Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - La France

La France is a rose bred by Jean-Baptiste Guillot le fils (1867). Seedling of Madame Falcot rose.

It is generally accepted to be the first Hybrid Tea rose, and for this reason, its introduction is considered to be the birth of the Modern Rose era. In fact, according to Mr Paul Barden, there were other two roses that preceeded La France and are considered to be Hybrid Teas: Cheshunt Hybrid and Madame Lacharme, both dated 1872.

The flowers are large, full, 60 petals, light pink and somehow pearled... Simply beautiful.

The fragrance is very interesting. Strong, yet elusive, it reminds me a very fine and subtle Parisian perfume. And I find there also some thalassic hints.

It blooms continuously throughout the season, even in late autumn. In my garden there were a few blooms surprised by the freeze in December.

Height of 3' 60 5' (90 to 150 cm). Width of 3' (90 cm).

Zone 7, it requires freeze protection.

There is also a climbing sport of this rose, discovered by Peter Henderson (USA, 1893), height of up to 12' (365 cm), zone 6.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Jude The Obscure

"Jude The Obscure" is bred by Davis Austin (UK, 1989). The breeder says about this rose:

"Its flowers are very large and of incurved chalice shape. Their color is a pleasing medium yellow on the inside of the petals and a paler yellow on the outside.

It has excellent, strong and almost completely disease-free growth. This rose is particularly fine in a dry climate, although it may ball in the rain.

A very strong, unusual and delicious fragrance with a fruity note reminiscent of guava and sweet white wine.

Named after the character in Thomas Hardy’s novel.

4 ft. x 4 ft. or 8 ft. as a climber ".

We simply can't argue with Mr. Austin. This rose is indeed magnificent.

So:

- shrub English Rose Collection

- medium yellow, apricot, cream shading colour, lighter reverse.

- 55 to 70 petals.

- full, borne mostly solitary or in small clusters, globular bloom form.

- blooms in flushes throughout the season.

- height of up to 4' (up to 120 cm)

- width of up tp 4' (up to 120 cm).

- as a climber - 8' or 250 cm.

- very disease resistant indeed.

- Zone 5 to 10.

Use minimal pruning, otherwise the growth will be diminished.

Rosa Banksiae

Rosa banksiae, commonly referred to as the Lady Banks' Rose, is a species of Rosa native to central and western China, in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Yunnan; it grows in mountains at altitudes of 500–2200 m.

It is a scrambling shrubby liana growing vigorously over other shrubs to 6 m tall. Unlike most roses, it is practically thornless, though may bear some prickles up to 5 mm long, particularly on stout, strong shoots. The leaves are evergreen, 4–6 cm long, with three to five (rarely seven) leaflets 2–5 cm long with a serrated margin. The flowers are small, 1.5-2.5 cm diameter, white or pale yellow.

There are several varieties, the most known are:

- Rosa banksiae var. banksiae. Flowers semi-double or double (rosa banksiae alba plena), with numerous petals replacing most or all of the stamens; a cultigen developed in Chinese gardens.

- Rosa banksiae var. normalis Regel. Single flowers, with five petals; the natural wild form of the species.The rose is named after Lady Banks, the wife of the eminent botanist Sir Joseph Banks (after whom the Banks Peninsula is named).

Cultivation and uses

R. banksiae has likely been grown in the gardens of China for hundreds of years. The species was introduced to Europe by William Kerr, who had been sent on a plant-hunting expedition by Sir Joseph. He bought the first Lady Banks' Rose, subsequently named the 'White Lady Banks' (R. banksiae var. banksiae) from the famous Fa Tee nursery in 1807.

A number of other forms were subsequently discovered growing in China:

- the white, small-flowered R. banksiae var. normalis (1796) is considered the "wild" form;

- 'Banksiae Lutea', the 'Yellow Lady Banks' Rose, probably the most popular (brought to Europe in 1824 by J. D. Park), light yellow full blooms;

- and R. banksiae 'Lutescens', a rose with light yellow simple blooms.

All Lady Banks' roses are said to smell of violets to varying degrees, some say the most fragrant of all banksiaes is rosa banksiae normalis.

According to Guinness, the world's largest rosa banksiae bush was planted in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1885 and still flourishes today in the city's sunny climate. This rose bush now covers 8,000 square feet (740 m2) of the roof on an inn, and has a 12-foot (3.7 m) circumference trunk.

Zone 6 to 10. It likes warm weather. It doesn't survive under -9C (15F).

Rosa Primula

Rosa Primula ( Primrose Rose, Rosa ecae ssp. primula (Bouleng.) A.V. Roberts, Rosa primula Boulenger, The Incense Rose)...

...is a species rose originated from Central Asia, found near Samarkand, introduced in Europe a century ago, in 1910.
Its light yellow petals are so delicate and thin, moving like butterfly wings in the breeze.
It has a unique feature in the world of roses: in the rainy days and in certain hours of a day, its leaves emanate an intense perfume of incense which can be sensed from a few meters away.
It produces solitary, cupped, single, fragrant, pale primrose-yellow flowers that are followed by spherical to inversely cone-shaped, brownish maroon hips. Also produces aromatic, dense, fern-like green leaves on slender, reddish-green stems. Most varieties grow on long canes that sometimes climb. Unfortunately, this plant is quite susceptible to a variety of diseases and pests, many of which can be controlled with good cultural practices.
Cultivation: Plant in moist but free-draining or free-draining soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Avoid planting in sites that have previously been used for growing roses.
Awards: RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Suggested uses: Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging
Soil types: Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage: Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light: Full Sun
Aspect: South, East, West
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness: Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Discovered by Frank N. Meyer (circa 1890).
Species / Wild.
Yellow to light yellow. Moderate fragrance. Small, single (4-8 petals), borne mostly solitary bloom form. Once-blooming spring or summer.
Arching, armed with thorns / prickles, bushy, spreading, upright. Small, glossy, light green, fragrant foliage. 9 to 15 leaflets.
Height of 215 cm. Width of 185 cm.
Zone 6b through 9b. Produces decorative hips.
Turkestan.
Diploid
Rosa ecae ssp. primula (Boulenger) A.V. Roberts (1977) Belongs to the section Pimpinellifoliae (styles free, shorter than the stamens, blooms solitary, without bracts). Has doubly serrated and abaxially glandular leaflets like R. ecae and R. foetida. It differs from the former by the higher number of leaflets, larger blooms and colour of hips; from the latter by its smooth leaves, higher number of leaflets, and smaller blooms.

Rosa Gigantea

Rosa gigantea (diploid) is a species of rose native to northeast India, northern Myanmar and southwest China (Yunnan) in the foothills of the Himalaya at 1000–1500 m altitude. As its name suggests, it is the largest species of rose, climbing 20 m or more into the crowns of other trees by means of its stout, hooked thorns, and with a trunk up to 50 cm diameter.

The flowers are white, creamy or yellow, the largest of any wild rose, 10–14 cm diameter. The hips are yellow or orange, 2.5-3.5 cm diameter, hard, and often lasting through the winter into the following spring, often still present at the same time as the next years' flowers.

Wonderful fragrance too. Mild to strong, clove, honeysuckle fragrance.

Syns:
- Rosa gigantea Collett ex Crépin
• Rosa gigantea macrocarpa
• R. macrocarpa
• Rosa macrocarpa G.Watt ex Crép. synonym
• R. odorata gigantea
• Rosa odorata var. gigantea Rehder & Wilson
• Rosa X odorata gigantea
• R. xanthocarpa• Rosa xanthocarpa G.Watt ex E.Willm. syn.

White to butter-yellow, yellow stamens. Buds - light yellow [Warm creamy to lemony white]. 5 petals. Large, single (4-8 petals), borne mostly solitary, flat bloom form. Moderate, once-blooming spring or summer. Large, long buds.

Tall, arching, climbing. Medium, glossy, light green foliage.

Height of 245 to 1525 cm. Width of 185 to 305 cm.

Zone 8 and warmer.
Very vigorous.
Benefits from winter protection in colder climates.
Flowers drop off cleanly.
Prefers warmer sites.
Shade tolerant.
Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant, very blackspot resistant, very mildew resistant, very rust resistant.
Can be grown as a climber in mild climates.
Prune lightly or not at all.

R. gigantea was collected in the Shan Hills of Burma at about 20 degrees N.latitude at an altitude of about 4000-5000 feet by General Collett.
Rosa macrocarpa was collected in Manipur State, in North east India at a higher altitude of about 6000-7000 feet and about 5 degrees further north, by Sir George Watt.
Though Sir George Watt considered R. macrocarpa to be a new species distinct from R.gigamtea of Collett, the great Belgian taxonomist, Francois Crepin considered them to be identical, after examining specimens of both. In the absence of DNA we should probably follow Crepin's observation. From the common sense point of view, it appears to [Viru] that R.macrocarpa is yellower because it grows further north and at a higher altitude, i.e. less bleaching of flower color occurs in cooler temperatures. Crepin observes that in the Shan hills district where R. gigantea grows, frosts are almost unknown, whereas when Girija [Viraragavan] and [Viru] collected R. macrocarpa in Manipur on Mount Sirohi at an altitude nearing 7000 feet. There was a fair amount of frost on the ground, in places frozen into fairly substantial lumps which could not have been merely overnight dew frozen. From the seedlings raised from the Manipur seed collected by [Viru & Girija they] noticed considerable variation in flower color especially at the bud stage. Some of the seedlings are quite a dark yellow at bud stage whereas others are just cream. This color difference does not persist when the flower opens and all the kinds are creamy yellow by the second day. "So to distinguish R.macrocarpa from R. gigantea by adopting flower color as the criterion seems to be incorrect. Pending further investigation we should perhaps consider R.macrocarpa of Manipur as only an eco -type of R. gigantea Collett. But I am hoping that the Manipur rose will prove somewhat cold hardier than the Burmese collection."

Rosa gigantea is recognized by its distinctive drooping, mahogany-colored new foliage, a characteristic it shares with Rosa chinensis var. spontanea.]
Information from Viru Viraraghavn

Rosa Moschata

Rosa moschata (musk rose) is a species of rose long in cultivation. Its wild origins are uncertain but are suspected to lie in the western Himalayas.

It is a shrub (to 3m) with single white 5 cm flowers, blooming on new growth from late spring until late autumn in warm climates, or from late summer onwards in cool-summer climates. The flowers have a characteristic "musky" scent.

It is recorded in cultivation as least as far back as the 16th century.

It is important in cultivation as a parent to several groups of cultivated roses, notably the damask rose and the noisette group, and is valued for its scent and for its unusually long season of bloom among rose species.

The rose hip seed oil is used for a variety of skin conditions, including dermatitis, acne and eczema, for mature and sun burnt skin as well as brittle nails and wrinkles. Rose hip oil is also frequently used to heal scarring and diminish photo-aging.

Syns:
Gol-e moškin
• Graham Thomas Old Musk
• Musk Rose
• Rosa moschata 'Graham Thomas Old Musk'
• Rosa moschata Herrm.
• Rosa ruscinonensis Grén. & Déségl. synonym
• Rosier Musqué
• Single Musk

Also referenced as: Rose musquette, Rose muscadelle, Rosa Damascena simplici flore, Rosa moschata alba, Weiss Muscatenrose, Rosa moschata et Damascena, Rosa persica (moschata), Rosa muscheta, Rosa coroneola, Rosa sera, Rosa autumnalis, Musket Röschen, Bisamröslein, Rosa Damascena flore simplici, Rosellina Dommaschina, White Cluster Rose, Rosa Moschata simplex, Einfache Damascenerröslein

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Ena Harkness

"Ena Harkness"
Bred by Albert Norman (United Kingdom, 1946).
Hybrid Tea.
Crimson.

Strong, damask fragrance. 30 petals. Full, high-centered bloom form. Remontant, blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Height of 60 to 75 cm. Width of 45 to 60 cm.

It can also be a climber, discovered by Gurteen & Ritson (Unknown, 1954).
Red Thea Hybrid. Strong, damask fragrance. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Height of 365 to 455 cm. Width of 245 cm.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Chinatown

"Chinatown", "Ville de Chine"
Bred by Niels Dines Poulsen (Denmark, 1962).
Climber, Floribunda, Shrub.
Deep yellow. Strong fragrance. Double (17-25 petals), classic hybrid tea bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Climbing.
Height of 120 to 185 cm. Width of 90 to 120 cm.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - City of London

"City of London"
Bred by Harkness (United Kingdom, 1986).
Introduced in United Kingdom by Harkness & Co. Ltd. in 1988 as 'City of London'.
Floribunda, Shrub.
Light pink. Strong, rose fragrance. 15 to 25 petals. Large, double, cupped bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Height of 80 to 205 cm. Width of 75 to 150 cm.

Intoxicating Fragranced Roses - Alec's Red

"Alec's Red"

Bred by Alexander M. (Alec) Cocker (Scotland, 1970).

Hybrid Tea.

Crimson. Strong, heavy, damask fragrance. 36 to 40 petals. Average diameter 6" - 15cm. Very large, full, cupped bloom form. Continuous (perpetual) bloom throughout the season.

Medium, armed with thorns / prickles, upright. Matte, dark green foliage.

Height of 75 to 90 cm. Width of up to 60 cm.

Parents: Fragrant Cloud and Dame de Coeur :).

It can be also a climber, discovered by Harkness (United Kingdom, 1975), red, strong fragrance, once-blooming spring or summer. As a climber, it needs a warmer climate.