History of Roses: Bourbon Roses

History of Roses: Bourbon Roses
By Jerry Haynes
As with many cloudy areas of rose history, Bourbon Roses probably arose from a chance
naturally-occurring cross among several species of roses used as hedges to separate land areas on
a small island in the Indian Ocean. Probably initially discovered by Arab sailors before the third
century BC, this tiny speck of land is volcanic in origin, with frequent eruptions, which probably
discouraged initial settlement. The Chola Navy landed on the island during the 11th century and
called it Theemai Theevu, which means Island of Destruction. The Portuguese are thought to
have been the first European visitors finding it uninhabited in 1635 and naming it after Saint
Apollonia. In 1649 the island was named Île Bourbon after the royal French house.
Colonization started in 1665 when the French East India Company sent the first twenty settlers.
“Réunion” was the name given to the island in 1793.
Bourbons probably originated from a natural cross between the China ‘Parsons' Pink China’
and the red `Tous-les-Mois', a Damask Perpetual, two roses which were used as hedge material
on the island. A M. Périchon, an inhabitant of the island, on planting a quantity of seedling roses
raised for a hedge, found one very different from the rest and planted it apart from the others.
Upon flowering, it proved to be distinct from any rose hitherto known. In the year 1817 a French
botanist, M. Bréon, was put in charge of the Royal Botanic Garden established on the island. M.
Périchon's seedling rose interested him greatly; and after careful investigation, he came to the
conclusion that it originated from a natural cross between the two species named above. At that
time there were no other roses whatsoever growing on the island. In 1819 M. Bréon sent seeds
and the plants of the new rose to Jaques, gardener to the Duke of Orleans at Neuilly near Paris,
and from these have sprung the whole race of Bourbon Roses. It is more than probable that both
the seeds and plants, which arrived in Paris under the name Rose Edward, were the result of a
second cross, and that they had been crossed again with one or the other of the parents. Other
writers have given the date of introduction of this rose into France as 1823 and 1824. (Brent
Dickerson says that Bourbons showed up in Paris in 1819 and 1821 respectively.)
P
a
‘Parsons’ Pink China’
http://www.chambleeroses.com/order/Own-RootGarden-Roses//Cl.-Old-Blush/66/Old-Blush/291
‘Quatre Saisons’ or ‘Autumn Damask’
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/
Yet another account states that an old China rose, 'Parsons’ Pink China', now better known as
'Old Blush', played its part by cohabiting, it is said, with the Damask 'Quatre Saisons' on the
lIe de Bourbon. Whatever its origins, several French nurserymen recognized its potential. It was
used extensively for crossing and re-crossing, thus giving rise to a range of mostly continuously
flowering shrub roses which were to adorn gardens worldwide, with very little competition, well
into the nineteenth century. Some of these remain favorites to this day. Whatever the parentage,
we do know that The Bourbon Rose was first painted by Redouté in the year 1824.
The first variations from this type appeared in 1831. They were raised by Desprez of Guignes,
Seine-et Marne, and under the names of ‘Charles Desprez’ and ‘Mme Desprez’, are still to be
found in gardens. A few years later, Desprez raised purple and red varieties; and then Plantier of
Lyons and other growers continued to introduce novelties of greater or less merit. In 1843 Deluz
of Lyons raised the beautiful and still much favored rose ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’. The rose
‘Kronprinzessin Viktoria von Preussen’, sometimes called the Yellow Malmaison, was
introduced by Volvert in 1888. It was a sport from the original ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’.
Mr. William Paul enumerates forty-six varieties of the Bourbon Rose in addition to thirty-eight
Bourbon Perpetuals and eight Hybrid Bourbons. These Bourbon Roses are best distinguished
from those originating from ‘Rosa chinensis’. All the Bourbon Roses preserve the characteristic
of perpetual flowering.
Like their European parents, the Bourbon roses are cold hardy; and like their Asian ancestors,
they re-bloom. These roses do not produce flowers as continuously as hybrid teas; instead, they
bear the bulk of their flowers in a heavy surge in late spring and early summer, though they do
continue to flower sporadically through the summer and into fall. This makes them an excellent
choice for the gardener who wants to combine a longer blooming season with old-fashioned
richness and perfume.
The Bourbon's flowers are large, even huge, often making an almost perfect globe of crepe
petals. Their perfumes are intense, and the shrubs tend to be vigorous. Because of their Asian
roots, these roses perform well in the South as well as the North, and they are not fazed by the
combination of summer heat and humidity that make the Mid-Atlantic States and the upper
Southeast a trial for other kinds of roses. In the Deep South, they are likely to need regular
spraying with fungicides.
Representative Bourbon Roses
(pictures from Vintage Gardens online catalog http://www.vintagegardens.com/rose_index.aspx
‘Globe White Hip’ or 'Boule de Neige'
(introduced 1867)
When the double white flowers of 'Boule de
Neige' (ball of snow) are fully open, the outer
petals roll back at the tips, which gives the
blossoms a rounded, snowball-like look. Borne
in clusters, the flowers are snow white and have
a moderate damask rose fragrance. This is one
of the Bourbons that performs particularly well
in the Southeast—though in such a climate,
midsummer may bring some blackspot. A
vigorous shrub, it produces long, arching canes
that can be tied down along a fence or wreathed
around a pillar. 'Boule de Neige' also shows to
good advantage in a border or bed.
'Honorine de Brabant' (breeder and date of
introduction unknown)
The 3 1/2- to 4-inch soft pink blooms of the
'Honorine de Brabant' rose are striped and
spotted with darker shades of violet, crimson,
and mauve. Its main flush of flowers appears in
midsummer, but it repeats well; and fall flowers
are less prone to bleaching by the hot sun.
Blossoms are double, loosely cupped, and
quartered, with a raspberry scent. Foliage is
light green, large and leathery. Canes are green
and
bear
a
few
large
prickles.
Plants are vigorous, large, and bushy. As a
shrub, this rose grows nearly as broad as it is
tall. It can also be trained as a climber. It is
more compact and blooms more continuously
than most Bourbons.
'La Reine Victoria' (introduced 1872)
The double blossoms of 'La Reine Victoria' rose
are lilac-pink to deep rose; their color is deeper
in bright sun. The flowers have a silky texture
and a delicate appearance; they are cupped and
rounded with overlapping, shell shaped petals.
Fragrance is strong and fruity. Flowers are held
well above the lush soft green foliage. 'Madame
Pierre Oger' is a color sport that bears creamy,
flesh-colored blooms but is similar in all other
respects. The plants are slender, upright, and
graceful. They make attractive specimens and
can be used in beds or borders. Flowers are
excellent for cutting. Both 'La Reine Victoria'
and its sport are susceptible to blackspot.
'Mme Pierre Oger' (introduced 1878)
This sport of 'La Reine Victoria' is identical to
it in all respects except that its flowers are blush
pink, developing a rosy cast as they open.
'Louise Odier' (introduced 1851)
The bright rose pink flowers of 'Louise Odier'
are softly shaded with a hint of lilac. They
appear abundantly in midseason and repeat well
into fall. Blooms are very double and cup
shaped, resembling camellias; petals are
quartered. Their scent is deliciously rich. Borne
in clusters, the heavy flowers may weigh down
the branches, creating a graceful, arching effect.
Plants are vigorous and upright with slender
canes. A favorite choice in Victorian gardens,
'Louise Odier' makes an elegant shrub; and it
can be trained to climb a pillar or post. This
rose is hardy and disease resistant.
'Mme Isaac Periere' (introduced 1881)
Although the magenta flowers of 'Madame
Isaac Pereire' appear throughout summer, they
do not reach their peak until fall. Each double
bloom is anywhere from 3 to 6 inches across,
depending on climate, with quartering petals
that are rolled at their edges. The fruity-scented
blossoms are possibly the most fragrant of all
roses; they may be dried for potpourris. The
abundant foliage is large, dark green, and semiglossy. Plants are bushy with a somewhat
spreading habit. They can be grown as
freestanding shrubs or pegged; a climbing
version that grows to 12 feet can be trained on a
trellis or fence. Flowers are superb for cutting.
Plants are vigorous, tough, and hardy and will
tolerate poor soil. A color sport of this rose,
'Madame Ernest Calvat', produces pale
lavender-pink flowers.
'Souvenir de la Malmaison'
(introduced
1843)
Though hardy and a good performer in the
North, this rose loves a warm climate. 'Souvenir
de la Malmaison' is one of the few Bourbons
that turns up in old country gardens in the
Southeast, and it reaches its greatest perfection
in the dry warmth of the Southwest. Those who
have seen it at its best, speak of it as the
quintessential old rose. The creamy blush pink
flowers are large, flat, and quartered; the petals
naturally form a cross; and the perfume they
exhale is deliciously spicy. It's distinctive
among the Bourbons, as it rarely grows to more
than 3 ft ( 0.9m ) tall. 'Souvenir de la
Malmaison' can be planted in small gardens or
even grown in a container. A popular semidouble sport of ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ is
‘Souvenir de St. Anne's’, introduced prior to
1916. (A 2010 EarthKind rose)
'Zephirine Drouhin' (introduced 1868)
The semi-double cerise-pink flowers of
'Zephirine Drouhin' are 3 1/2 to 4 inches across
and are loosely formed. Borne in profusion in
spring, they continue to appear intermittently
until fall, when the plant once again flowers
heavily. Blooms are very sweetly scented.
Young leaves are a coppery purple, maturing to
dark green, and the canes are smooth. It is a
vigorous grower with an upright, semi-climbing
habit. This rose can be pruned as a shrub and
placed in a large border or displayed as a
specimen, and it makes a fine formal hedge. Or,
it may be trained as a climber on a trellis, fence,
or porch where this rose may grow as high as
20 feet. The lack of prickles makes it a good
choice for planting near walkways or play
areas.