In smaller gardens arches, fences and sheds make good supports for the less vigorous ramblers – not species of excessive vigour such as R. filipes. Here again the real beauty will not be revealed until the shoots of later seasons hang down and out from those which are initially trained up. Ramblers are suitable too for growing over rough hedges, or with the support of posts and wires, to create hedges themselves.

Certain lax-growing roses are suitable for making a dense canopy for covering ground, sloping banks, etc. R. wichuraiana, ‘Max Graf’, ‘Paulii’ are some of the most suitable. The low arching growth of ‘Raubritter’ makes it particularly suitable for hanging over a low wall.

Shrubby roses have for long been used for hedges. R. gallica itself was used in mediaeval times. The sweet brier or eglantine can be kept reasonably within bounds by pruning. ‘Erfurt’, ‘Golden Wings’, ‘Schneezwerg’ and the more sturdy Hybrid Musk varieties are popular because they give two crops of bloom if cut back after the first crop is over. For really large hedges ‘Nevada’ is unequalled, but for a hedge of average size 3–5 ft in height few roses can equal the closely allied forms or hybrids of R. rugosa, to which one can take secateurs or shears in winter.

In association with other flowering shrubs, all the species other than the ramblers of the Synstylae section are desirable, several carrying on the flowering period through the summer, and vying with the best of fruiting shrubs though not so successfully with those noted for autumn colours. They are particularly acceptable in informal planting schemes, where modern bedding roses would be out of place. Species of naturally suckering habit such as R. rugosa, R. foliolosa, R. virginiana, R. pimpinellifolia, R. nitida, R. pulverulenta, together with R. gallica and many of the 19th-century old Gallica varieties will colonise large areas of ground spreading 3 ft or so underground annually when well suited, and growing on their own roots. Many of these will thrive in short grass, or can be used to fix sand dunes. They are nevertheless to be avoided when grown on their own roots in small or average gardens.

PROPAGATION

Seeds. – Roses are very liable to chance hybridising, and seeds are not a reliable means of reproducing a good form of a species, and anything may arise from named hybrids. If hand pollination is carried out, seeds need stratifying in sand for a year; germination will occur the following spring or in later months or years. Small quantities can be tended in frames, and the resulting seedlings of hardy roses will be quite winter hardy. The seeds will benefit from being exposed to frost, when stratified or sown.

Division of the Root Stock. – This forms an easy method with roses which have a suckering habit as mentioned above. Portions of underground stems, sometimes with pieces of root attached, will almost invariably succeed if the work is done in autumn, winter or early spring.

Layers. – If their growth is conveniently near to the ground, and handling the shoots is not too prickly a job, most rose stems will root if bent into the soil and the elbow covered securely with soil. After a year in such a position a gentle tug will ascertain whether they are rooted, when they may be severed from the parent plant and put into the required position.

Cuttings. – Hardwood cuttings, preferably with a heel, give considerable success in a cold frame or in the open ground, if taken in October and inserted with a little sand at the base of the cutting, which should be about 9 inches long, with 6–7 inches underground. Rugosas and any vigorous modern hybrids together with Gallicas and Albas can be propagated thus. Many wiry stemmed species are less easy. For these, or for any others, short cuttings of half-ripened wood, or even soft tips may be tried under glass in mist, or as a substitute, small fully enclosed glass containers.

Budding and Grafting. – Much has been written and spoken about the iniquities of these methods of propagation.

Unless the scion is inserted below the stem (i.e., just above the root) suckers from the rootstock may arise and cause a nuisance annually. Suckers from the rootstock can also arise from an errant rootstock raised from seed with a proclivity for this method of self-propagation; from damage by hoeing, forking, etc.; and from excessive manuring or from an unsuitable rootstock being chosen for a particular species or cultivar.

On the other hand as we have seen above some roses when on their own roots can be a nuisance in small gardens from their invasive roots. Moreover except in a few instances the provision of one of the accepted rootstocks adds usually greater erect vigour to weak and freely suckering roses. Yet again from a nurseryman’s point of view the putting of the scion onto a proved root stock enables him to produce a large quantity of uniform plants of one variety.

Grafting is not often the means of propagation. It is done in January or early February on seedling or other rootstocks, under glass. Some of the resulting plants may be expected to flower during the first summer.

Budding is done in July and early August on seedling or other rootstocks, planted the previous winter. The resulting plants usually flower in the following summer if they are recurrent varieties, or in two years if they are summer-flowering only.

Many different rootstocks have been used in the past, but today a selected strain of Rosa canina is usually the choice. Forms of R. multiflora are also used.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE GARDEN HYBRIDS

Well before the middle of the 19th century the garden-bred roses had become so numerous, and many were of such complex parentage, that to arrange them botanically under this or that species had become impracticable. Yet it was necessary to bring the garden roses into some sort of order if nursery catalogues were not to become a jumble of names. And so, as in other large groups of cultivate, the growers devised their own nomenclature. In Britain, the first practical arrangement of the commercial roses seems to have been that of Thomas Rivers in the Rose Amateur’s Guide. First published in 1837, this was hailed by Loudon as an important advance and is set out in detail in an appendix to the treatment of Rosa in his Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, Vol. II, pp. 779–83. A similar classification, departing even farther from a botanical framework, was published by William Paul in The Rose Garden (1848). The groups recognised by these authorities all still exist, though some, with changing fashion, have become shadows of their former selves, and other groups have emerged, unknown when these works were first published.

In the descriptions of the cultivars treated in this section the group to which each belongs is indicated after the name, wherever this is practicable, and the terminology used is explained below. To make the account more complete, groups have been included – notably the Hybrid Teas and Floribundas – which are not further treated in this work.

Alba. – The prototypes of this group are the old ‘Alba Maxima’ and ‘Maiden’s Blush’. To these many were added in the early part of the 19th century: William Paul listed sixty-one sorts in The Rose Garden (1848), some certainly of hybrid origin but all more or less conforming to the style of the old White Rose. The group as a whole exhibits strong upright growth with large sparse prickles; leaves hard and greyish; flowers from white to deep pink, mostly fully double, opening wide from unpropitious buds. Heps oval. Pruning as for Centifolia.

Bourbon. – A rather mixed group which sprang originally from a chance hybrid found on the Ile de Bourbon in 1817 by the Parisian botanist Bréon who was in charge of the botanic garden at that time. The parents are believed to have been the Autumn Damask and a Pink China. Seeds of it received by Jacques, gardener to King Louis Philippe in Paris in 1819, gave rise to a new rose called ‘Rosier de l’Ile Bourbon’. By 1825 it had reached England. Thory, in Redouté, called it R. canina Burboniana. As a group the Bourbons are mainly vigorous shrubs, some rather lax, with smooth, pointed foliage, and somewhat globular blooms, borne singly or in clusters in summer. Many of the cultivars flower intermittently until the autumn. To encourage later flower crops the old weak wood should be removed in winter or early spring.

Boursault. – Hybrids of the Hybrid China Roses and a species of the Cassiorhodon (Cinnamoneae) section, usually considered to be R. pendulina, but the chromosome count indicates that a related species was more likely. The cultivars were popular because of their very early flowering habit and being unarmed, also because of their comparatively large flowers (as compared with Ramblers). They are of lax arching habit, needing support as a rule, though ‘Morletii’ will make a good bush, and attain some 10 ft when trained up supports. They inherit smooth foliage from R. chinensis. The colours are pink to maroon; slight fragrance. The best flowers are borne on short laterals on strong young wood; prune to encourage this by removing old weak wood after flowering, or in winter.

The Boursault roses treated here are ‘Blush Boursault’, ‘Madame de Sancy de Parabère’ and ‘Morletii’. Another still in cultivation is ‘Amadis’ (Laffay, 1829), with semi-double, crimson-purple flowers. For the original Boursault rose, see R. × reclinata, p. 130.

Burnet or Scotch Roses. – Forms of R. pimpinellifolia in white, pink and maroon, double, semi-double or single. Sabine records in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society, 1822, how Robert Brown and his brother transplanted some wild plants of the Burnet rose from the Hill of Kinnoul into their neighbouring nursery near Perth. One bore flowers tinged with red and subsequent seedlings from this started the fashion in selecting colour variants of this rose in Scotland, and in England, some 200 cultivars being listed. ‘Andrewsii’, clear rose-pink, double; ‘Double White’; ‘Falkland’, pale pink double, with somewhat glaucous leaves; ‘Mary Queen of Scots’, purple-maroon and grey-lilac, semi-double; ‘William III’, maroon-red, double, are a few recognised cultivars. They are, like R. pimpinellifolia, very thorny, suckering shrubs, from 112-5 ft with tiny leaves. In autumn these frequently turn to reddish purple or maroon before falling. Many have small, shining rounded heps, almost black. A few have yellow flowers and these can be traced to R. foetida, a fact borne out by the heavy scent, as opposed to the fresh sweetness of R. pimpinellifolia.

Centifolia. – Believed to be derived from a fusion of the Autumn Damask and the Alba roses. It probably originated in Holland and is depicted in Flemish paintings from 1603. It inherits characters from all the Old World ancestral roses. The outcome is a lax bush, with small and large thorns and prickles, limp dark green leaves, rounded and coarsely toothed; flowers large, globular when half open – the form almost always favoured by painters – filled with short petals in the centre; later the outer petals reflex. Calyx tube oval. During the 19th century many seedlings were raised from open pollinated flowers, with the result that later cultivars often show characters of the allied groups derived from R. gallica, in particular the variable foliage and the compact flowers and purplish colouring of some Gallicas. Immediately after flowering, prune away shoots that have flowered and also old weak wood to encourage strong shoots from the base; these should be reduced to conform to the overall size of the shrub in winter, to prevent wind-damage at flowering time.

China. – A term given to the four original Chinese hybrids of R. chinensis which reached Europe around 1800, and also to hybrids raised from them which show close affinity to them. They are of small rather delicate growth, with smooth stems and occasional reddish prickles; small pointed dark green leaves; small flowers with five or more rather thin papery petals and, originally, little fragrance – apart from those deriving from ‘Hume’s Blush’ and ‘Parks’ Yellow’ Chinas which are tea-scented. They thrive best in the warmer parts of Britain, and in mild weather flower from spring to late autumn. In order to encourage plenty of new growth during the summer months, it is advisable to prune old and weak growth away in early spring. The China roses cannot be described as shrubs, but a few are included in this book because of their original influence on hybridising and because of their unique values. In warmer climates they develop into shrubs.

Climber. – A term that embraces large-flowered hybrid roses of lax habit, mostly repeat flowering. Some have been raised unexpectedly, others originated as climbing sports of Hybrid Tea Roses, Floribundas and the like. There is, of course no such thing as a ‘climbing’ rose except in so far as hooked prickles enable them to grow through the branches of a tree. ‘Climber’ is a term of convenience, therefore, grouping together shrubs of lax habit which, for the sake of managing a garden, are conveniently trained upon supports, such as wall, fence or treillage. The still more lax ramblers (q.v.) are suitable for other purposes. Pruning consists of encouraging the growth of strong young shoots by shortening or cutting away weak and old wood in winter or early spring.

Damask. – The Damask roses are lax, open bushes, with small and large thorns and prickles, but few may be called typical except those described under R. damascena. In general the leaves are softer, more rounded than those of R. gallica, sometimes downy. Heps long and narrow. In some 19th-century hybrids these characters become merged with other roses of Gallica derivation. Flowers are loosely double or semi-double from white to deep pink. Pruning as for Centifolia. The Autumn Damask is described under R. damascena.

Floribunda. – By combining the Dwarf Polyanthas with Hybrid Teas, the Danish raiser Svend Poulsen raised ‘Else Poulsen’ and ‘Kirsten Poulsen’ in the early 1920s which produced continuously, from plants double the size of the Poly-poms, clusters of nearly single blooms in pink and crimson respectively. They were originally called Hybrid Polyantha Roses. Subsequently these and other hybrids, by crossing again with Hybrid Teas, gave rise to today’s Floribundas. Many of the most vigorous modern cultivars such as ‘Frensham’, ‘Iceberg’, ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Chinatown’ will make large bushes, particularly if given only a modicum of pruning; this treatment usually results in a less continuous production of bloom. Pruning consists of shortening or removal of old and weak growths, to encourage strong young growths from the base, which produce flowers later in the season – the ideal aimed at in Floribundas which are essentially bedding roses; they are therefore excluded from the list of cultivars in this book.

Gallica. – Strictly these are merely forms, or ancient hybrids of R. gallica. Many so called Gallica varieties are of 19th-century origin from seed of open-pollinated flowers. Some show parentage inherited from allied groups, such as Damask or Centifolia, in which case they are usually of lax growth as opposed to the sturdy upright bushes of R. gallica. In the true Gallica varieties the leaves are of harsh texture, dark green, long-pointed. Flowers borne aloft, erect. The buds are unpropitious, the greatest beauty is revealed when the flowers are fully expanded, showing perhaps quartering of petals and a ‘button-eye’. Most are fully double. Colours range from pale pink to carmine, more or less flushed with maroon; some verge towards lilac and purple. None is white. Heps rounded. Armature is limited to small bristly thorns. Pruning as for Centifolia.

Hybrid China. – A term used in the 19th century to include the many open-pollinated hybrids between the four original China Roses introduced to Europe around 1800 and the European hybrids of R. gallica parentage. Some were repeat flowering, but it is not a group that is known in gardens today.

Hybrid Musk. – The Reverend Joseph Pemberton, of Romford, Essex sought to raise roses of simple needs for cottage gardens, as opposed to the sophisticated blooms of the Hybrid Tea Roses. Sometime before 1912 he used ‘Trier’ as a parent; this was raised by Peter Lambert in Germany in 1904 between a seedling of ‘Aglaia’ and the Hybrid Tea ‘Mrs R. G. Sharman Crawford’. (‘Aglaia’ was the result of a cross between R. multiflora and the Noisette ‘Rêve d’Or’ which in its distant pedigree includes R. moschata.) The title chosen for this group, therefore, is farfetched; in France the group is included with the Noisettes. Pemberton’s roses are of mixed quality, some have never been popular, others have become household names. They are shrubs from 3 to 8 ft; one is a climber (‘Moonlight’) and all are recurrent flowering, mostly making sturdy growth. The flowers are borne in clusters, large or small in summer but in large clusters on the strong late shoots. After Pemberton’s death new varieties were added by J. A. Bentall of Romford, Essex and also by Wilhelm Kordes of Germany. All except those by Kordes are markedly fragrant inheriting the musk-like quality of scent from the Synstylae roses in the parentage.

A full account of Pemberton’s work will be found in the Royal National Rose Society’s Annual for 1968 by G. S. Thomas. They are useful shrubs and make good informal hedges. Pruning consists of shortening flowering shoots and cutting away old and weak growth in winter or early spring to encourage new growths.

Hybrid Perpetual. – These are descended from a seedling raised in 1816 from ‘Portlandica’, known as ‘Rose du Roi’, hybridised with Bourbon Roses. As a general rule they are vigorous and prickly, with dark green leaves. The first crop of bloom is prolific, followed by spasmodic production, particularly from the cluster of buds usually produced at the tip of the tall new shoots. To obtain the maximum quantity of summer flower these long growths should be pegged down, tied to the base of neighbouring bushes, or bent over hoops, when they will flower in their second year along their entire length. Pruning consists of shortening or removal of old and weak growth in winter or early spring. Pink colouring predominates in this group, and the dark crimson of some, inherited from hybrids of ‘Slater’s Crimson China’, is nearly always clouded with purplish tones. Most of the hundreds of varieties that were raised have been lost. They represented a groping after the garden ideal – the Hybrid Tea. They are mostly too tall for use as bushes for beds, and insufficiently shrubby to be included among the true shrub roses. They are therefore omitted from the account of cultivars that follows, with the exception of ‘Reine des Violettes’, which is reliably bushy. The following are some of the more bushy and satisfactory of the Hybrid Perpetuals:

‘Baron Girod de L’ain’. – A sport from ‘Eugène Fürst’, which occurred in 1897. Few prickles, broad leaves; flowers globular, petals nicked at the edge where the purplish crimson fades to white. ‘Eugène Fürst’ (1875) is similar to this, but without the white edges.

‘Baronne Prévost (1842). – One of the more bushy and compact varieties; sturdy, erect growth and a fairly constant succession of large, flat, fully double flowers of rich pink suffused with lilac.

‘Fisher Holmes’ (1865). – Rich scarlet lake, heavily suffused with crimson. Flowers fully double, globular.

‘Empereur du Maroc (1858). – Rather spindly growth. Dark red flowers, shaded maroon but without purple; flat, quartered.

‘Général Jacqueminot’ (1853). – Brilliant crimson.

‘Hugh Dickson’ (1905). – Brilliant crimson; lanky grower, for pegging down.

‘Paul Neyron’ (1869). – Copious large foliage; flowers among the largest of the genus, deep rosy pink, lilac flush.

‘Souvenir du Docteur Jamain’ (1865). – Vigorous, for pegging down or a wall. Velvety dark wine-crimson, shaded maroon and purple.

‘Ulrich Brunner Fils’ (1882). – Very large, full carmine-cerise blooms; long growths; best pegged down.

Hybrid Tea. – With the constant desire in this century for larger flowers with longer petals, giving a more shapely bud, brighter colours, and constant flowering from summer to autumn, breeders resorted again and again to bringing in the asset of the Tea Roses, despite the fact that they were less hardy than the Hybrid Perpetuals, their rivals in popularity. In the late 19th century the desire was more for success on the show bench than in the production of plants of garden value. ‘La France’ (1867) is generally looked upon as the first Hybrid Tea and from this the group is dated, though several others had appeared which were of similar parentage. To the end of the century many hybrids had been raised, embracing colours from white to pink and crimson – mostly purplish – many showing the additional coppery yellow tones of the Tea Roses as well. There is a good illustration of ‘La France’ in the Amateur Gardeners’ Rose Book by Julius Hoffman, pl. 9.

About 1838 Sir Henry Willock introduced from Persia a double form of R. foetida, the so-called Austrian Brier, which was called the Persian Yellow or R.f. persiana. The species had in its being the propensity to produce a colour-sport in which the brilliant yellow of the petals is contrasted by a brilliant orange-red upper surface. The large double yellow flowers of the Persian Yellow – far brighter than any of the Tea Roses of that date and only equalled by the delicate R. hemisphaerica – fired the rose breeder Pernet-Ducher of Lyon, France to try crossing it with Hybrid Perpetuals. All attempts failed except one with ‘Antoine Ducher’ which gave him a few seeds in 1888. One of two resulting seedlings showed the influence of R. foetida in its wood, prickles and foliage and in the colour of its flowers. Crossing this with Hybrid Teas, Pernet produced ‘Soleil d’Or’ in 1900. From this rose all the brilliant yellow, orange and flame roses of today are descended; R. foetida, a rose all on its own in many characters thus changed the entire colour scheme of garden hybrids from soft tones to brilliance or even garishness. This was furthered by the new pigment ‘pelargonidin’ which cropped up spontaneously after 1929 in Poly-pom Roses.

Pruning is aimed at the constant production of new shoots by reducing or removing old and weak wood in winter or early spring. This treatment maintains them for bedding uses, which is beyond the scope of this book. A few are of exceptional vigour, such as ‘President Herbert Hoover’ and ‘Joanna Hill’; the latter has been used as a parent for several shrub roses.

Moss. – Roses whose calyx-lobes, hep and pedicel are more or less covered with a moss-like growth of glandular branched processes and whose other green parts are sometimes adorned by glandular bristles. They are descended from two originals: R. centifolia muscosa, a sport of R. centifolia that arose before 1720, and R. damascena bifera alba muscosa, a sport from the Autumn Damask, which was recorded in France in 1835. The former flowers at midsummer only, the latter is repeat-flowering. The moss of the former is soft to the touch, of the latter bristly. In other characters they follow their parents. The most beautiful in flower of the Mosses – among which none surpasses the original – are of R. centifolia derivation, but the desire for repeat-flowering prompted the hybridists to concentrate on the Perpetual Damask Moss. The two races became merged in the late 19th century. Hybridisation was much helped by the occurrence of single-flowered sports from R. centifolia muscosa in France in 1814, the ‘Single Moss’, and in England in 1852, the ‘Single Red Moss’. The hybrids with strong stalky growth usually gain this from the Damask. Attempts have been made, and still continue, to introduce yellow colouring, such as ‘Golden Moss’ (1932) and ‘Robert Leopold’ (1941). Otherwise the colouring is from white through pink to crimson and purplish maroon. The leaves are mostly of dark green borne on rather lax and often very thorny wood; the darker coloured hybrids usually have dark brownish moss and twigs, though there are exceptions such as ‘Blanche Moreau’ whose dark tinting is not normally associated with white flowers. Pruning for once-flowering moss roses is as for R. centifolia; for repeat-flowering cultivate harder pruning in winter is required.

Noisette. – Hybrids derived from a cross between R. moschata and the Pink China in the first place. The first hybrid, ‘Champney’s Pink Cluster’ is not grown in this country; it originated about 1802 through John Champneys of Charleston, S. Carolina, USA, having fertilised R. moschata with pollen from ‘Parson’s Pink’. It flowered at midsummer only. Seeds from it were raised by Philippe Noisette, a nurseryman also of Charleston; one which flowered repeatedly until autumn was called ‘Blush Noisette’ and is found in many a garden in Britain. Subsequently the group was formed by other seedlings and hybrids with ‘Parks’ Yellow China’ and gave rise to a group known sometimes as Tea-Noisettes (q.v.).

Penzance Hybrid Sweet Briers. – A race developed by Lord Penzance during the last years of the 19th century, using pollen from Hybrid Perpetuals and Bourbons to cross R. eglanteria, the Sweet Brier, or seedlings therefrom. These crosses gave rise to a dozen or more roses with single or semi-double flowers from blush to crimson, all inheriting some of the fragrance of the foliage of R. eglanteria. Flowers 2–3 in. across; a few bear heps. Vigorous, prickly growth to 9 ft. Some of the best known, and still grown, are ‘Amy Robsart’, ‘Anne of Geierstein’, ‘Flora McIvor,’ ‘Meg Merrilies’ and ‘Rose Bradwardine’.

‘Lord Penzance’ and ‘Lady Penzance’ are less vigorous and less fragrant in foliage; their single flowers yellowish pink, the yellow tint inherited from an admixture of ‘Harison’s Yellow’ in the first and R. foetida ‘Bicolor’ in the second.

Polyantha Pompons or Dwarf Polyanthas. – The first roses of this group, sometimes called Poly-poms, were raised at Lyons in the 1870s from first-generation hybrids of R. multiflora. Dr Hurst’s theory was that the pollen-parent of these hybrids was one of the dwarf Lawranceana roses (see p. 000), whose influence came to expression in the next generation, but this theory has been challenged (see ‘The Earliest Polyantha Roses’ by Baronne E. de la Roche in the Year Book of 1969 of the International Dendrology Society, pp. 78–96). Two of the earliest varieties – ‘Paquerette’ (1875) and ‘Mignonette’ (1882) – have respectively white and light pink flowers, and show the influence of a China rose. But others, the result of deliberate crosses, have Tea Roses in their parentage, while others again derive on one side from ‘Crimson Rambler’, itself a cultivar or hybrid of R. multiflora. The roses of this group are dwarf bushes with the small leaves and wood of a typical flowering shoot of R. multiflora, bearing a large number of small flowers in a typical multiflora fashion, but achieving popularity by the selection of colours from white, pink to crimson, orange-red and coral. Many of them are scentless, but are as perpetually in flower as any rose. They are valuable for small beds and miniature gardens. Pruning consists of the removal of old weak growth from the base in winter or early spring to encourage new basal growths. Since they are not shrub roses, further reference to them is omitted from this book, except for ‘Cécile Brunner’ and ‘Perle d’Or’; ‘Little White Pet’ has a different origin.

Portland. – A group of roses raised initially from ‘Portlandica’. They are of compact habit, up to 4 or 5 ft high and wide, and bear a considerable resemblance to the Gallica group, except for their narrow calyx tubes and recurrent habit, coupled with a propensity to bear their topmost leaves more or less in a rosette under the flower. Colours white, pink, carmine and purplish. The influence of this group may be observed in several Moss roses, and also in the Alba rose ‘Pompon Blanc Parfait’ as well as ‘Reine des Violettes (q.v.). Production of later blooms in the Portland Roses is encouraged by thinning out or shortening old and weak wood in winter or early spring, and the removal of spent flowers in summer.

Rambler. – A term that covers strong growing roses of lax habit, needing support. Many if left to their own devices will make dense thickets of overlapping shoots. They all derive from species in the Synstylae Section, mainly from R. multiflora, R. wichuraiana, R. arvensis, R. sempervirens and R. moschata. They mostly bear large trusses of small blooms, produced at midsummer except in a very few exceptions, among which are R. moschata, R. wichuraiana, ‘Aimée Vibert’ and ‘Phyllis Bide’. In view of their graceful growth ramblers are particularly suitable for use on arches and swags, for training into trees and over hedgerows and large shrubs; their full beauty is revealed when, having initially been trained onto their support, the subsequent branches are allowed to hang down. When used for more formal effect, once-flowering ramblers should have old stems removed after flowering; this should be delayed until winter or early spring for repeat-flowering kinds. Many are scentless but there are exceptions.

Apart from isolated cultivars such as ‘Ayrshire Splendens’ and others showing affinity to R. sempervirens and R. arvensis, Ramblers fall into two fairly distinct groups, one typified by ‘Dorothy Perkins’, ‘Sanders’ White’ and ‘American Pillar’, and the other by ‘Albéric Barbier’. In his book Climbing Roses Old and New, G.S. Thomas attributes these distinct groups to the influence in the parentage of R. wichuraiana and R. luciae respectively. It is doubtful, however, whether R. wichuraiana was exclusively used in the first group, and when R. luciae was mentioned in contemporary records as a parent of the second group, R. wichuraiana was probably meant, since that species was originally included in R. luciae and the old name may have been used in some publications. Without definite proof, it is probable that the difference between the ‘Dorothy Perkins’ group and ‘Albéric Barbier’ group is largely due to the influence of the other parent used in the original hybridisation. When a Tea or related rose was crossed with R. wichuraiana (as in the Barbier hybrids), the R. gigantea element in the Tea parent would combine with the latter to give glossy, disease-resistant foliage, besides contributing a larger flower. In ‘Dorothy Perkins’, however, and in at least some of the Walsh hybrids, the bush roses used in the crosses were Hybrid Perpetuals, which have little, if any, R. gigantea in their make-up.

Shrub. – A term devised to cover all roses which are not classed as bush or bedding roses (Hybrid Teas and Floribundas) nor as ramblers and climbers. Most species fall into this group. The rambling species of the Synstylae are also eligible according to the amount of ground available; unless attached to supports they will all make dense thickets of overlapping shoots. Some of the more lanky in growth of garden hybrids, such as many Hybrid Perpetuals, cannot truthfully be called shrubs, and only when their shoots are pegged down can they be used satisfactorily for bedding. Repeat-flowering shrub roses are rendered the more prolific by hard pruning in winter or early spring, but the grace of the plant is thereby lost.

Tea. – Pink Tea roses were derived from the Bourbon Rose crossed with ‘Hume’s Blush China’; the latter is presumed to have R. gigantea as one parent, from which long buds and petals resulted. The tea-scent was also inherited in this way, but perhaps more so when ‘Parks’ Yellow Tea-scented China’ was used to hybridise with ‘Blush Noisette’, resulting in Tea Roses of yellowish colouring and also, more directly, the Tea-Noisettes.

‘Safrano’ (1839) was the first yellow Tea Rose, from which others were raised. ‘Lady Hillingdon’ (1910) is one of the richest in colour, apricot yellow, and is noticeably tea-scented. The Tea Roses need a warm climate to ripen their soft wood in autumn, and a good soil. Smooth twigs with few large reddish prickles; the young shoots and leaves are often purplish, blending with the colours of the flowers which though basically pink are suffused with coppery yellow to varying degrees; some are creamy white, some coppery yellow, others may verge towards red. Since their rather soft wood is apt to be damaged in winter, pruning should be left until spring, so that old, thin, or damaged wood can be cut away or reduced. Branches of yew or laurel placed around them will help to protect them in cold weather.

Tea-Noisette. – Hybrids in which the vigour and hardiness of the Noisette Roses have been blended with the coppery yellow tones of the Teas. Though a very varied group they formed the first large-flowered hybrid roses of yellowish colouring and have not been surpassed for their combination of size, dense flat array of petals when expanded, colouring and tea-scent. They are mostly of remarkably recurrent habit. Old and weak wood should be shortened or removed in winter or early spring to encourage plentiful new growth. The greatest production and the best flowers are usually produced on sheltered sunny walls in our warmer counties.

DESCRIPTIONS

‘Adélaide d’Orléans’ (Rambler). – Raised in 1826 by Jacques, head gardener to the Duc d’Orléans, this is a hybrid of R. sempervirens, and like ‘Félicité et Perpétue’, is partially evergreen. Though so old, nothing like them has been raised since. The long trailing shoots have reddish prickles, and small dark green leaves. Buds deep creamy rose-pink, this tint remaining on the outer petals, while those inside the flower are blush white. The flowers are in small trusses and hang more or less vertically, being thus particularly appreciated above one’s head. Yellow stamens. 15 ft or more. Midsummer. Delicate scent.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, frontispiece.

‘Agnes’ (Shrub). Dr W. Saunders, Ottawa, 1922. R. rugosa × R. foetida ‘Persiana’. – This hybrid, the result of an unusual cross, shows characters of both parents, and is a useful and interesting plant. Excessively prickly like R. rugosa, it has bright green leaves like the other parent; stout, freely branching shoots build into a wide-spraying shrub. Its first crop of blooms is very free and here the large globular double flowers of the ‘Persian Yellow’ are in evidence, but they are of soft butter yellow. Receptacle bristly. 5 ft. Recurrent. Fragrant. A.M. 1951.

McFarland, Roses of the World, p. 2.

‘Aimée Vibert’ (Rambler). 1828. Also known as ‘Bouquet de la Mariée’. – A rose of mixed parentage, but particularly showing the influence of R. moschata in its flowers, and R. sempervirens in its magnificent, dark green, glossy, long leaves. From R. moschata also it derives its flowering period, from late summer to autumn. A luxuriant rambler for large supports, trees, etc., where its masses of white flowers will show to advantage. Borne in small clusters, followed by very large clusters on late shoots, they are pink-tipped in bud, opening to pure white, fairly full, showing stamens; about 2 in. across. A yellowish sport occurred in 1905 but has apparently been lost. Apart from R. moschata itself, and ‘Phyllis Bide’, it is the only rambler that is continuously in flower until autumn. 18 ft. Slightly scented.

Choix des Plus Belles Roses, pl. 5.

‘Alain Blanchard’ (Centifolia/Gallica). 1839. – The rounded leaves and thorny growth indicate Centifolia influence, the colour of the flowers derives from Gallica. Semi-double flowers, cupped, of strong crimson, quickly becoming mottled with maroon in sunlight. This and ‘La Plus Belle des Ponctuées’ are two of the many 19th-century spotted varieties still left in cultivation. 4–5 ft strong arching growth. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

Thomas, Old Shrub Roses, pl. v.

‘Alba Maxima’ (Alba). Jacobite or Cheshire Rose. – A big coarse shrub with stout stems and large prickles, well covered with large grey-green leaves. The flowers are rather flat, well filled with petals, but usually showing some stamens; the array of petals lacks form as it does in ‘Maiden’s Blush’. Big clusters of flowers which repay thinning. Very fragrant. 7 ft. Midsummer. This rose sometimes reverts to a semi-double form, ‘Alba Semiplena’, which in turn may sport back to ‘Alba Maxima’.

Plate 16

‘Albéric Barbier’ (Rambler). Barbier, 1900. R. wichuraiana × ‘Shirley Hibberd’. – The type of Wichuraiana rambler by which others are judged. Exceptionally luxuriant and glossy dark foliage. Shapely butter-yellow buds opening to large, flat flowers of creamy white, fully double and often quartered. It is almost dense enough for ground cover. After the main crop of flowers is over, the plant is seldom without a few blooms until autumn. 20 ft. Midsummer, recurrent. Very fragrant.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 1.

‘Alexandre Girault’ (Rambler). Barbier, 1909. R. wichuraiana × ‘Papa Gontier’. – This has all the attributes of ‘Albéric Barbier’ except that it seldom produces late blooms. When first open, the flowers are of brilliant carmine, fading quickly to lilac carmine, but always brightened by the yellow base to the petals. It covers the lengthy treillage at the Roseraie de l’Hay near Paris very effectively. Few prickles. 20 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. iv.

‘Alister Stella Gray’ (Tea-Noisette). Raised by A. H. Gray, Bath, introduced by G. Paul, 1894; known as ‘Golden Rambler’ in the USA; see also ‘Claire Jacquier’. – Although suitable for training on a wall, it will make a big open shrub for the back of the border. Wood mostly unarmed, except on very vigorous shoots. Foliage brownish when young, smooth and soft green later; many small shoots give a covering of blossom from small clusters, followed by very large clusters on strong new shoots, until autumn. Buds very shapely, of warm yolk yellow, opening to flat blooms with many narrow petals, creamy yellow fading to nearly white, 212 in. wide. It is a very remarkable rose in many ways. 15 ft. Perpetual. Very sweetly scented. A.M. 1893.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. v.

‘Aloha’ (Shrub). Boerner, New York, 1949. – Although often classed as a climbing Hybrid Tea, this is in reality a shrub rose of heavy calibre, of dense upright growth. Copious, glossy dark foliage inherited from one parent, ‘New Dawn’. Each flower is held erect, a remarkable study in its full-petalled shape, and also in colour; rose-pink on the upper surface of the petals, carmine on the reverse, but where they are gathered most closely in the centre a warm apricot tint obtains. 7–8 ft. Perpetually in flower. Fragrant.

‘À Longs Pédoncules’ (Moss). 1854. – As its name implies the flowers are long-stalked, with green moss, and on opening are small, rounded, of soft mauve-pink. The leaves are of soft green, small and rounded. A charming, little known rose of true Centifolia charm. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

Plate 17

‘Andersonii’ (Shrub). Before 1912. R. canina × ? – Vigorous arching stems with large prickles. Flowers in clusters, about 212 in. across, single, of brilliant pink with centre paler around the stamens. Long-pointed leaves, downy beneath. Heps oval, showy. Growth wider than high. 6 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant.

Willmott, Vol. II, p. 379.

‘Anemone’ (Climber). Schmidt of Erfurt, 1895. R. laevigata ‘× Tea Rose; also known as ‘Anemonoides’. – The supposed resemblance to a Japanese anemone is not obvious, but Schmidt was a raiser of these plants and hence his biased thoughts, perhaps. It is a sparsely leafed plant, owing leaf-shape and dark colour and glossiness, also the armature, to R. laevigata; flowers single, 4 in. wide, composed of broad rounded petals of warm clear pink veined with a deeper shade, but paler on the reverse; yellow stamens. A.M. 1900 as ‘Sinica Anemone’. A sport occurred in California in 1913, with petals of glowing cerise-crimson, but much paler, even greyish, on the reverse. It is called ‘Ramona’ and sometimes reverts to the original. A.M. 1950. Both are of rather stiff open growth, best on a sunny wall; prickles and thorns red-brown. 12 ft. Early summer; a few blooms later. Scented.

Willmott, Vol. I, p. 121; Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 25.

‘Arthur de Sansal’ (Portland). 1855. – Sturdy, bushy, erect growth with dark leaves. Flowers densely filled with small petals of darkest maroon-crimson, fading to crimson purple. The late summer shoots produce clusters of buds, which need thinning. 5 ft. Summer to autumn. Sweetly scented. Like other Portland varieties it is an old style of rose and yet recurrent flowering.

‘Assemblage de Beautés’ (Gallica). 1823. Also known as ‘Rouge Éblouissante’. – There are few brighter cultivars among the old French roses. The vivid cerise-carmine is intensified by the multitude of small petals which reflex into ball-like shape, often with button eye and green central pointel. Sturdy bushy growth. 4 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Auguste Roussel’ (Shrub). Barbier of Orleans, 1913. R. macrophylla × ‘Papa Gontier’. – This unusual cross makes an open, graceful, wide bush, with rounded leaflets reminiscent of the species parent. The second parent has given it size of flower; borne in clusters the blooms are shapely, semi-double, showing stamens, with recurving petals of clear light pink. 6 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant.

‘Autumn Fire’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, 1961; original name ‘Herbstfeuer’. – An arching shrub, prickly, with abundant medium-sized foliage borne on red-brown shoots. The flowers are spectacular, dark blood-red touched with scarlet and maroon, semi-double, borne in clusters; a further crop appears in autumn. In late autumn and winter the heps, probably larger than those of any known rose, achieve orange-red colouring; they are long, flagon-shaped. 7 ft. Recurrent.

‘Belle de Crécy’ (Gallica). – The lax bushes are scarcely armed, and bear neat dark green leaves. In spite of lax growth, the flowers are always turned upwards, fully double, perfectly formed, opening to a flat array of petals with button eye. On opening they are of bright cerise pink, quickly turning to soft violet and then to lavender-grey. 3–4 ft. Midsummer. Very fragrant.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 2.

‘Belle Poitevine’ (Rugosa). 1894. – Typical deeply veined, dark green, pointed leaves of R. rugosa. Yellow autumn colour with clusters of rounded orange-red heps. The wood is greyish, densely covered with prickles and sturdy. The flowers are loosely double, opening flat, 4 in. across, showing cream stamens; mallow pink or magenta. 5 ft. Recurrent.

Park, World of Roses, pl. 189.

Closely related to this are: ‘Souvenir de Christophe Cochet’ (1894), in which the leaves are less rugose and the flowers are of a harsh magenta (portrayed in Rosenzeitung, 1893); and ‘Delicata’ (1898), in cool, soft lilac-pink. These three roses are all markedly fragrant.

‘Belle Portugaise’ (Climber). H. Cayeux, Lisbon Botanic Garden, 1903. R. gigantea × ‘Reine Marie Henriette’. The large, elegant drooping leaves, nodding long-petalled blooms and the fragrance are typical of the Tea race derived from both parents. Large, loosely double flowers of creamy salmon with deeper reverse. It requires a warm wall. ‘La Follette’, raised at Cannes by Lord Brougham’s gardener, Busby, about 1910, is similar in most respects but is much richer in colour. ’Sénateur Amic’ (Nabonnand, 1924) is a cross between R. gigantea and ‘General McArthur’; it has nearly single flowers of vivid cerise-crimson at midsummer, like the above two. In Australia similar crosses by Alister Clark have been raised, but need greater warmth than is provided by British summers; among them are ‘Flying Colours’, ‘Kitty Kinninmonth’ and ‘Lorraine Lee’. They date from the early 1920s.

‘Blairii Number Two’ (Bourbon). – A vigorous climber with mahogany-tinted young foliage. Flowers large, fully double, retaining a rich pink centre while paling at the edge. 12 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented. ‘Blairii Number One’ is seldom seen and is more fully double. Both grow at Hidcote.

‘Blanc Double de Coubert’ (Rugosa). 1892. – A hybrid of R. rugosa, but with a more open, tall growth; typical array of dense prickles, and the usual deeply veined, dark green, pointed leaves of that species. Flowers double, of pure cold white slightly tinted blush in the bud. A most useful rose imparting pure white colouring. Yellow autumn colour; large rounded orange-red heps are occasionally produced. 6 ft. Recurrent. Very fragrant. A.M. 1895; A.G.M. 1966. Journ. Roses, February 1897; Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 3.

A sport, ‘Souvenir de Philémon Cochet’ was named in 1899; it is in all respects similar apart from the flowers in which most of the petals are crowded into a dense, level mass, surrounded by large outer petals. It occasionally reverts to the original.

‘Blanc de Vibert’ (Portland). 1847. – In this group of old autumn Damask hybrids a pure white is valuable. The fully double flowers have a hint of lemon in the centre. A neat erect bush with pale green foliage. 4 ft. Fragrant and recurrent.

‘Blanchefleur’ (Centifolia). 1835. – A somewhat hybridised cultivar with good large white flowers opening from red-tipped buds, often quartered, with rolled edges to the petals, a faint blush in the centre. Habit vigorous, open, prickly with light green leaves. Sweetly scented. 4 ft. Midsummer.

‘Blanche Moreau’ (Moss). 1880. ‘Comtesse de Murinais’ × ‘Quatre Saisons Blanc’. – This is a noted pure white Moss rose, with remarkable brownish green moss and thorns; a vigorous but slender, arching bush. Flowers at first cupped, then opening flat, rather small. Willmott’s The Genus Rosa depicts this rose under the erroneous name of R. centifolia albo-muscosa, (Vol. II, p. 349). The blooms lack the full, rounded shape of the Centifolia Moss Rose. 5–6 ft. Midsummer, with a few later blooms (the presence of the Autumn Damask in both parents accounts for this second crop). Sweetly scented; a good rose for cutting.

‘Blush Boursault’ (Boursault Climber). Before 1848. Also known as ‘Calypso’. – Both this and the similar ‘Madame de Sancy de Parabère’ are valuable on account of their early flowering habit, and unarmed wood. Light green smooth leaves. Pale pink flowers, deeper in the centre, loosely double, opening flat from shapely buds. 15 ft. Early summer. Faintly fragrant.

‘Blush Noisette’ (Noisette). Also known as ‘Flesh-coloured Noisette’. – A valuable rose, in constant flower from early summer onwards, making a big lax bush, with smooth purplish young shoots, almost without prickles, bearing small dull green, smooth leaves. Flowers in small clusters in early summer, followed by large clusters on strong new shoots; small, cupped, rather more than semi-double but revealing stamens, deep old rose in bud fading to creamy lilac-pink. A rose common in old gardens, preserved for its continued flowering and fragrance. Raised from seed of ‘Champney’s Pink Cluster’ (a first cross between Rosa moschata and Parsons’ Pink China) by Philippe Noisette of Charleston, United States, and distributed by his brother Louis in Paris in 1819. 15 ft if trained on a support. Perpetual.

Redouté, Vol. II, p. 77 (‘Le Rosier de Philippe Noisette’).

‘Blush Rambler’ (Rambler). B. R. Cant, 1903. ‘Crimson Rambler’ × ‘The Garland’. – Sometimes found in old gardens, this is treasured for its fragrance and because it is nearly thornless. Closely related to R. multiflora. Light green foliage. Flowers semi-double, light pink. 15 ft. Midsummer.

‘Bobbie James’ (Rambler). Introduced by Sunningdale Nurseries, 1960; named in honour of the Hon. Robert James of St Nicholas, Richmond, Yorks. – An extremely vigorous, luxuriant plant, with copious bright green handsome leafage, on strong shoots attaining 25 ft or more. Blooms have six or seven petals, cream in bud opening nearly white, with bright yellow stamens; they are borne in large clusters. One of the best of the very vigorous ramblers, related to R. multiflora. Midsummer. Extremely fragrant.

‘Botzaris’ (Damask). Possibly affiliated to Rosa alba, judging from its coarsely toothed leaves, prickly stems, and distinctive fragrance. Very double flowers, opening flat, creamy white with lemon-white centre, fading to pure white, quartered and with button eye. 4 ft. Midsummer. One of the most beautiful of white varieties.

‘Boule de Neige’ (Bourbon). 1867. – Bold, leathery, smooth leaves are held on a vigorous upright bush, when grown on good soil. On poor soil it is often disappointing, but good flowers are well worth striving for. From red-tipped buds they open to pure white, fully double, of camellia-like perfection, reflexing in maturity to a ball. 4 ft. Recurrent. Sweetly scented.

Nestel’s lllustrierte Rosengarten, pl. 5.

Plate 18

‘Bourbon Queen’ (Bourbon). 1835. Also known as ‘Reine de l’Ile Bourbon’. – A popular old plant, often encountered. Leathery, dark green leaves, markedly serrate. The loose array of crinkled petals makes a large flower, magenta and pink tones predominating. 10 ft, but can be pruned to keep it as a bush. Midsummer. Fragrant.

‘Breeze Hill’ (Rambler or Shrub). Van Fleet, USA, 1926. – This proably has R. wichuraiana as one parent, but unlike most of its relatives the foliage is dull green, rounded. Growth somewhat more bushy than most ramblers, and thus it will mound itself satisfactorily into a bush if desired. Large double blooms, rounded and full of petals, creamy apricot-rose fading to creamy buff. 12 ft with support. Midsummer. Very fragrant.

‘Buff Beauty’ (Hybrid Musk). 1939. – The nearest to yellow in this group. Lax, arching branches which build up into a good shrub with pruning, or may be encouraged to grow into small trees or over hedges. The coppery brown young foliage, turning to dark green later, contrasts well with the flowers, which appear in small clusters in summer, but in long panicles on the strong growth in autumn. Blooms large and shapely, rich apricot-yellow, tinted coral in bud, fading slightly with age. 6 ft. Recurrent. A.G.M. 1966. Sweetly scented.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. 6.

‘Camaieux’ (Gallica). 1830. – Loosely double flowers with broad petals, blush-white heavily striped and splashed with light crimson on opening; the colour intensifies to rich purple and then to lavender grey. A somewhat weak grower to 3 ft. ‘Tricolore de Flandre’, 1846, is very similar; the flowers are more double, the petals more reflexed and rolled at the edges and on the whole the blush-white is less in evidence. Midsummer. Both are very fragrant.

‘Cantab’ (Shrub). Dr C. C. Hurst, Cambridge, 1927. R. nutkana × ‘Red Letter Day’. – A neglected rose of great beauty with very large single blooms, 4 in. wide, borne in clusters on strong shoots, among small leaden green leaves. colour deep pink, lilac tinted, stamens cream. Large oval heps persist until late winter. 8 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant. A.M. 1939.

‘Cantabrigiensis’ (Shrub). 1931. – A chance seedling which cropped up in the University Botanic Garden, Cambridge. The erect stems are covered with bristly thorns and eventually arch outwards, well clad in small green leaves. The shapely flowers are somewhat cupped, with five well rounded petals, of clear light yellow. Small orange-red heps in autumn. A strong healthy plant, more satisfactory than R. hugonis, which may be one parent. 7 ft. Early summer. A.M. June 1931. A.G.M. 1966.

Plate 20

‘Capitaine John Ingram’ (Moss). 1856. – This is one of the most satisfactory of the darker coloured Moss Roses, making a fine large bush, with dark leaves and dark moss. Flowers densely filled with petals, reflexing considerably; intense dark purplish crimson shaded and mottled with maroon. The button eye reveals the lighter colour of the undersides of the petals. 5–6 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

Thomas, Old Shrub Roses, pl. 6.

‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ (Gallica). – This probably has some China influence in its parentage, on account of the smooth leaves, and shiny green wood. When opening the flowers show the paler reverse of the petals; they are cupped and make a rounded flower. Later the petals reflex showing the intense velvety maroon-purple colouring and also the pale centre. 5 ft. Vigorous. Midsummer. Some fragrance.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 5.

‘Cécile Brunner’ (Poly-pom). 1881. R. multiflora seedling × Tea Rose. Also known as ‘Madame Cécile Brunner’, ‘Mignon’ and the ‘Sweetheart Rose’. – This does not conform to the accepted idea of a Poly-pom, being of thin upright growth. Small, pointed leaves, dark green. Of all roses this has the most exquisitely fashioned buds, like a tiny Hybrid Tea of the best quality. Delicate pink flowers, deeper in the centre and on the reverse. Late summer basal shoots bear very large clusters. 3 ft. Perpetual. Fragrant.

Journ. Roses, February 1885; Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 6.

This rose has produced sports: ‘White Cécile Brunner’ arose in the nursery of Fauque et Fils, Orleans, in 1909. The white flowers are lemon-tinted in the centre. ‘Climbing Cécile Brunner’ originated with Hosp in California in 1894. This is probably now better known than the original, since it is very vigorous and produces plenty of shoots for propagating, which are scarce on the original and the white form. The flowers are somewhat larger and produced in great quantity at midsummer, a few later. It is suitable for training on a wall, as at the University Botanic Garden, Oxford, or into trees. ‘Madame Jules Thibaud’ is probably another sport; flowers coral pink.

The plant known in British gardens as ‘Bloomfield Abundance’ is possibly a sport of ‘Cécile Brunner’, but until an established bush of ‘Cécile Brunner’ sports again, or the accepted ‘Bloomfield Abundance’ reverts, there is no conclusive evidence available; the type ‘Bloomfield Abundance’ was raised in the USA in 1920, with a stated parentage of Hybrid Teas.

‘Céleste’ (Alba). Early 19th or late 18th century. – This appears in Redouté as ‘Rosa damascena Aurore’, but its grey leaves, particularly clear pink flowers, and few large prickles indicate quite clearly the Alba group. It originated in Holland. The soft colours of flower and leaf make a happy combination. The buds are of exceptional beauty, opening into a loosely double flower. Sturdy erect bush. 6 ft. Midsummer. A.M. 1948. Sweetly scented.

Redouté, Vol. II, p. 41, as R. damascena Aurore.

‘Céline Forestier’ (Tea-Noisette). Trouillard, Angers, 1842. – This is a renowned Tea-Noisette of superlative quality; it has the soft light green leaves of so many of its group. Though taking some years to gather vigour it is when established strong growing, leafy and floriferous, but is best on a warm sunny wall to encourage early ripening and free flowering. Early flowers on short side shoots, later ones at the extremities of new shoots. From shapely buds they open flat, somewhat cupped with numerous short petals in the centre, surrounded by larger reflexing petals, quartered and often with button eye, of clear, almost sulphur yellow. Each bloom is a perfect circle. 12 ft. Perpetual. Very fragrant. Journ. Roses, October 1880.

‘Celsiana’ (Damask). Named by Thory in Redouté in memory of the famous nurseryman Cels of Paris (d. 1806), who introduced it to France from Holland. – An excellent, free-growing shrub, with light green leaves, smooth and greyish. Flowers in loose clusters, large, semi-double, revealing yellow stamens; warm light pink on opening fading to blush. 4 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly fragrant. Redouté, Vol. II, pl. 53.

‘Cerise Bouquet’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1958. – Several of Kordes’ noted shrub roses are by-products of his efforts to breed into popular races some of the hardiness and stamina of species. In this R. multibracteata is united in a superlative shrub with the rich crimson Hybrid Tea, ‘Crimson Glory’. When established ‘Cerise Bouquet’ will throw out shoots 10 ft long, arching, graceful, and bearing small rounded dull green leaves. Both these characters and the plentiful pale green bracts below the flowers are inherited from the species. Flowers are large, fully double, of brilliant cerise-crimson, appearing freely in clusters in summer all along the great shoots and a smaller crop is usually given in autumn. A highly ornamental shrub needing plenty of space, since it is wider than high. 12 ft, or more when climbing into low trees. Recurrent. Very fragrant. A.M. 1958.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. 1.

‘Charles de Mills’ (Gallica). Also known as ‘Bizarre Triomphant’. – An erect, almost thornless shrub with typical dark green leaves. The flowers are remarkable in colour and shape but are only slightly fragrant. When half open the petals present a dense flat array, later reflexing considerably, and revealing an empty receptacle in the centre. The medley of tints varies from intense crimson on opening to a dull wine-purple tint on maturing. 4 ft. Midsummer.

Park, World of Roses, pl. 176.

‘Claire Jacquier’ (Tea-Noisette). 1888. – This is almost identical in bloom to ‘Alister Stella Gray’, but is far more vigorous and has more pointed leaves with coarser serrations. It flowers only at midsummer, but is a decorative rose, rare in its colour and vigour. 25 ft. Midsummer. A.M. 1889. Sweet scent.

‘Commandant Beaurepaire’ (Bourbon). 1874. Also known as ‘Panachée d’Angers’. – A thorny, arching shrub, as wide as high, with light green very pointed leaves. The flowers are prolifically borne, loosely double, rounded and cupped, of light pink profusely striped and splashed with madder, carmine and purple. 6 ft. Midsummer. See also ‘Honorine de Brabant’. Sweet scent.

Edwards, Wild and Old Garden Roses, facing p. 87.

‘Complicata’ (Shrub/Climber). Probably a hybrid of R. ‘Macrantha’ of gardens, which originated on the Continent in this century. – It forms an arching bush, densely mounded, or can be trained over hedgerows and into small trees. The blooms are borne in clusters along the length of the branches; large, single, of brilliant pink with paler centre around the yellow stamens. A spectacular shrub, 5 ft high and wide unless trained upwards, when it will ascend to 10 ft. Midsummer. Heps oval. Sweetly scented. A.M. 1951. F.C.C. 1958. A.G.M. 1965.

Plate 21

‘Comte de Chambord’ (Portland). 1860. – A good sturdy plant with light green leaves. Large flowers with many rolled petals, sometimes quartered, opening flat; they are clear pink with a faint lilac tone. Its perpetual flowering habit and Gallica flower-shape bring together the best of both worlds. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Portland Roses remaining in cultivation. 4 ft. Summer to autumn. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Comtesse de Murinais’ (Moss). 1843. – Light green, ribbed leaves, on a vigorous bush. The moss is hard to the touch, denoting Damask influence. Flowers large, full petalled, blush-white when first open, turning to milk-white, with pronounced button-eye. The petals are narrow and flat, sometimes quilled, and quartered. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Comtesse du Cayla’ (China). 1902. – Slender weak growth with neat small leaves, purplish when young. Loose, semi-double flowers of brilliant coral-flame, fading to coral pink, reverse yellowish. This is of the same type as ‘Madame Laurette Messimy’, 1887, whose flowers are of coppery salmon-pink with yellow base, and which is figured in The Garden, October 24, 1891, p. 378. A pair of desirable bedding roses, though they will ascend to many feet on a warm wall; constantly in flower. Delicate fragrance.

‘Conditorum’ (Gallica). – A plant grown in the University Botanic Garden at Oxford, and reputedly used for the extraction of attar in Hungary. The unsophisticated flower shape indicates an ancient origin. Loosely double flowers, showing stamens of dark magenta-crimson flushed and veined with purple in hot weather. 3–4 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Constance Spry’ (Shrub/Climber). David Austin, Wolverhampton, 1961. ‘Belle Isis’ (Gallica) × ‘Dainty Maid’. – Principally because Constance Spry had done so much to preserve the old French roses, and because she was specially devoted to those with the shape of R. centifolia, this was named in her honour. The globular, deep centred, soft pink blooms do indeed resemble those of that rose. They are borne singly and in clusters on stout stems from the lax, long branches of the previous year. Young shoots brownish, likewise the prickles; good large foliage which is apt to burn in hot weather. Though often grown as a bush, it needs the support of fence or wall, or can be allowed to climb through other shrubs, into small trees, etc. 7 ft. Midsummer. Rich fragrance reminiscent of myrrh. A.M. 1965. A.G.M. 1966.

‘Cornelia’ (Hybrid Musk). 1925. – A vigorous spreading bush with glossy dark green foliage. Flowers carried in graceful sprays, a few together in summer; later, on the strong young growth the panicles may exceed one foot in length. Buds unprepossessing until half open, when they show soft coppery pink shaded with apricot, fading to a lighter tint. In autumn the colour is intensified. 5 ft, wider than high. Recurrent; sweet far-carrying fragrance.

‘Coryana’ (Shrub). Dr C. C. Hurst, Cambridge, 1926. R. roxburghii (seed-parent) × ?R. macrophylla. – This is a large, substantial shrub, densely branched to the ground, with good foliage; the single deep pink flowers, of good size, are rather hidden by the copious foliage. 8 ft. Little scent.

‘Coupe d’Hébé’. 1840. – Though usually classed as a Bourbon, this is obviously of more mixed parentage. The strong growths are copiously clothed in bright green leaves. Flowers of rather modern outline, shapely, of soft pink, fading very little. 8 ft, best with some support. Midsummer. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Crimson Shower’ (Rambler). Norman, 1951. – Though almost scentless, this valuable variety has become popular because of its unfading colour and the fact that it flowers when other ramblers have finished, extending into September. Small, semi-double flowers in large graceful trusses, rich crimson. 15 ft.

‘D‘Aguesseau’ (Gallica). 1823. – Typical Gallica foliage of good size. Intense crimson, fading to intense cerise-pink; flowers full-petalled, reflexing, often quartered and with button eye. One of the most brilliant Gallicas and a vigorous plant to 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘De la Grifferaie’ (Shrub). Vibert, 1846. – Fully double flowers borne in small clusters reminiscent of many of the old Gallica roses; magenta-cerise, fading to lilac-white and deliriously scented. It is a vigorous plant achieving 6 ft. Stems stout and almost unarmed; leaves broad, dark green and rounded. The stipules are much frayed, which suggests that R. multiflora was one parent, the other presumably being one of the old French roses. It has for long been known as R. multiflora ‘De la Grifferaie’ in the nursery trade and was at one time used as an understock; it is tough and long-lived and its presence in old gardens usually indicates that it has survived the rose budded onto it.

‘De Meaux’ (Centifolia). 18th century or earlier. – An erect little bush with fresh green foliage. The whole plant is in miniature proportions but will achieve 4 ft. Tiny flowers of bright pink, deeper in the well-filled centre. ‘White de Meaux’ is an albino sport, white with pink central petals. There was also a Moss form ‘Mossy de Meaux’ which seems to have been lost; it was introduced in 1814. These varieties are earlier in flower than R. centifolia. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

Willmott, p. 353, as R. pomponia.

‘Desprez à Fleur Jaune’ (Tea-Noisette). Desprez, Yebles, France, 1830. ‘Blush Noisette’ × ‘Parks’ Yellow Tea-scented China’. – A most historic hybrid, and well worthy of preservation, apart from its garden value. It is very vigorous, with few prickles and light green leaves. The early flowers are on short side shoots, but every late-growing tip ends with a cluster, until autumn. About 2 in. wide, they are silky-petalled, fairly full, opening flat, showing stamens; creamy apricot-pink fading to pale peach-yellow. It needs a hot wall and plenty of space, where its growths can be trained up and then hang down. 15 ft or more. Perpetual. Probably the first yellowish climbing rose to be raised. Rich scent.

Choix des Plus Belles Roses, pl. 35.

‘Deuil de Paul Fontaine’ (Moss). 1873. – Of dwarf growth with very bristly stems, dark leaves, hard reddish moss which like its recurrent habit indicates Damask parentage. The flowers are globular, very double with many dusky tints from dark pink through purple and maroon to near black, with brownish shadings. Quartered. 2–3 ft. Midsummer, with a few later blooms. Fragrant.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 8.

‘Devoniensis’ (Tea). G. Foster, Devonport, introduced by Lucombe and Pince, 1841; climbing sport raised by Pavitt of Bath and introduced by Henry Curtis, Torquay, 1858. – The original bush form is now rarely seen. ‘Climbing Devoniensis’ closely resembles ‘Gloire de Dijon’ (q.v.) in all but colour and in being more bushy. Flowers equally full of petals, creamy white with a flush of pale apricot when opening and in the centre. 12 ft. Recurrent. Rich fragrance.

‘Doncasteri’ (Shrub). Probably raised by Dr C. C. Hurst, introduced between the wars by Mr Doncaster of J. Burrell and Co., Cambridge. – This is near to R. macrophylla. Compared with that species the leaves and flowers are smaller and darker. In early autumn it is laden with large, red flagon-shaped heps, at which time it has few peers. 6 ft. Early summer. A.M. 1958.

‘Dorothy Perkins’ (Rambler). Jackson Perkins, 1901. R. wichuraiana (or hybrid of) × ‘Madame Gabriel Luizet’ (a Hybrid Perpetual). – Large and small trusses of small, double, clear pink flowers, nearly scentless. Glossy, dark green leaves. Subject to mildew.

Journ. Roses, June 1908; Darlington, Roses, pl. 5.

‘Dorothy Perkins’ has given rise to a paler coloured sport, ‘Lady Godiva’, of considerable charm. This originated in 1908 and produced in 1932 a dwarf, spreading sport, ‘The Fairy’.

‘Duc de Guiche’ (Gallica). – Probably one of the later cultivars on account of its splendid flowers, opening cupped with the outer petals reflexing, and later the whole flower becomes a ball. Intense magenta-crimson quickly showing delicate purple veins and flush in hot weather. A good bush with good foliage. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Duchesse de Verneuil’ (Moss). 1856. – Leaves pointed, light green, on an effective upright plant. Clear bright pink flowers; petals paler on reverse which shows distinctly in the pronounced button eye. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Du Maître d’École’ (Gallica). – A mystery rose, purchased by Mrs Constance Spry from Messrs Pajotin-Chedane at La Maître École, France, but this firm disclaim its introduction. Good foliage on a compact, nearly thornless bush, whose stems splay outwards under the weight of the very large, double, flat blooms, quartered and with button eye. The soft old rose tint gives way to lilac-pink with delicate mauve and coppery tints. 3 ft. Midsummer. Very fragrant.

Plate 19

‘Eos’ (Shrub). Ruys, Dedemsvaart, Holland, 1950. R. moyesii × ‘Magnifica’ (a hybrid of R. eglanteria). – A tall, stiff, prickly shrub with dainty small foliage inherited from the former parent, of dark leaden green. The long wand-like growths produce short side shoots the next year, each bearing a small cluster of brilliant coral-red flowers, with six or seven petals. Stamens yellow. Named after the Goddess of the Dawn, its colouring is appropriate, but being sterile, it produces no heps. For background planting. 12 ft. Early summer. A.M. 1956.

‘Erfurt’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, 1939. ‘Eva’ × ‘Reveil Dijonnais’. – A first-rate compact shrub, with beautiful glossy foliage, coppery purple when young. The flowers are in constant production from summer to autumn, large, 3 in. wide, semi-double, of bright glowing pink but with large creamy white centre around the stamens. One of the best recurrent roses for smaller gardens. 3–4 ft. Fragrant.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. vii.

‘Evangeline’ (Rambler). Walsh, 1909. R. wichuraiana × ‘Crimson Rambler’. – The single flowers of pale pink, carried in medium-sized trusses over glossy foliage, have a further attraction among so many scentless ramblers, for they are deliciously fragrant. 18 ft. Midsummer.

‘Excelsa’ (Rambler). Walsh, 1909. – This resembles ‘Dorothy Perkins’ except in colour; the clear bright crimson flowers are long lasting, but are surpassed later in the season by ‘Crimson Shower’ (q.v.). 18 ft. Midsummer.

‘Fantin-latour’ (Centifolia hybrid). – The name is a mystery, apparently without foundation, but the rose is well-known and is certainly of the type of flower so successfully painted by the artist. It bears some resemblance to R. centifolia, in its wood, armature and foliage, less so in the flowers, though these are large and shapely, of a bland pale pink richly tinted in the folds. Very vigorous and branching. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented. A.M. 1959. A.G.M. 1966.

Plate 22

‘Felicia’ (Hybrid Musk). 1928. ‘Trier’ × ‘Ophelia’. – One of the most satisfactory of the Hybrid Musks, making good rounded bushes, well branched and suitable for hedging. Foliage broad, rich green. Flowers in summer in small clusters, very free, loosely double, warm apricot-pink on opening, fading to two tones of silvery pink; larger clusters appear in autumn. 5 ft. Recurrent. Sweetly scented. A.G.M. 1966.

‘Félicité et Perpétue’. Jacques, head gardener to the Duc d’Orléans, 1827. – This is one of the very few roses owing affinity to R. sempervirens, and like that species is practically evergreen; moreover it is extremely hardy and old plants may be seen in old gardens at high altitudes in Wales and Scotland and elsewhere. Dense, overlapping, prickly growths which flower most freely when not pruned. Perfectly double blooms in small clusters, with a neat regular array of petals, milk-white, emerging from crimson-touched buds. 15 ft. Midsummer.

Rev. Hort. Belg., 1890, pl. 18; Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. 1.

A dwarf sport occurred in 1879 and is named ‘Little White Pet’. It produces flowers constantly from summer to autumn and exactly resembles the original except for its growth which does not exceed 2 ft. Gartenzeitung, 1880, pl. 28.

‘Félicité Parmentier’ (Alba, with Damask affinity). 1836. – The light yellowish green, pleated leaves, and pale green twigs and dark thorns separate this from other old French roses. The buds are yellowish, borne in clusters, and open into very full-petalled flowers of clear flesh pink, at first cupped and then reflexing into a ball, when the petals fade to creamy white at the edges. A sturdy bush, arching with the weight of the flowers. 5 ft. Midsummer. One of the most exquisite old French roses and deliciously fragrant. Like some other Alba roses, it is advisable to thin some of the large clusters of buds to two or three.

‘Fellenberg’ (Noisette). Before 1842. – Of obscure origin, this is a bushy, well-known rose, of great hardiness, often pruned hard as a bedding plant. For this purpose it is well suited and is constantly in flower. As a lightly pruned shrub it will get tall; of rather open, awkward habit; dark lead-green small leaves, purplish when young. Flowers carried in small clusters in summer and prolifically later on summer shoots, small, double, deep warm pink or light crimson, showing stamens; not more than 2 in. in width. Fragrant. 7 ft. A.G.M. 1929. Willmott, Vol. I, p. 97.

‘Ferdinand Pichard’ (Bourbon). R. Tanne, France, 1921. – In its foliage, which is smooth and pointed, this very closely resembles several established Bourbons, such as ‘Honorine de Brabant’, and may be a sport, but it is more compact in growth than these vigorous cultivars. Flowers clear pink heavily dotted, splashed, striped and flaked with vivid crimson; on fading the darker tint turns to purple; cupped in shape, medium size and fairly double. It is one of the most productive of cultivars. 5 ft. Perpetual. Sweet scent.

‘Fimbriata’ (Shrub). 1891. R. rugosa × ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’. Also known as ‘Dianthiflora’ and ‘Phoebe’s Frilled Pink’. – There is little to show of the second parent; R. rugosa is represented by the prickly stout stems which build up into a big arching bush, freely set with slightly rugose foliage. Flowers in clusters, of palest pink, each petal daintily fringed at the edge. It comes to greatest perfection in the cooler north and in Ireland. 6 ft. Recurrent. Sweet scent. A.M. 1896.

Journ. Roses, September 1896; Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, Fig. 5 (pencil drawing).

‘Flora’ (Rambler). – An old hybrid of R. sempervirens, with glossy dark green leaves, lasting well into the winter, borne on long, trailing shoots with prickles. Flowers double, nodding, in small clusters, full-petalled, old rose pink with darker, cupped centre. 12 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant.

‘Francis E. Lester’ (Rambler). Lester Rose Garden, California, 1946. – Although descended from ‘Kathleen’, a Hybrid Musk, this is a rambler, of dense, rather bushy growth. Very dark green leaves, with faint edging of maroon. Large and small clusters of single flowers with yellow stamens; clear pink in bud fading to white on opening, like apple blossom. 14 ft. Midsummer. Extremely fragrant.

‘François Juranville’ (Rambler). Barbier, France, 1906. R. wichuraiana × ‘Madame Laurette Messimy’. This has most of the attributes of ‘Albéric Barbier’; small leaves, glossy, dark green on lengthy trailing shoots. Flowers about 212 in. wide, opening flat, fully double, often quartered, opening rich coral rose, fading to light rose, with stamens and bases of petals yellow. Best away from walls and fences where it is apt to suffer from mildew. 20 ft. Midsummer only. Sweet fragrance. Wisley Rose Award 1926.

‘Fritz Nobis’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1940. ‘Joanna Hill’ × ‘Magnifica’ (a hybrid of R. eglanteria). – One of the few shrub roses which has a sophisticated, modern shape to its flowers, reminiscent of a Hybrid Tea, in clear pink of two tones. They are borne in large and small clusters all over a beautiful bush, with somewhat zig-zag stems, arching effectively, and well set with good green foliage. Large prickles. An exceptionally fine shrub wider than high. Sweet fragrance. 6 ft. Midsummer. A.M. 1959. A.G.M. 1966.

‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ (Rugosa). 1914. – A seedling of R. rugosa with compact bushy growth, densely covered with prickles. Leaves typically deeply veined, small, rounded, turning yellow in autumn. Flowers in clusters, single, clear light pink, avoiding the magenta colouring of most Rugosa derivatives, with cream stamens, followed by large rounded dark red heps. Of suitable growth for a hedge. Occasionally branches die. 4 ft. Recurrent. Sweet scent. A.M. 1958. A.G.M. 1966.

Plate 23

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. iv (flowers) pl. iii (heps).

‘Frühlingsanfang’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1950. ‘Joanna Hill’ × R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’. – Large single ivory-tinted flowers, about 4 in. across, cover the arching bushes, which are themselves a mass of good dark foliage. This is a most effective shrub, inheriting the spiny stems of ‘Grandiflora’; maroon-red heps are produced in autumn when the foliage usually turns to bright colours. For a woodland glade few shrubs are more effective. 7 ft. Early summer. Powerful fragrance. A.M. 1964.

‘Frühlingsgold’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1937. ‘Joanna Hill’ × R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’. – This is the most famous and satisfactory of a group of six cultivars named by the raiser from similar crosses. While ‘Frühlingsanfang’ makes the most shapely well-filled bush, this excels in the beauty of its semi-double, warm butter-yellow flowers, 4 in. across, fading to creamy white, but at all times beautiful, and revealing dark yellow stamens. Spiny, wide-arching branches, good leaves of dull green. 6 ft, and much wider. Early summer and occasionally later. Powerfully fragrant. A.M. 1950. F.C.C. 1955. A.G.M. 1966.

Plate 24

Gault and Synge, Dictionary of Roses, pl. 165.

‘Frühlingsmorgen’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1941. (‘E. G. Hill’ × ‘Catherine Kordes’) × R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’. – This has never proved such a good shrub as the foregoing two, making rather awkward growth, sparse and spindly at times, but there is no doubt that the leaden green leaves and exquisite blooms leave little to be desired. Flowers single, 4 in. across, rich rose-pink, passing to clear pale yellow in the centre, with the incomparable addition of maroon-coloured stamens. It usually produces a second crop in autumn. 6 ft. Recurrent. Rich fragrance, and has maroon heps. A.M. 1951.

‘Gardenia’ (Rambler). Manda, USA, 1899. R. wichuraiana × ‘Perle des Jardins’. – This has most of the attributes of ‘Albéric Barbier’, but is a richer yellow in bud, fading to cream. Leaves moderately glossy, on a vigorous and healthy plant. 18 ft. Creates a spectacular display on the pergola at Bodnant, N. Wales. Sweet fragrance. Few later blooms.

‘Général Kléber’ (Moss). 1856. – This bears a marked resemblance to ‘Duchesse de Verneuil’ in its growth, light green foliage and moss. Very shapely long buds open to wide, beautiful blooms of soft clear pink. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Général Schablikine’ (Tea). 1878. – A useful hardy Tea rose, showing considerable China Rose influence, which has three good bursts of bloom, alternating with the main crops of modern Hybrid Teas, the first crop being very early. Good growth, with dark green smooth leaves, purplish when young. Flowers singly or in small clusters, deep coppery pink or carmine; shapely buds developing into many-petalled flat flowers; this shape indicates some influence of the old French roses, but the smooth stalks and leaves do not. 5 ft, or higher on a wall. Perpetual. Delicate fragrance.

‘Gerbe Rose’ (Rambler). Fauque et Fils, Orléans, 1904. R. wichuraiana × ‘Baronesse Rothschild’. – Less rampant than the others of the ‘Albéric Barbier’ group to which this approximates, and comparable to ‘Breeze Hill’ in being of bushy growth. Almost unarmed, reddish shoots, with dark glossy leaves; large loosely double flowers, 3 in. across, petals cupped, quartered and crinkled, soft pink with a hint of lilac and cream. 10 ft. Midsummer, seldom without a flower later. Sweet fragrance.

‘Georges Vibert’ (Gallica). 1853. Also known as ‘La Pintade’, ‘Gallica Meleagris’. – A neat little rose, with small pointed leaves and erect growth. Flowers of medium size opening flat with many narrow petals, of blush pink with pink and carmine stripes and green pointel. 3–4 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Gloire de Dijon’ (Tea-Noisette). Jacotot, Dijon, 1853. ?’Souvenir de la Malmaison’ × Tea Rose. – Those who cannot provide the warmth needed by ‘Maréchal Niel’ could not do better than to grow this or ‘Céline Forestier’. Purplish young wood with few prickles; leaves also richly coloured when young turning to dark green. The stems are vigorous, but often are bare for 6 ft or so. Flowers open from globular deep-centred buds, to a flat array of quilted and quartered petals, sometimes with button eye, resembling those of ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’. Colour variable, deep buff-yellow more or less warmed by pink and apricot, particularly in warm weather. 15 ft. Recurrent, profuse, seldom out of flower after midsummer. Rich fragrance.

Hoffmann, pl. 5.

‘Gloire de France’ (Gallica). – Large fully double flowers of warm lilac-pink, fading to lilac-white around the edges. The bush is well branched and has good leaves. 3–4 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Gold Bush’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1954. ‘Golden Glow’ × R. eglanteria hybrid. Named ‘Goldbusch’ in Germany. – The wide-arching, prickly stems have leaves of yellowish green, inheriting some of the aroma of those of the species. Along the branches are borne clusters of shapely apricot buds, opening to semi-double peach-yellow blooms showing yellow stamens. Usually wider than high; 5 ft. Recurrent. Sweet fragrance. A.M. 1965.

‘Golden Chersonese’ (Shrub). E. F. Allen, Copdock, Suffolk 1963. ‘Canary Bird’ × R. ecae. – The dainty foliage borne on wiry, thin sprays of prickly wood and the bright yellow small flowers incline to the second parent, but it inherits greater size of flower from ‘Canary Bird’. 6 ft. Spectacular in early summer. A.M. 1966.

Hollis, Roses, facing p. 171.

‘Golden Wings’ (Shrub). 1956. Roy Shepherd, USA, 1956. Parentage complex, including ‘Ormiston Roy’ and ‘Soeur Thérèse’. – This is a pointer to what may occur in other colours of shrub roses, being of manageable, upright bushy growth, with some prickles, and leaden green foliage. The clusters of blooms are produced freely and followed by fresh clusters at the end of every new shoot. Flowers large, 4 in. across, single, of clear yellow, deeper in the centre around the amber-brown stamens. 6 ft. Perpetual. Powerful sweet fragrance. A.M. 1965. A.G.M. 1973.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. vii.

‘Goldfinch’ (Rambler). George Paul, 1907. – Like ‘Blush Rambler’, this is closely related to R. multiflora. It is almost unarmed and has light green leaves. The flowers are very fragrant, semi-double, in large trusses; they are yolk-yellow in the bud fading to milk-white, with dark yellow anthers. 15 ft.

‘Grüss an Teplitz’ (Shrub). P. Lambert, Germany, 1897. – This is a hybrid of complex parentage and does not fit conveniently into any particular group, but has most affinity with the Bourbons from a garden point of view. The flower colour, intense dark crimson, is to be prized. Flowers double, nodding on opening from erect buds (a trait of R. moschata), borne in small clusters in summer, but in panicles on the stronger, later shoots, continuing until autumn. Young foliage purplish red, turning to green, with a thin reddish margin. It can be treated as a climber, but can be kept as a large shrub by pruning. 6 ft. Perpetual. A.M. 1899. Sweetly scented.

Hoffmann, pl. 19.

‘Hansa’ (Shrub). 1905. – A hybrid of R. rugosa, with typical dense prickles on a stout bushy plant; the foliage also is typically deeply veined, small, and of dark green, turning yellow in the autumn. Flowers double, well formed, of deep crimson-purple in clusters. The colouring of the flowers is less appealing and decisive than that of ‘Roseraie de l’Hay’ and it is a little farther removed from typical R. rugosa. On the other hand its flowers are constantly produced and it is much used as an amenity plant on the Continent. 6 ft. Recurrent. Sweetly scented.

Plate 25

‘Headleyensis’ (Shrub). Sir Oscar Warburg, Headley, Surrey. R. hugonis (seed-parent) × ?R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’. – Of the many hybrids of R. hugonis this is perhaps the most bushy and elegant, covered with creamy yellow flowers, and multitudes of small clear green leaves. Wide, graceful growth. 8 ft. Early summer. Sweet fragrance.

‘Helen Knight’ (Shrub). – This was raised from open-pollinated seed of R. ecae, at Wisley by F. P. Knight; since R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ (R. spinosissima altaica) was growing nearby it is presumed this plant supplied the pollen. It inherits much of the dark wood, dainty foliage, and brilliant yellow of the flowers of R. ecae; they are slightly cupped, 112 in. across, and bright clear yellow. Faintly fragrant. Early summer. 7 ft. Raised in 1966.

‘Henri Martin’ (Moss). 1863. – The largest in flower of the more brilliant carmine tints among the old French roses, with full, beautiful blooms reflexing to a ball. Long stalked blooms with clear green moss, above mid-green leaves. This is a large handsome shrub, graceful and prolific. 6 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant. On good soil it can be a superlative rose.

‘Highdownensis’ (Shrub). Sir Frederick Stern, Highdown, Worthing, 1928. Seedling of R. moyesii. – Extremely vigorous, producing shoots 10 ft high in one season when established, freely set with dainty burnished leaves. Flowers single, over 2 in. across, borne in conspicuous clusters, of vivid cerise-crimson. Little fragrance. Later, when the long new summer shoots have grown, showing the young foliage and red thorns and prickles, the flowering branches bear bunches of long, flagon-shaped scarlet heps. It is one of the most valuable hybrids of the Cinnamomeae (section Cassiorhodon) with two good seasons of display. 10 ft. Early summer. A.M. 1958.

Gard. Chron., January 6, 1934 (supplementary illustration).

‘Hillieri’ (Shrub). Hillier & Sons, Winchester, 1924. A seedling of R. moyesii. – Of very open growth, wide spreading, with small leaves. Flowers single, in clusters, of intense maroon-red; a wonderful sight when seen with the sun shining through them, against the green foliage and blue sky. A few of the flowers develop large flagon-shaped heps. 10 ft. Early summer.

‘Honorine de Brabant’ (Bourbon). – This is closely related to ‘Commandant Beaurepaire’, but considerably more vigorous and leafy. Flowers pale pink, daintily spotted and striped with mauve and violet. The blooms are produced in abundance in summer, and intermittently later, at which time they are inclined to ‘ball’. 8 ft. Midsummer onwards. Wider than high. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Hume’s Blush Tea-scented China’ (China). 1809. – This hybrid, considered to be R. chinensis × R. gigantea, together with the other three hybrids introduced from China between 1789 and 1824, has had a considerable influence on European garden roses, particularly from its fragrance. See under R. chinensis.

Redouté, Vol. I, pl. 61 (as R. indica fragrans).

‘Ispahan’ (Damask). Also known as ‘Rose d’Isfahan’. – One of the first Damask roses to start flowering and usually the last to finish. Clear brilliant pink flowers of good shape reflexing loosely later. A vigorous shrub with leaden green leaves and few prickles. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent. Reputedly used in Turkey for distilling rose water.

‘Jacques Cartier’ (Portland). 1868. – A vigorous but compact shrub with light green leaves, the terminal leaflet very long and narrow. Flowers of good size, similar to those of ‘Comte de Chambord’, very full, quartered, with button eye. 5 ft. Summer to autumn. Sweet scent.

‘Janet’s Pride’ (Shrub). W. Paul and Sons, 1892. – Possibly a hybrid of R. eglanteria and R. damascena, it inherits something of the aromatic foliage of the former. Flowers about 212 in. across, semi-double, bright cherry-pink with nearly white centres around the stamens, the paler tint extending through the petals in veins and splashes. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

Willmott, Vol. II, pl. 449.

‘Juno’ (Centifolia). 1847. – This is an arching shrub with soft, leaden green leaves, drooping beneath the weight of the large globular blooms opening flat and quartered, with marked button eye. A superlative bloom, richly fragrant. It probably has some affinity with the China Rose, since it was originally classed as a ‘Hybride non-Remontant’.

‘Karl Foerster’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1931. ‘Frau Karl Druschki’ × R. pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’. – A vigorous sturdy bush with large prickles and green leaves of no particular distinction. Flowers singly and in clusters, shapely, pure white. 5 ft. Perpetual. A beautiful and useful plant, seldom grown, probably because, like its first parent, it is practically scentless.

‘Kew Rambler’ (Rambler). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1912. R. soulieana × ‘Hiawatha’. – The use of R. soulieana has provided the small greyish foliage, against which the single pink flowers – with white zone around the stamens – show to great advantage; it also has provided the small orange heps which colour in autumn. Free flowering. 18 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented. A.M. 1922.

‘Koenigin von Danemarck’ (Alba, with Damask affinity). Introduced by James Booth, Flottbeck Nurseries, near Hamburg, in 1826. Also known as ‘Queen of Denmark’. – This bears a marked resemblance in its growth and prickles and clusters of flowers to ‘Félicité Parmentier’, but its leaves are particularly dark blue-green, a perfect foil for the blooms which are of intense carmine in the centre, clear pink at the circumference. Densely packed with short petals in flat, quartered array, the blooms often have a button eye around a green central pointel; later the petals reflex. It is indeed a queen among roses. Open habit, to 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

Thomas, Old Shrub Roses, pl. 11.

‘La Belle Distinguée’ (Shrub). Before 1790. – Presumed a hybrid of R. eglanteria, though the fragrance of the flowers and leaves of that species is scarcely evident. Leaves small, of very dark green, on a dense rather upright bush. Flowers double, opening flat, borne in clusters, small, deep cherry red. 4 ft. Midsummer.

‘Lady Curzon’ (Shrub). Turner of Slough, 1901. Reputedly R. rugosa × R. ‘Macrantha’ of gardens. – This is a useful trailing rose for ground-cover, or for climbing over hedges and into trees. Excessively prickly stems and dark green rough leaves. The beautiful single flowers, 312 in. across, are light pink with white zone around the stamens and create a fine effect. 12–15 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Lady Hillingdon’ (Tea). Lowe and Shawyer, 1910. ‘Papa Gontier’ × ‘Madame Hoste’. – The rich purplish tint of the young shoots and leaves together with the soft deep apricot yellow of the flowers set this rose apart from all others. Nothing like it has since been raised. Fairly strong growth, few prickles, leaves dark green when mature. Flowers develop from long shapely buds, when they may be touched with red, to fairly full, loose shape, usually nodding, borne singly or in small clusters. The nodding flower is a disadvantage on a bush that will only exceed 3–4 ft in very mild areas, but an advantage in the climbing sport which appeared in 1917; fortunately ‘Climbing Lady Hillingdon’ is as constantly in flower as the original bush, and may reach 20 ft. A sunny wall is best. Perpetual. The bush type received an A.M. 1910. Rich tea or apricot scent.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. vi; Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 13.

‘Lamarque’ (Tea-Noisette). 1830. Originally ‘The Maréchal’ having been raised by Maréchal of Angers, France, the only rose attributed to him – and subsequently named in honour of Général Lamarque. – This is of the same parentage as ‘Desprez à Fleur Jaune’, but shows less of the Noisette. Flowers large, 3–4 in. wide, with quilled and reflexing outer petals, central ones plentiful, cupped and quartered, white with lemon in centre, prettily nodding. Leaves fresh green, smooth, limp. It needs a warm sheltered wall to give of its best, and will attain or exceed 10 ft. Midsummer, with a few later blooms. Tea fragrance.

Choix des Plus Belles Roses, pl. 30.

‘La Plus Belle Des Ponctuées’ (Gallica). – This very vigorous plant has long erect shoots and good foliage. The flowers are loosely double, of bright pink, daintily spotted with white. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent. ‘Alain Blanchard’ is another of these ancient, spotted varieties.

‘La Ville de Bruxelles’ (Damask). 1849. – Luxuriant, rich green, long leaves. The very large flowers cause the branches to bend to the ground; it therefore needs support. A constant rich pink tone lasts through the life of the flowers which are cupped to start with, later reflexing, massed with petals, with button eye. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

‘Leda’ (Damask). Before 1838. – Very dark, luxuriant foliage, on a sturdy bush. This originated in England and has developed a pink sport on occasions, but the blooms are usually of glistening milky white, touched with red-brown at the tips, for they emerge from buds of this colouring. Marked button eye; reflexing into a ball. 3 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Madame Alfred Carrière’. 1879. – This is grouped usually with the Noisettes, but conforms to the characters of more modern climbing roses. Very vigorous, enough to cover a large wall, or by some cutting back, can be made into a large bush. Large, smooth, light green leaves on green wood with few prickles. Fully double blooms from shapely buds, borne in small clusters or singly, creamy blush fading to nearly white, sometimes quartered. 18 ft or more. Midsummer, but is seldom completely out of flower later. Sweetly fragrant.

Journ. Roses, April 1886.

‘Madame Antoine Marie’ (Tea). 1901. – The rich purplish young growth, stems and prickles give a lovely quality to the bush. Long shapely buds with large outer petals flushed with deep pink, opening to creamy yellow with blush tinting; the centres are filled with many smaller petals. Against a warm wall in our warmer counties it can be a great success, but like the few other Tea roses that have lingered in cultivation it needs cossetting. Delicate Tea scent. Perpetual.

Journ. Roses, February 1904.

‘Madame Delaroche-Lambert’ (Moss). 1851. – A treasured variety on account of its good growth, shapely buds and repeat-flowering habit. Long leafy sepals, green moss. Flowers of intense rich crimson-purple, with rolled and reflexing petals. Brownish moss on the stems. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Madame de Sancy de Parabère’ (Boursault Climber). 1874. – One of the few truly unarmed roses. A luxuriant climber with green wood, smooth limp leaves and the habit of flowering early. The blooms are large, fully double in the cupped centre, with large reflexing outer petals, all of clear rose pink. 15 ft. Early summer. Almost scentless.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. iii.

‘Madame Falcot’ (Tea). 1858. – The full-petalled, rich deep buff-yellow flowers are large, often with quartered centres; they are well contrasted by purplish young foliage, turning to dark green but with purplish reverses. Can be successfully grown in our warmer counties, especially against a sunny wall. Perpetual. Sweetly scented. 4 ft.

Nietner, Die Rose, facing p. 48; Journ. Roses, June 1880.

‘Madame Hardy’ (Damask/Centifolia). 1832. – The standard by which the best old French roses are judged. Large, full-petalled, cupped blooms which at one stage reveal reflexed outer petals as in R. centifolia, usually with green centre – the perfect contrast to the white of the petals which only on opening show a faint blush. Rich green leaves on a vigorous bush with prickles and thorns. J. A. Hardy, who was in charge of the Jardin de Luxembourg in the early 19th century, and his wife, are respectively honoured by R. hardii and this unsurpassed old French rose. Sweetly scented. 6 ft. Midsummer.

Bunyard, pl. 14 (as R. centifolia alba).

‘Madame Isaac Pereire’ (Bourbon). 1880. – Huge double flowers at first cupped and quartered, later reflexing, of rich madder-carmine, shaded with magenta. At its best it is one of the most perfect and large of all roses, from half open flower to expanded bloom. ‘Madame Ernst Calvat’ is a sport of 1888, in which there is deep purplish tint on the young foliage, contrasting well with the warm flesh-pink of the flowers with darker reverses. Both cultivars produce their best blooms in autumn, the earliest summer blooms often being misshapen. Both can be treated as large shrubs but are best with support. 9 ft. Recurrent. See also ‘Mrs Paul’. Powerful fragrance.

Journ. Roses, April 1893; Edwards, Wild and Old Garden Roses, facing p. 84.

‘Madame Lauriol de Barny’ (Bourbon). 1868. – With the smooth leaves and stems of the Bourbon group, this has not inherited the propensity to flower more than once; the flowers are however of superlative quality, nodding, very full of petals, globular, of soft clear pink with a slight mauve tint. Arching growth. 9 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

‘Madame Legras de Saint-Germain’. Before 1848. – A rose of such mixed parentage that it has been listed in several groups, Alba and Noisette included. Few prickles on long arching green stems, set with smooth leaves. The blooms are in small clusters or borne singly, with a dense array of small petals which make a flat flower, pure white with lemon tint in the centre. Midsummer. Excellent as an arching bush of overlapping branches, or trained into trees, in which it will ascend to 15 ft. Sweet scent.

‘Madame Louis Lévêque’ (Moss). 1873. – Remarkable, vigorous, upright growth, just strong enough to bear the copious, bright green, long-pointed foliage and heavy blooms. They are the largest of any Moss variety, globular and full of petals, inclined to ‘ball’ in wet weather, of uniform pale pink. 5 ft. Midsummer, and occasionally later. Sweetly scented.

‘Madame Plantier’. 1835. – Like ‘Madame Legras de Saint-Germain’, this is grouped usually as an Alba, sometimes as a Noisette. Again smooth green wood and leaves, and a profuse display of nodding double milk-white flowers, with lemon flush in the centre when first open. It will ascend into trees and hang from them in a massed display from 20 ft or make a low mound of overlapping branches. Midsummer. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Madame Zoetmans’ (Damask). – This is very close to ‘Botzaris’ but differs mainly in its smooth flower stalks. Fresh green leaves. Faintly blush on opening, the flowers quickly pass to white with a blush centre, full petalled with button eye. Early flowering. 3 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Maiden’s Blush’ (Alba). – With typical sparse prickles and otherwise smooth wood of the Alba roses, this also has greyish leaves, and the flowers are borne in typical large clusters, and benefit from thinning. From greenish creamy buds the flowers develop into a mass of short, muddled petals of a very clear light pink, fading paler. One of the great roses of all time. Sturdy but arching growth to 5–6 ft. Midsummer. Extra sweetly scented.

Redouté, p. 97, as Rosa alba regalis.

‘Maigold’ (Shrub or Climber). W. Kordes, Germany, 1953. ‘Frühlingsgold’ × ‘McGredy’s Wonder’. – Excessively prickly stems and very vigorous growth indicate an unmanageable rose. It can be left to mound up as a bush or be trained on supports. Exceptionally beautiful glossy dark leaves. Flowers in clusters, deep buff-yellow, semi-double, showing dark yellow stamens; they emerge from orange-red buds. It is a wonderful bit of colour; many of the summer’s long growths bear bunches of flowers later. 5–10 ft. Recurrent. Heavy scent.

‘Manning’s Blush’ (Shrub). Before 1799. Hybrid of R. eglanteria. – Inheriting the aromatic foliage of its parent, this old variety is a valuable garden plant; it is compact, with arching branches, with small rich green leaves. The flowers are in small clusters, about 112 in. across, fully double, blush white, emerging from a somewhat mossy or glandular calyx. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

Lawrance, pl. 41.

‘Maréchal Davoust’ (Moss). 1853. – Attractive pointed leaves on a vigorous bush. The brownish mossy buds hold shapely flowers which later reflex and show button eye and green pointel. The colour is intense, from rich deep crimson-pink with paler reverses, becoming suffused with cerise and purple and soft mauve. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Maréchal Niel’ (Tea-Noisette). Henri Pradel, Lyon. – This was the first large-flowered yellow climbing rose of any size and quality, but is not reliably hardy. It needs cultivation under glass to protect the thin petals, but will grow well on a warm sunny wall where in hot summers the size (5 in. wide) and quality of its blooms will astonish. They are composed of a mass of petals, quartered and sometimes button eyed, emerging from beautiful, long buds, characteristically nodding. The colour is a very soft, buttery, yet sulphurtinted yellow. Leaves elegant, light green, smooth, coppery when young, borne on green wood, sparsely prickly. 12 ft. Midsummer, with several later. Rich Tea-scent. Introduced in 1864.

Hoffmann, pl. 8.

‘Marie de Blois’ (Moss). 1852. – Though this does not bear fine shapely flowers, they are borne from summer until autumn. Probably related to the Portland Roses. Vigorous and bushy plant, copiously clothed in fresh green leaves, young shoots and thorns reddish, flowers deep pink. 5 ft. Fragrant.

‘Marie Louise’ (Damask). 1813. Raised at Malmaison. – Owing to rather lax growth and the weight of the extra large flowers the plant should be supported. A leafy plant; the flowers are very full, with large outer petals, reflexing into a ball, and pronounced button eye. Probably a Gallica hybrid. 4 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Marievan Houtte’ (Tea). 1871. ‘Madame de Tartas’ × ‘Madame Falcot’. – This may be considered as one of the most satisfactory of Tea roses, especially in a sunny position in our warmer counties; wall protection will help to ripen the wood, which is purplish when young like the leaves, which turn to dark green later. Shapely buds. Petals light yellow, creamy tinted, suffused with rich pink round the edges. Large, quartered blooms of great beauty. 5 ft. Perpetual. Delicious Tea-scent.

Hoffmann, pl. 10.

‘Martin Frobisher’ (Shrub). Canada Department of Agriculture, 1968; seedling of ‘Schneezwerg’, open-pollinated. – A good bush with few prickles, covered with light, brownish green, deeply veined leaves, which are distinctly toothed. The flowers are borne in small clusters, rose-pink paling towards the edges, fully double, opening flat, with occasional button-eyes. Rugosa scent. In constant flower. 8 ft × 6 ft.

‘Max Graf’ (Shrub). Bowditch, Connecticut, USA, 1919. R. rugosa × R. wichuraiana. – This lingered in cultivation for many years eventually achieving notoriety by doubling its chromosomes in the hands of Kordes and so bringing R. rugosa into the strain of modern climbers. Apart from this, the search for good ground covering shrubs has given it prominence at last. It forms a low mound, constantly spreading, dense, prickly and with glossy foliage. Clusters of small bright pink flowers are freely produced. It is weed proof, and a boon for banks and large areas or it can be trained over hedges and into small trees. 3 ft, spreading. Midsummer. Fragrant. A.M. 1964.

‘May Queen’ (Rambler). Manda, New Jersey, USA, 1898. R. wichuraiana × ‘Champion of the World, (Bourbon). – Prolific growth, somewhat more bushy than others of the ‘Albéric Barbier’ group, making dense ground cover. Leaves soft green. Flowers 3 in. across well filled with quartered petals, and often with button eye; rose pink developing a lilac tint. Green wood with few reddish prickles. 15 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

Note: Van Fleet sent over a hybrid of similar parentage and under the same name, but the plant described is almost certainly Manda’s ‘May Queen’.

‘Mermaid’ (Climber). W. Paul, Waltham Cross, 1917. R. bracteata × yellow Tea Rose. – Like ‘Nevada’, an equally remarkable cultivar, this is sterile. Its brown wood has large hooked prickles which make it an unpleasant neighbour. But the luxuriant, long, dark green glossy leaves make a good setting for the 4 in.-wide single yellow blooms; the stamens last in beauty after the petals have dropped. In constant production from midsummer until autumn. Though it will thrive and flower well on a wall of any aspect – which must be large to accommodate it – it is advisable to plant it facing south or west, because in extremely severe winters it may be killed to the ground. 20 ft. Perpetual. A.M. 1917. A.G.M. 1933.

‘Moonlight’ (Hybrid Musk). 1913. ‘Trier’ × ‘Sulphurea’. – The reddish brown wood, thorns and young foliage give way to dark green. Flowers milky white, small, semi-double, opening from creamy buds; they appear in large and small clusters in summer, but on the strong summer shoots may be a foot high and wide. Although this can be kept to the outline of a shrub, it is extremely useful for training into small trees, when its shoots, once anchored, progress in every direction. 6 ft or more. Sweet fragrance. Perpetual. A.M. 1913.

‘Morletii’ (Boursault). Morlet, 1883. Also known as R. inermis morletii, and sometimes grown as ‘R. pendulina plena’. – This is a beautiful shrub, much neglected, and has no prickles. The long, arching, reddish-purple shoots are beautiful in winter; the emerging young foliage is glaucous purple; it excels in long-lasting autumn colour. The flowers are small, but in clusters, semi-double, magenta. 6 ft. Early summer. Practically scentless.

‘Mousseline’ (Moss). 1855. – This appears to be synonymous with ‘Alfred de Dalmas’. Apart from being reliably repeat-flowering, its bushy growth is clothed in a dense array of spoon-shaped leaves. The moss is not very evident. Creamy blush blooms, small but with well-filled centres. Few thorns. Probably closely related to the Portland Roses. 3–4 ft. Sweetly scented.

‘Moussu du Japon’ (Moss). Also known as ‘Japonica’. – Of unknown origin, but exhibiting the maximum amount of dense green moss on calyx and stalk, stem and leaf stalks and leaf surfaces in a remarkable fashion. The young foliage is often of metallic lilac tint. Flowers small, of poor shape, magenta passing to lilac. A dense dwarf bush. 3 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

Plate 26

‘Moyesii Superba’ (Shrub). Introduced by Van Rossem, Holland. Reportedly R. moyesii × Tea Rose. – Inherits the vigorous growth and stout wood of R. moyesii, and achieves about 7 ft in height, eventually making a densely branched shrub. The leaves are dark green, resembling but larger than those of R. moyesii. Beautifully poised flowers, borne on plum-coloured pedicels, with calyx and receptacle of the same tint, large, semi-double, very dark maroon-crimson. It is unfortunately practically scentless and produces no heps. It makes however a considerable effect in the garden at midsummer.

‘Mrs Anthony Waterer’ (Shrub). Waterer, Knaphill, 1898. ‘Général Jacqueminot’ × R. rugosa hybrid. – This makes a spreading bush 4 ft × 7 ft, with freely branching stems armed with reddish prickles, and carrying dull, dark green leaves. Bright crimson flowers, flushed with purple, loosely double and richly scented; they are borne at midsummer mainly but a few occur later. Sweetly scented.

‘Mrs Colville’ (Shrub). – A hybrid of R. pimpinellifolia, perhaps with R. pendulina, indicated by the long heps, as opposed to the rounded ones of R. pimpinellifolia. It inherits the freely suckering habit of the former parent, but its red-brown stems bear few thorns. Flowers single, intense crimson-purple with a white zone around the stamens. Foliage small, dark green. 3 ft. Early summer. Fragrant. A.M. 1956.

‘Mrs Herbert Stevens’ (Tea). McGredy, 1910. ‘Frau Karl Druschki’ × ‘Niphetos’. – Flowers nodding, with a delicate Tea fragrance, white with a lemon flush in the centre. The petals form a long shapely bud, opening loosely full, with a rolled and quilled shape. Their papery texture spoils the blooms in very wet weather and imparts a tendency to ‘ball’ under cool, damp conditions. But, for a Tea, this is a remarkably hardy rose. A.M. 1910. Wisley Rose Award 1925. The nodding flowers are better displayed in the sport ‘Climbing Mrs Herbert Stevens’ (1922).

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. vi.

‘Mrs Paul’ (Bourbon). G. Paul, 1891. A seedling of ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’. – This is remarkably like its parent except in colour, and once again the autumn blooms are best. The petals are pearly white with flesh-pink reverse. 8 ft. Recurrent. Very fragrant. A.M. 1890.

The Garden, 1890, page 484.

‘Narrow Water’ (Shrub). – This originated in a garden at Narrow Water in Ireland, and was catalogued by the Daisy Hill Nurseries, Newry, Co. Down in 1883. It is fairly frequently found in old gardens without a name, or confused with R. ‘Pissardii’, and is probably a hybrid either with that rose or with some other combination of R. moschata and one of the China roses. It is valued because of its constant production of semi-double lilac-pink flowers, borne in clusters, from midsummer till autumn, on a wide, stout shrub. Smooth, pointed leaves. 6 to 8 ft. Sweet scent.

‘Nevada’ (Shrub). Pedro Dot, Spain, 1927. ‘La Giralda’ (Hybrid Tea) × tetraploid form or hybrid of R. moyesii. – A magnificent arching shrub, creating a dense dome of light green leafage; plum-coloured stems and few prickles. Each branch in its second and later seasons is covered with large semi-double blooms, opening flat, over 3 in. across, for its whole length. No other shrub rose creates quite such a dramatic and splendid effect. For the rest of the season the bush is seldom without a flower or two; they are creamy white, sometimes flushed red in the bud and often flushed with pink in hot weather. 8 ft. F.C.C. 1954. A.G.M. 1966.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, fig. 8 (pencil drawing).

Pink sports have occurred. One is ‘Marguerite Hilling’ (H. Sleet, Surrey, 1959), with deep flesh-pink flowers. Not so effective as its parent. 8 ft. Recurrent. A.M. 1960.

‘Niphetos’ (Tea). 1843. – It is probable that the plant in cultivation today is ‘Climbing Niphetos’, a sport which occurred in 1889. Owing to the loose formation of its thin petals which make long elegant buds, it is most suited to cultivation in a cold house in our warmer counties. Vigorous growth and good leaves. Pure white with lemon flush in the folded centre. Few prickles. 9 ft. Perpetual. Delicate Tea-scent. F.C.C. 1888 (climbing form).

Plate 27

Hariot, pl. 11.

‘Nuits de Young’ (Moss). 1845. – A slender but vigorous bush with small, dark leaves, purplish when young. Dark moss. Small flowers of intense, uniform maroon-purple, dark and velvety, lit by a few yellow stamens; few petalled, reflexing prettily. 5 ft. Midsummer. Fragrant.

‘Nyveldt’s White (Shrub). Nyveldt, Holland, 1955. A hybrid of R. rugosa, R. majalis, and R. nitida, raised as a hedging rose. – Like some other Rugosa hybrids, it has flowers of pure white, single, showing stamens, about 212 in. across, borne at midsummer and intermittently later, with the orange-red heps. Fresh green slightly rugose leaves. Sturdy, growth to 5 ft. Recurrent. Sweet scent.

‘Oeillet Panaché’ (Moss). 1888. Also known as ‘Striped Moss’. – Though inferior in bloom and general quality to other striped roses, it is the only striped Moss. Small leaves, wiry growth. Flowers of blush pink, striped and particoloured with carmine, petals narrow, forming a flat rosette. 3 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Old Blush China’ (China). – It is believed this rose, known as ‘Common Blush’, ‘Monthly Rose’ or ‘Blush China’ is identical with ‘Parsons’ Pink China’, introduced 1789 by Sir Joseph Banks. A rose of this kind has been grown for at least one thousand years in China. It was one of the four hybrids of R. chinensis and R. gigantea introduced at the turn of the century (see R. chinensis). Smooth wood with few reddish prickles, neat small dark green leaves and a constant succession of blooms so long as the weather is mild, from late spring until autumn. They are mostly borne in small clusters in summer, but in large clusters on the strong summer’s shoots. Crimson in bud, opening to loosely double blooms of soft pink, deepening with age and daintily veined. Against a warm wall it may reach 9 ft but in the open is usually about 2–3 ft. Recurrent. Fragrant.

Redouté, Vol. I, p. 51; Willmott, Vol. I, p. 79.

Plate 28

‘Omar Khayyam’ (Damask). – This is apparently an old type of Damask rose, markedly prickly with light green, oblong, widely spaced leaflets. Medium sized flowers of soft pale pink, quartered, with folded petals and a button eye. 3 ft. Midsummer.

‘Omar Khayyam’ was raised at Kew from a hep which had been collected in 1884 from a rose bush growing by the tomb of Omar Khayyam at Nishapur. A cutting planted in 1893 on the grave of Edward Fitzgerald at Boulge, Suffolk, was almost dead by 1948 when it was propagated by Messrs Notcutt (Gard. Chron., 1894, p. 746; Frank Knight in Journ. R.H.S., Vol. 73 (1948), pp. 150–2 and Vol. 74, pp. 544–5, fig. 201).

A similar rose is ‘Gloire de Guilan’, introduced by Nancy Lindsay in 1949 from the Caspian region of Iran. She reported that it was used there for distilling rose-water and attar. Fresh green leaves and fresh clear pink flowers, with quartered and folded petals. 3 ft. Midsummer. Both these roses are sweetly fragrant.

‘Ormiston Roy’ (Shrub). S. G. A. Doorenbos, The Hague. Second generation hybrid from R. pimpinellifolia × ‘Allard’. – Small bright green leaves on a thorny bush. Flowers single, bright yellow, about 2 in. across, followed by large rounded dark maroon heps on similarly coloured pedicels. Its chief claim to fame is as parent to ‘Golden Wings’ (q.v.). 4 ft. Early summer. Heavy fragrance. A.M. 1955.

‘Parks’ Yellow Tea-scented China’ (China). 1824. – The last of the four hybrids of R. chinensis to reach Europe by this date. (See R. chinensis.) This seems to be extinct but its yellow colouring and tea-scent had a lot of influence in breeding the Tea-Noisettes later in the century.

‘Parvifolia’. 18th century or earlier. For synonyms, etc., see under R. centifolia. – This gives no impression of R. centifolia, under which some botanists place it, and has not been observed reverting to it. It may be a ‘witch’s broom’ or some other errant growth, propagated vegetatively since its discovery. The erect, clustered, nearly unarmed growths produce numerous very small dark green pointed leaves. The shoots are crowned with small clusters of miniature rosette-flowers, densely double, of dark pink suffused purple, with paler centres. Fragrant. 3–5 ft. There are two forms in gardens, one taller than the other, and larger in all its parts. Both have been cultivated in Britain since the latter part of the 18th century. Midsummer.

Willmott, p. 355.

‘Paulii’ (Shrub). G. Paul, Cheshunt, before 1903. R. rugosa × R. arvensis. Sometimes labelled R. rugosa repens alba. – Like ‘Max Graf this lingered in obscurity until reappraised as a ground-cover shrub; being very prickly and making a dense mound of interlacing branches, it is impenetrable for weeds or animals. Dark, somewhat rugose leaves. Flowers in clusters, freely disposed over the entire plant; the petals are narrow, giving a starry effect, pure white, with yellow stamens. ‘Paulii Rosea’ is a counterpart in clear bright pink; the petals fade to white in the centre with good effect around the stamens. This sported back to ‘Paulii’ in the garden of A. T. Johnson, N. Wales. It does not grow quite so strongly as ‘Paulii’ but is an effective and beautiful low shrub. 4–5 ft high, width unlimited. Midsummer, occasional later blooms. Sweet fragrance.

Les Plus Belles Roses, p. 441 (as R. gallica × R. rugosa); Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 33 (both ‘Paulii Rosea’).

‘Paul Ricault’ (Centifolia hybrid). 1845. – Like ‘Blanchefleur’ this is a hybridised rose, and with similar stout prickly wood and open habit. Globular, but quartered blooms of rich old rose, with rolled petals. One of the most free-flowering of the Old French roses, and frequently found in old gardens, where it is treasured for its cabbagy blooms. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet fragrance.

‘Paul’s Single White’. G. Paul, Cheshunt, 1883. Probable hybrid of R. moschata. – A free-growing bush, with few thorns and prickles, and light green smooth, long leaves. The flowers are carried in small clusters from early summer until autumn, 2 in. wide, in clusters, white with blush tint in bud, showing stamens. 5 ft. Perpetual. Sweet scent. F.C.C. 1887.

The Garden, Vol. 29 (1886), pl. 526, facing page 28.

‘Paul Transon’ (Rambler). Barbier, Orléans, 1900. R. wichuraiana × ‘L’Idéal’. – Of the ‘Albéric Barbier’ group, and with equally dark glossy leaves but rather smaller. Young shoots and prickles purplish. Buds coppery orange, opening to salmon-coral, fading to creamy salmon with yellow tints in the centre. Fairly full double flowers, flat with pleated and often quartered petals. 15 ft. Midsummer, but seldom out of flower later. Sweet fragrance.

‘Pax’ (Hybrid Musk). 1918. ‘Trier’ × ‘Sunburst’. – The most lax in growth of this group, but even so it can be kept as a bush by pruning; it is more effective when climbing into small trees or through other shrubs. Leaves good dark green, red-brown when young, contrasting well with the large creamy white blooms, opening from yellowish, pointed buds. They are loosely semi-double, cupped, and show yellow stamens. Long sprays of flowers are produced on the strong summer’s growth after the summer crop. 6 ft. Recurrent. Sweet fragrance.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. v.

‘Penelope’ (Hybrid Musk). 1924. ‘Ophelia’ × seedling. – Perhaps the most popular of this group, it makes a sturdy bush with thick branches from the base when old; it is admirable as a hedge. Broad dark green leaves. The flowers are carried in small clusters in summer, considerably larger in autumn. The salmon-orange tint of the opening flowers tones well with the creamy pink of the open flowers, loosely semi-double. 6 ft high and as wide. Recurrent. Heps green and coral, long lasting. Sweetly fragrant. A.G.M. 1956.

‘Perle d’Or’ (Poly-pom). Introduced by Dubreuil, Lyon, 1883. R. multiflora seedling × ‘Madame Falcot’. – This resembles ‘Cécile Brunner’ in many ways and it may be added that no roses resemble these two in their exquisite buds and freedom of flowering. ‘Perle d’Or’ has buds of warm yolk-orange, opening to a light, creamy salmon-pink; petals numerous, narrow, often quartered, making a flat flower, and reflexing. Somewhat prickly bush with brownish young shoots and foliage, later dark green, neat and pointed. It will build up to a filled bush of 4 or more feet. Perpetual. Sweetly musk-scented.

Kingsley, Roses, p. 129; Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 6.

‘Petite de Hollande’ (Centifolia). Before 1802. – While ‘De Meaux’ and ‘Parvifolia’ are complete miniatures this is just R. centifolia writ small, with otherwise typical growth, leaves and flowers. It is the best Provence Rose for small gardens. New Flora and Silva, Vol. 2, fig. 2 (monochrome photograph). Another miniature called ‘Spong’, dating from 1805, is midway in size of flower and foliage between ‘Petite de Hollande’ and ‘De Meaux’; it has the unfortunate habit of retaining its dead brown petals on the stems. 4 ft. Sweet fragrance.

‘Petite Lisette’ (Damask). 1817. – A small type of Damask rose with small, downy greyish foliage and small flowers of blush pink; the neat circular blooms are perfectly formed, well filled with folded petals radiating from a pronounced button eye. 4 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Phyllis Bide’ (Rambler). Bide and Sons, Farnham, 1923. Parentage stated to be ‘Perle d’Or’ × ‘Gloire de Dijon’. – This is one of the very few ramblers which continue to flower until the autumn. Rather stiff yet slender habit with small leaves and prickles. Clear yellow, double, small flowers are flushed with pink. 12 ft. Perpetual. Fragrant. A.M. 1924.

‘Pompon Blanc Parfait’ (Alba). 1876. – A small, erect bush with small greyish leaves and small rounded blooms, packed with small petals, opening flat and reflexing, of pale uniform lilac-pink. Few thorns. Very long flowering period, sometimes into August. 5 ft. Summer. Sweetly scented.

‘Portlandica’ (Portland). In cultivation 1775. Also known as ‘Scarlet Four Seasons’ and “R. paestana”. – The first known hybrid of Gallica derivation, giving a brilliant carmine colouring coupled with the recurrent-flowering influence of the Autumn Damask. It makes a neat, suckering bush, with bright green leaves and semi-double flowers, produced so long as growth continues, in clusters. 2 ft.

Plate 29

Redouté, Vol. I, p. 109, as R. damascena coccinea or ‘Le Rosier de Portland’.

‘Président de Sèze’ (Gallica). Before 1836. Also known as ‘Madame Hébert’. – A good sturdy bush with bold foliage. Flowers large, fully double, with petals rolled at the edges; on opening there is intense crimson-purple in the centre but the edges of the petals are lilac-white in dramatic contrast. A faded flower still retains the dark centre. ‘Jenny Duval’ is of similar colouring. 4–5 ft. Midsummer. Rich fragrance.

‘Princesse Louise’ (Rambler). 1829. – Of the same origin as ‘Adélaide d’Orléans’ and ‘Félicité et Perpétue’, of similar vigour and foliage. The flowers are borne profusely, and are between the above two varieties in shape and fullness, they open creamy blush-white from pink buds. Delicate fragrance. 12 ft.

‘Prosperity’ (Hybrid Musk). 1919. ‘Marie Jeanne’ × ‘Perle des Jardins’. – A splendid upright shrub with good dark foliage. Flowers are carried in small sprays in summer, but in wide heads on the late summer shoots, fully double, rounded, cream-pink in the bud opening to ivory white. ‘Pink Prosperity’ is warm, clear pink but is probably not a sport. These two cultivars and ‘Wilhelm’ and its sport are all of a type, upright and manageable. 6 ft. Recurrent. Sweet fragrance.

‘Quatre Saisons Blanc Mousseux’ (Moss). – This was recorded by E. A. Carrière in Production et Fixation des Variétés dans les Végétaux (1865); it was a sport from R. damascena var. semperflorens. The present rose is an exact counterpart of the latter except for the flowers, which are white and less shapely, and for the mossy calyx and pedicel; normally it also has very short glandular hairs on the surface of the leaves. The moss on the calyx is stiff and bristly to the touch, quite different from that of R. centifolia ‘Muscosa’. Because of its recurrent flowering habit, it was used in hybridising in an effort to produce recurrent flowering Moss Roses. It fairly frequently reverts to the pink nonmossy type. Erect vigorous growth; sweetly scented. Consistently in flower. 5 ft.

Plate 30

‘Raubritter’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany, 1936. ‘Macrantha Daisy Hill’ × ‘Solarium’. – Thorny interlacing branches making a dense mound with small dark leaves. The blooms are in clusters, small, remaining in a unique globular shape, clear rose pink, semi-double. Each bloom lasts for about 7 days but bleaches in hot sun. Liable to mildew, but a rose for placing on banks, over low retaining walls, against steps. 3 ft, but much wider. Midsummer. Not fragrant.

‘Reine des Violettes’. Millet-Mallet, 1860. – Usually grouped with the Hybrid Perpetuals, it has little to do with them, and leans more towards the Bourbon group, for it makes a good branching shrub, with plentiful greyish green smooth leaves, gathered into almost a rosette under the flowers, as in the Portland Roses. Dark, soft, grape-purple fading to soft lilac-grey, the blooms are 4 in. across, densely filled with short petals, opening flat, quartered, with button eye, showing pink reverse. It thus has the best of the Gallica flower shape coupled with abundant bloom, summer and autumn. 5 ft. Very fragrant.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. 11.

‘Reine Victoria’ (Bourbon). 1872. – Elegantly poised, pointed leaves on erect stems, from a slender erect bush. Flowers of soft old rose, having very curved petals, which results in an almost globular shape, retained until they fall. It has a more famous and popular sport, ‘Madame Pierre Oger’ 1878, identical except for its colouring, which is a cream-pink. A.M. 1951. In both these cultivars hot sunshine brings out intense colouring on the exposed portions of the petals. 8 ft. Recurrent. Both are sweetly scented.

Plate 31

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 19 (‘Madame Pierre Oger’).

‘Réné d’Anjou’ (Moss). 1853. – Like ‘A Longues Pédoncules’ and ‘Nuits de Young’ this shows Centifolia parentage in its graceful flower stems. Brownish green moss envelops the shapely buds; the soft warm pink petals fade to lilac-pink veined with a darker shade and somewhat crinkled. Bronzy young foliage. 5 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Rose d’Amour’. Also distributed as R. virginiana ‘Plena’. – The ‘Rose d’Amour’ is probably a hybrid of R. virginiana, and forms a lanky, open bush and is best trained on a support. It has ascended to about 10 ft on a wall at Wisley. Small, fairly glossy leaves, producing bright autumn tints on dark brown shoots. The exquisite scrolled buds open into perfect rosettes, fully double, deep pink, and like those of R. virginiana open mainly after midsummer, and continue into early autumn in cool districts.

The ‘D’Orsay Rose’, which has long grown at Hidcote, and was so named by Nancy Lindsay, is of shorter growth but of marked similarity of bloom. In this the leaves and stipules are narrower and a pair of prickles is borne beneath each leaf. The leaves are less glossy.

For a note on these two roses, see the Royal National Rose Society’s Annual for 1977, pp. 27–28, and the drawings between pp. 60 and 61.

‘Rose-Marie Viaud’ (Rambler). 1924. – A seedling from ‘Veilchenblau’ which confirms its general appearance of R. multiflora. It is practically unarmed, with smooth green wood, fresh green leaves with typically laciniate stipules. It has not inherited the fragrance of ‘Veilchenblau’, but has some of its colour. Flowers fully double, small, in large clusters, vivid lilac-cerise fading to uniform pale lavender. The flower stalks are prone to mildew, but otherwise it is a vigorous and healthy plant and highly effective late in its season. 15 ft. Midsummer. No scent.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. 11.

‘Rosenwunder’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, 1934. W. E. Chaplin (Hybrid Tea) × ‘Magnifica’ (R. eglanteria hybrid). – The flowers are loosely double, cupped, of coppery light crimson, with a rich fragrance, appearing at midsummer. It is a lax grower, needing support; the reddish twigs and coppery brown spring foliage, coupled with abundant heps in autumn, make it a valuable garden plant. Sweetly fragrant.

‘Roseraie de L‘Haÿ’ (Rugosa). J. Gravereaux, Roseraie de l’Haÿ, 1901. – The sturdy, bushy growth and the dense covering of prickles are typical of R. rugosa; the foliage, glossy, dark green, deeply veined, narrow and acutely pointed, turns yellow in autumn. Buds particularly long and shapely, opening vivid, rich crimson-purple, 412 in. wide, with cream stamens; borne in clusters. 5 ft. Recurrent. Rich fragrance. A.G.M. 1966.

Journ. Roses, August 1906; Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. iv.

‘Russelliana’ (Rambler). Before 1826. R. multiflora hybrid. Formerly also known as ‘Scarlet Grevillei’. – A very vigorous, thorny, climber with rough dark leaves. Today the flowers would not be described as scarlet, but intense cerise-crimson, fading to pale magenta; they contain many small petals, and are borne in large and small clusters at midsummer. 10 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Salet’ (Moss). 1854. – A reliable bush with light green leaves, and slightly mossy buds. The flowers are rather poor in shape but are produced intermittently until autumn, of clear soft pink. Few thorns. 5 ft. Sweetly scented.

‘Sanders’ White Rambler’ (Rambler). 1912. – A valuable plant on many counts. It is practically unarmed, makes a dense mass of trailing shoots if not trained up a support, and thus is an effective ground-cover. It flowers late in the rambler season. Unlike its close relative ‘Dorothy Perkins’ it is not subject to mildew. Small glossy leaves, abundant double, white, small blooms, with stamens, in large and small clusters. 18 ft. Late summer. Sweetly scented.

‘Sarah van Fleet’ (Shrub). Dr W. van Fleet, Glenn Dale, USA. R. rugosa × ‘My Maryland’. – Excessively prickly, vigorous upright shoots, gaunt and leafless often for 3 ft but branching out above, where they are well covered with foliage, mid-green, bronzed when young. It is suitable for the backs of shrubberies, when its unceasing production of blooms can be enjoyed above other shrubs. Flowers in large and small clusters, semi-double, silvery pink, showing cream stamens. 9 ft. Recurrent. Sweetly scented. A.M. 1962.

Park, World of Roses, pl. 187.

‘Scabrosa’ (Rugosa). Before 1939. Origin unknown. – Very near to typical R. rugosa in quality and style of growth, foliage, flower and hep, but larger in all its parts. It makes a particularly leafy, lush bush, flowers single, in clusters, violaceous crimson with cream stamens, followed by bunches of rounded orange-red heps, over 1 in. across. Yellow autumn colour. 5 ft. Recurrent. Sweetly scented. A.M. for fruits, 1964.

Park, World of Roses, pl. 190.

‘Scarlet Fire’ (Shrub). W. Kordes, Germany 1952. R. gallica form × ‘Poinsettia’. Known in Germany as ‘Scharlachglut’. – Smooth, brown wood and prickles, strong arching habit and good foliage make an impressive shrub. The flowers are borne in clusters over a long period, single, 3 in. across, velvety, blazing scarlet with yellow stamens. The resulting heps are bright red, pear-shaped, and last until late winter, when no other rose is so colourful. 8 ft. Slight fragrance. Midsummer. A.M. 1960, A.G.M. 1966.

Hollis, Roses, p. 173.

‘Schneelicht’ (Shrub). 1896. Reported to be R. rugosa × R. phoenicea. – This certainly shows some Rugosa influence, and perhaps now that roses have come to be recognised as flowering shrubs of considerable value, it may yet become popular. Dull green deeply veined rugose foliage covering a big arching shrub. The flowers are of pure cold white, single and showing stamens, borne in clusters along the stems, and when in flower it is highly effective. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘Schneezwerg’ (Shrub). Lambert, Germany, 1912. Hybrid of R. rugosa. – Erect branching growth, with pairs of grey prickles below each leaf. Leaves rich dark green, somewhat rugose. Flowers in clusters, pure white, semi-double, 2 in. across, opening flat and showing bright yellow stamens. Later crops coincide with small orange heps. By clipping it would make a dense hedge. 6 ft. Perpetual. R. rugosa seems to excel in producing pure cold-white flowers devoid of cream or pink, witness ‘Blanc Double de Coubert’, R. rugosa ‘Alba’, ‘Schneelicht’, ‘Paulii’. A.M. 1948.

‘Scintillation’ (Shrub). David Austin, Wolverhampton, introduced by Sunningdale Nurseries, 1966. R. ‘Macrantha’ of gardens × ‘Vanity’. – This joins ‘Macrantha’ itself, ‘Complicate’, ‘Lady Curzon’, R. × polliniana and a few others of lax growth which slowly make mounds of interlacing branches, or may be trained over hedges and into trees, in which case the normal mound of 5 ft or so will be exceeded. The leaden green leaves make a good foil for the abundant clusters of semi-double blush-pink flowers at midsummer. Fragrant.

‘Serratipetala’ (China). 1912. Origin uncertain, known in France as ‘Oeillet de St Arquey’. – The smooth wood and small leaves, purplish when young, place it quite clearly within the China group; it is a sturdy wide-branching small shrub in the open but will attain great height against a warm wall. Flowers crimson, paler in the centre, double, with fringed petals, like those of a carnation. 4 ft. Midsummer, with occasional blooms later. Slight fragrance. The foliage of this rose closely approaches specimens of R. chinensis, collected in W. China.

‘Silver Moon’ (Rambler). Dr van Fleet, 1910. – An extremely vigorous climbing rose with dark glossy leaves inherited from two species in its reputed parentage; R. laevigata and R. wichuraiana. It is possible that the Tea rose ‘Devoniensis’ was also in the parentage. The long-petalled buds are yellow, opening to creamy white, nearly single large blooms in clusters. Rich fragrance, but a short flowering season. The glaucous stems are set with a few purplish prickles. Sweet scent.

‘Sissinghurst Castle’ (Gallica). – An obviously ancient cultivar owing to its flower-shape which is quite unsophisticated. It was found battling with the weeds at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, when the garden was made by the Hon. V. Sackville-West. It has been seen also in a Devon garden, long established, but its name is lost. The rich plum-coloured petals are margined and flecked with magenta, showing yellow stamens. The name ‘Rose des Maures’ has no foundation. 3 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

‘Slater’s Crimson China’ (China). Introduced c. 1791, reintroduced 1953, see p. 75. – No China rose is vigorous or of coarse growth; this is particularly slender in habit, with neat, dark leaves, purplish when young, The flowers are borne singly or in small clusters, with short petals making a rosette, of dark pure crimson, lighter in the centre. Recurrent, throughout the growing season. Rather tender. 3 ft, higher with shelter.

‘Sombreuil’ (Tea). 1850. – This was raised from ‘Gigantesque’ a hybrid rose of 1845. The result is near to the Tea group and may be classed with them; though the buds are of long shape, the blooms open quite flat, filled with small petals and frequently quartered, with button eye. Ivory white with flesh tint in the centre. A good hardy plant with smooth dark green leaves. ‘Climbing Sombreuil’ seems to be the only form in cultivation and has been called, erroneously, ‘Colonial White’; fortunately it is constantly in flower. 10–15 ft. Perpetual. Sweet Tea fragrance.

Hariot, pl. 12.

‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ (Bourbon). 1843. After the death of the Empress Josephine, the Grand Duke of Russia saw this rose at La Malmaison and asked that it be named after her. – The original bush form is one of the freest of recurrent blooming roses. The flowers are filled with petals, opening flat, quartered, of clear blush pink. It is best in hot weather. 4 ft. The climbing sport occurred in Australia in 1893; it flowers at midsummer and again in autumn, but is not continuous. 9 ft. The bush form has produced other sports, among them ‘Souvenir de St Anne’s’ commemorating Lady Ardilaun’s garden near Dublin; it is nearly single with a little more colour in the reverse of the petals. Both it and ‘Kronprinzessin Viktoria’, which occurred in 1888 in Germany, are remarkably recurrent; the last is fully double, white with lemon tint in the centre. A rich pink sport has also occurred but seems to be lost. In all cultivars the later blooms achieve greatest perfection. 4–5 ft. Recurrent. Delicately fragrant in the doubles, more so in ‘St Annes’.

‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ is figured in: Paul, The Rose Garden, pl. 15; Hoffmann, pl. 4.

‘Souvenir d’un Ami (Tea). 1846. – Like ‘Niphetos’ this needs the protection of a cold house to develop its fragile flowers to perfection, though the plant is perfectly hardy. Small leaves, dark green, young wood and leaves purplish. Loosely double blooms, cupped and showing stamens, of light coppery pink. In warmer climates, for instance in New Zealand, it will achieve 10 ft but in the warmer counties of England seldom exceeds 4 ft. Recurrent. Delicate Tea scent.

‘Choix des Plus Belle Roses’, pl. 18.

‘Splendens’ (Rambler). Also known as ‘Ayrshire Splendens’ or ‘Myrrhscented’ Rose. – This is the most noted of the Ayrshire roses (see p. 54), partly for its unusual fragrance. It has slender trailing shoots, which will ascend 25 ft or more into trees, and hang down festooned with flowers even in dense shade – a characteristic of R. arvensis. Loosely double flowers, borne singly or in small clusters, crimson in bud, opening to cream, with orange-yellow stamens. Midsummer.

‘Stanwell Perpetual’ (Shrub). Introduced by Lee and Kennedy of Hammersmith in 1838, having been found as a seedling in a garden at Stanwell, Middlesex. – It is pretty certain that one parent of this rose was R. pimpinellifolia, the other, on account of its flower shape and continuous production, may have been the Autumn Damask. A lax, arching shrub with numerous sharp prickles and thorns and small greyish leaves, against which the clear pale pink of the flowers is particularly agreeable. Fairly full flowers but showing stamens, with quilled and quartered petals. 5 ft. Recurrent. Very sweetly scented.

Kingsley, Roses, pl. 45.

‘St Nicholas’ (Damask hybrid). 1950. A seedling which cropped up in the garden of the Hon. Robert James at Richmond, Yorks, probably a hybrid with a Gallica rose. – Sturdy erect bush, dark green leaves and hooked prickles. Flowers semi-double, of warm rich pink, paler towards the yellow central stamens. 4–5 ft, bushy and vigorous. Midsummer. Red heps, long lasting. Fragrant.

‘Surpasse Tout’ (Gallica). – Cupped, reflexing, fully double flowers of very good shape, of brilliant crimson, fading to strong cerise, with delicate veining of a darker shade. This, ‘D’Aguesseau’ and ‘Assemblage des Beautés’ are the nearest to red in the Gallica roses. 4 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

‘The Garland’ (Rambler). Wells, 1835. Reputedly R. moschata × R. multiflora. – It has characteristic purplish brown prickles on green wood; also its flower stems and pedicels always assume a vertical position. The masses of small flowers, borne in large trusses, are creamy white, semi-double, opening from flesh-tinted buds, followed by small, oval, red heps. 15 ft. ‘Madame d’ Arblay’ raised by Wells at the same time is more vigorous and the blush of the buds remains in the open flowers. Both are sweetly scented.

‘Tour de Malakoff’ (Centifolia). 1856. – A hybrid of great vigour, making an ungainly, spindly shrub, but capable of climbing through other growths to 9 ft, when its large blooms nod downwards. Smooth rather small leaves. Flowers a rare mixture of tints, vivid magenta to intense parma-violet, veined and flushed with carmine and purple, eventually reflexing into a mass of cool lilac-grey. Fragrant.

‘Treasure Trove’ (Rambler). 1979. – Mr John Treasure at Burford House, Tenbury Wells, found this seedling near to his plant of R. filipes ‘Kiftsgate’, and since this rose is very free in all gardens with its progeny, ‘Treasure Trove’ is likely to be R. filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ crossed with a modern rose. The original plant has in 18 years achieved 33 ft in width and 20 ft in height and is still expanding. The young foliage is ruby red turning to mid green. The blooms average about 20 in a truss, semi-double, cup shaped on opening, of warm apricot showing yellow stamens. The colour fades first to delicate pink and later to blush. To date this appears to be the most flamboyant of ‘Kiftsgate’ seedlings. Delicious and pervasive scent. Midsummer.

Rose Annual 1979, p. 155.

‘Tuscany’ (Gallica). Before 1800. – This rose has neat, folded leaves, and is no doubt a very old cultivar since, like ‘Sissinghurst Castle’, and ‘Conditorum’ its flowers are of an undeveloped shape. Semi-double, opening flat, of intense dark maroon purple, the flowers are of telling colour in the garden. The centre is lit by yellow stamens. Slightly fragrant. 4 ft. Midsummer.

Botanical Register, Vol. 6, pl. 448.

‘Tuscany Superb’ (Gallica). Also known as ‘Superb Tuscany’. Described by William Paul of Cheshunt in 1848. – This resembles ‘Tuscany’ but has broader, more rounded leaves and a more sturdy growth. The flowers are of similar colour, larger, fuller, but show fewer stamens. 4 ft. Midsummer. Slight fragrance.

‘Unique Blanche (Centifolia). 1778, discovered in Needham, Suffolk. Also known as ‘White Provence’, ‘Unique’ or ‘Vierge de Cléry’. – This is probably a sport from R. centifolia and is typical in all its parts, though less vigorous. Flowers cupped, opening from red-flushed buds, creamy white, with glistening almost transparent, narrow petals; button eye. It flowers, like R. centifolia, late in the summer season. 4–5 ft. Summer. Sweetly scented. Redouté, Vol. I, p. 111 as Rosa centifolia mutabilis.

‘Vanity’ (Hybrid Musk). 1920. ‘Château de Clos Vougeot’ × seedling. – A remarkable shrub for large gardens. Being of vigorous, open, thrusting growth it is best to plant 3–4 ft apart, in groups of three or four; these groups may well achieve 8–12 ft. Foliage rather sparse, soft green, on glaucous stems. In summer the flowers are produced in clusters and in hot weather are of vivid carmine-pink; in autumn, the colour is a clear light pink, when the clusters may be a foot or two across on branches 6 ft long. Flowers have 5 or 6 petals and are 212 in. wide, showing yellow stamens. Sweetly fragrant. 8 ft. Recurrent. A.M. 1956, F.C.C. 1958, both given in autumn.

Thomas, Shrub Roses of Today, pl. v.

‘Variegata di Bologna’ (Bourbon). 1909. – This bears a marked affinity to ‘Honorine de Brabant’ in its growth and pointed foliage. The flowers are fully double, of excellent, full, reflexed shape, white, conspicuously and neatly striped with vivid crimson-purple. Though it can be grown as a bush it is better with some support. 9 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent. Subject to black spot.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 38.

‘Veilchenblau’ (Rambler). Schmidt of Erfurt, 1909. ‘Crimson Rambler’ (q.v. under R. multiflora) × ‘Erinnerung an Brod’, a Hybrid Perpetual with (reputedly) R. setigera in its pedigree. – The green wood is almost unarmed, and bears glossy bright green leaves, long-pointed. Flowers in large and small clusters, the crimson-purple buds opening to violet and fading to lilac-grey, more or less streaked with white; semi-double, with good stamens. The colour is best in shade of a wall. It flowers early in the rambler season. 12 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. 11.

‘Vicomtesse Pierre de Fou’ (Tea-Noisette). Sauvageot, France, 1923. ‘L’Idéal’ (Noisette) × ‘Joseph Hill’ (Hybrid Tea). – The vigorous plant has good broad foliage and large prickles. At first sight it might be taken for a Hybrid Tea, but its parentage results in an unusual dusky coppery orange passing to coppery pink colouring, and also the full, quartered bloom. 15 ft. Recurrent. Rich fragrance.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, fig. 8 (pencil drawing).

‘Violacea’ (Gallica). 18th century or earlier; see further on p. 96. – An old cultivar with single dark crimson flowers rapidly assuming a purplish flush; yellow stamens. The winged calyces suggest possible Centifolia inheritance, particularly in view of its tall growth. Almost unarmed. Small rounded leaves. 6 ft. Midsummer. Sweet scent.

Sitwell and Russell, Pt I, frontispiece.

‘Violette’ (Rambler), France, 1921. – This should not be confused with ‘Violetta’, a less worthy rambler. Almost unarmed green wood, dark green leaves. Large and small trusses of small flowers, semi-double with stamens, of dark crimson purple, darkening to maroon and later fading to maroon-grey; occasional white streaks. 15 ft. Midsummer. No scent.

Thomas, Climbing Roses, pl. 11.

‘Wedding Day’ (Rambler). Sir Frederick Stern, Highdown, 1950. Hybrid of R. sinowilsonii. – This is tremendously vigorous, achieving at least 25 ft, with green wood and scattered prickles, and glossy rich green leaves. Large clusters of flowers; buds yolk-yellow, petals broadly wedge-shaped with mucronate apex giving a starry effect, creamy white with orange-yellow stamens. After rain the petals become spotted with pink. Midsummer. Very fragrant. A.M. 1950.

‘Wilhelm’ (Hybrid Musk). W. Kordes, Germany, 1934. Known as ‘Skyrocket’ in the United States. – A spectacular shrub, vigorous, with upright branches, clothed with good leaves. Clusters of few flowers appear on small shoots in summer, quickly overtaken by large clusters on strong shoots, which continue to be produced until autumn. Very dark red on opening, changing to crimson with purplish flush, paler around the yellow stamens; semi-double. A sport occured in 1947 named ‘Will Scarlet’; it has flowers of a brighter, clearer colour, described as hunting pink, or scarlet. Both cultivars will achieve 8 ft and are in constant production; their red heps last well into the winter. ‘Will Scarlet’ received an A.M. in 1954. Both are slightly fragrant.

‘William Allen Richardson’ (Tea-Noisette). – In 1878 this sport occurred on ‘Rêve d’Or’ raised nine years previously in France; while ‘Rêve d’Or’ is a fairly free grower (it is deep buff-yellow fading to butter-yellow) its sport was an epoch-making rose of its time on account of its brilliant colouring – orange fading nearly to white in hot weather. It was the first in this colour. Young foliage mahogany brown; some prickles on stouter growths. Both roses are slightly fragrant, semi-double, and achieve about 8 ft. Recurrent. Midsummer. A.M. 1897.

Hoffmann, pl. 13.

‘William Lobb’ (Moss). 1855. Also known as ‘Duchesse d’Istrie’, ‘Old Velvet Moss’. – Extra vigorous, gawky growth which makes the plant only tolerable behind others. Foliage small, dark leaden green, in contrast to the dense light green moss copiously spread down the stems. Large semi-double flowers at first dark crimson-purple, fading to lavender-grey, lightened by nearly white bases of the petals. 8 ft. Midsummer. Sweetly scented. Edwards, Wild and Old Garden Roses, facing p. 87, erroneously captioned ‘Reine des Violettes’.

‘Williams’ Double Yellow’ (Shrub). John Williams, Pitmaston, near Lancaster. R. foetida (seed-parent) × R. pimpinellifolia. – If the parentage is correct, this is closely allied to R. × harisonii (see page 100). But it has no stamens, only abortive carpels, in the flowers. Appearing in early summer, the semi-double flowers are of light bright yellow; the petals are apt to turn brown on fading and to stay on the plant. It forms a scattered mass of shoots, spreading by underground runners. It has been called ‘Old Double Yellow Scots Rose’ or ‘Prince Charlie’s Rose’. It inherits the heavy scent of R. foetida. 4 ft.

Sweet, British Flower Garden, 2nd series, Vol. 4, pl. 353.

‘Zéphirine Drouhin’ (Bourbon). 1868. – A popular unarmed climber, with smooth leaves, coppery purple when young. Flowers of uniform cerise-pink, semi-double, loosely fashioned, some in clusters. It is seldom out of flower. The sport ‘Kathleen Harrop’ occurred in 1919 in Ireland, and is a pleasing pink, with darker reverse. Both achieve about 10 ft. Recurrent. Wisley Rose Award 1925. A.G.M. 1966. Sweetly scented.

Trechslin and Coggiatti, pl. 40.

‘Zigeuner Knabe’ (Shrub). Lambert, Germany, 1909. Seedling of ‘Russelliana’ × ?R. rugosa hybrid. – A large arching shrub, twice as wide as high, with rough dark green leaves on prickly stems. Clusters of intense crimson-purple flowers appear early in the season; they are flat and reflexing, white towards the centre. It ushers in the purple roses to good effect in the garden, but is rather lacking in quality. 5 ft. Midsummer. Heps orange-red. Slightly scented.

Park, World of Roses, pl. 177.

REFERENCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS

Bunyard, E. A. – Old Garden Roses. 1936.

Choix des Plus Belles Roses. 1845–54.

Curtis, H. – Beauties of the Rose. 1850–3.

Darlington, H. R. – Roses. 1911.

Edwards, G. – Wild and Old Garden Roses. 1975.

Gault, S. M., and Synge, P. M. – Dictionary of Roses in Colour. 1971.

Hariot, P. – Le Livre d’Or des Roses. 1904.

Hoffmann, J. – The Amateur Gardener’s Rose Book. Translated from the German by J. Weathers. 1905.

Hollis, L. – Roses. Ed. 2, 1974.

Kingsley, Rose. – Roses and Rose Growing. 1908.

Lawrance, Mary. – A Collection of Roses from Nature. 1799.

Les plus Belles Roses au debut du XXe siècle. Published by the Société Nationale de Horticulture de France. 1912.

McFarland, J. H. – Roses of the World in Colour. 1937.

Nestel’s Illustrierte Rosengarten. 1866–9.

Nietner, Th. – Die Rose. 1880.

Park, B. – The World of Roses. 1962.

Paul, W. – The Rose Garden. 1848 and later editions.

Redouté, P. J., and Thory, C. A. – Les Roses. 1817–24. (References are to the page facing the plate.)

Sitwell, S., and Russell, J. – Old Garden Roses, Part One. 1955. With reproductions of eight paintings by Charles Raymond. Only the first two parts of this work were published.

Thomas, G. S. – See Bibliography, p. 47.

Trechslin, A. M., and Coggiatti, S. – Old Garden Roses. 1975. Published in Switzerland as Roses d’Antan; English-language editions translated by H. N. Raban. The work contains 40 plates reproduced from paintings by Anne Marie Trechslin.

Willmott, Ellen. – The Genus Rosa. 1910–14. (The reference is to the page facing the plate.)

Periodicals

Journal des Roses. – Published monthly 1877–1914, one plate in each issue.

Abbreviated Journ. Roses.

Rosen-Zeitung. – Published by the Verein deutscher Rosenfreunde, 1886–1933.

Collections

There are collections of species and shrub roses in the following gardens:

The Royal National Rose Society’s Display Garden, Bone Hill, Chiswell Green Lane, nr St Albans, Herts.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden, Wisley, Ripley, Surrey.

Sissinghurst Castle, nr Cranbrook, Kent (National Trust).

Mottisfont Abbey, nr Romsey, Hants (National Trust).

The Hillier Arboretum, Ampfield, nr Romsey, Hants (Hampshire County Council).

Hidcote Manor, nr Chipping Campden, Glos. (National Trust).

Castle Howard, Yorks (Castle Howard Estates Ltd).