ALL ABOUT ROSES
Old Garden Roses and 'Vintage' Roses
Bourbon Roses: A Walk Down Bourbon Street
by Rhea Worrell
Rhea Worrell is a cyber-rosarian living in North Carolina. She is an avid gardener and an author of many fine articles on old garden roses.
Bourbons are a large and varied class of hybrids of Chinese and European roses. They are named for the Ile de Bourbon in the Indian Ocean (now called Reunion) where they originated. In the early 1800's China roses became available to the farmers of Reunion. The custom was to have a hedge of Parson's Pink China on one side of the property and Autumn Damask on the other. The story goes that a Monsieur Perichon one day found a new rose, and showed it to M. Breon, who, in 1822, sent the plant and seeds to Paris. The new rose was named Bourbon Jacques or La Rose de L'Ile Bourbon. French hybridizers then went to work, producing the large and varied class of roses we now call Bourbons. (This original Bourbon, now lost, was a semidouble with brilliant fuchsia petals and nearly evergreen foliage).
The Bourbon rose is an intermediate step along the way to the modern hybrids -- perhaps the best of both worlds. While it still retains the vigorous, shrubby growth, lush flower form, floriferousness and potent fragrance of the older roses, its smooth foliage, large blooms, repeat flowering (and, alas, susceptibility to disease) portend the development of the modern hybrids. Its blooms are semi-double to double and quartered and range from white (Kronprincessin Viktoria, Coquettes des Blanches) to deep crimson (Mme. Isaac Pereire, Zéphirine Drouhin) and dark red (Gipsy Boy) . The typical Bourbon has large, heavy globular blooms and nearly all have a superb fragrance. Plants range in height from 2 feet (Souvenir de la Malmaison) to 10 feet (Gloire de Rosomanes, Variegata de Bologna) . Bourbons are susceptible to black spot, and in some cases, to mildew, but they are a versatile class.
They can be utilized in several ways:
Containers: Souvenir de la Malmaison or its sports.
Beds and Borders: La Reine Victoria, Boule de Neige
Climbers: Zéphirine Drouhin, Kathleen Harrop
Specimens: Gruss un Teplitz, Louise Odier, Gypsy Boy
Hedges: Gypsy Boy, Gloire de Rosomanes
Cutting Garden: Mme Isaac Pereire, Variegata de Bologna Bourbons are more demanding than many of the earlier OGRS. Because of their capacity for repeat flowering Bourbons should be carefully pruned. They need good, rich soil, and should be fertilized often. Since most are susceptible to black spot, and some to mildew, it is important that they have good air circulation. Deadheading is also helpful.
Bourbons are hardy to Zone 6 or 5, depending on variety. The larger, more vigorous ones are probably safer to grow in Zone 5. (Mme Isaac Pereire is unusually hardy; I found one thriving in blustery Syracuse, NY). If there is any question of hardiness, apply mulch around and over the crown in mid- to late autumn.
Containers: Souvenir de la Malmaison or its sports.
Beds and Borders: La Reine Victoria, Boule de Neige
Climbers: Zéphirine Drouhin, Kathleen Harrop
Specimens: Gruss un Teplitz, Louise Odier, Gypsy Boy
Hedges: Gypsy Boy, Gloire de Rosomanes
Cutting Garden: Mme Isaac Pereire, Variegata de Bologna Bourbons are more demanding than many of the earlier OGRS. Because of their capacity for repeat flowering Bourbons should be carefully pruned. They need good, rich soil, and should be fertilized often. Since most are susceptible to black spot, and some to mildew, it is important that they have good air circulation. Deadheading is also helpful.
Bourbons are hardy to Zone 6 or 5, depending on variety. The larger, more vigorous ones are probably safer to grow in Zone 5. (Mme Isaac Pereire is unusually hardy; I found one thriving in blustery Syracuse, NY). If there is any question of hardiness, apply mulch around and over the crown in mid- to late autumn.
Best Bourbons
Boule de Neige - Its very fragrant, large, pure white, perfectly-formed, globular blooms begin life as marble-sized red buds. Its smooth, narrow, dark green leaves accentuate the striking blooms. Said to be Martha Stewart's favorite OGR. Good recurrency. Grows to 5-6 ft.
Gipsy Boy - Its non-recurrent, deep dark red, full blooms are anchored by golden stamens and have a wonderful fragrance. GB is a Russelliana (rambler) seedling, which explains why it is so floriferous. A graceful, strong, bushy, thorny shrub, it can reach 8 feet. It produces hips. Can be grown as a climber, but is ideal as a hedge. David Austin calls it "...one of the toughest of roses and ideal for a difficult position in the garden."
Louise Odier - Louise's blooms are a lovely pink, very double, very fragrant and perfectly formed. She blooms throughout the summer and her foliage is plentiful and of a clear medium green. She will attain 7 feet. "For me, [Louise Odier] is the most desirable of the recurrent-flowering old roses." --David Austin
Souvenir de la Malmaison (Queen of Beauty and Fragrance) - An outstanding rose; one of the very best OGRs, Souvenir has very large, quartered, exquisitely-formed, delicate blooms of a gentle, creamy buff pink with a glorious fragrance to match. 2-3 feet. Floriferous and very recurrent. There is a climbing sport.
Souvenir de St. Anne is a semidouble sport of Souvenir de la Malmaison.
Zéphirine Drouhin - Large, hybrid tea-shaped, extremely fragrant flowers of dusky dark pink adorn a 10' plant with lax thornless canes and dark green foliage. ZD blooms in fall and spring and makes an excellent climber.
Other Well-favored Bourbons:
Coquette des Blanches - Pure white blooms on a hardy, vigorous 4-foot bush.
Gruss un Teplitz - Very-double, clustered blooms of smoky carmine cover lax canes. Vigorous with excellent recurrency. Good specimen plant.
Kathleen Harrop - According to Keays, KH is "a soft, feminine sport of the 'domineering' Zéphirine Drouhin." Her blooms are a "tender pearly pink, with light, airy, sweet-scented petals." She blooms in June and September.
Kronprincessin Viktoria - A creamy, lemon-blushed sport of Souvenir de la Malmaison, KV is a very beautiful but fragile rose.
Souvenir de la Malmaison (Queen of Beauty and Fragrance) - An outstanding rose; one of the very best OGRs, Souvenir has very large, quartered, exquisitely-formed, delicate blooms of a gentle, creamy buff pink with a glorious fragrance to match. 2-3 feet. Floriferous and very recurrent. There is a climbing sport.
Souvenir de St. Anne is a semidouble sport of Souvenir de la Malmaison.
Zéphirine Drouhin - Large, hybrid tea-shaped, extremely fragrant flowers of dusky dark pink adorn a 10' plant with lax thornless canes and dark green foliage. ZD blooms in fall and spring and makes an excellent climber.
Other Well-favored Bourbons:
Coquette des Blanches - Pure white blooms on a hardy, vigorous 4-foot bush.
Gruss un Teplitz - Very-double, clustered blooms of smoky carmine cover lax canes. Vigorous with excellent recurrency. Good specimen plant.
Kathleen Harrop - According to Keays, KH is "a soft, feminine sport of the 'domineering' Zéphirine Drouhin." Her blooms are a "tender pearly pink, with light, airy, sweet-scented petals." She blooms in June and September.
Kronprincessin Viktoria - A creamy, lemon-blushed sport of Souvenir de la Malmaison, KV is a very beautiful but fragile rose.
La Reine Victoria - Its narrow, upright form resembles a Grandiflora, with very large, deeply-cupped double blooms of a rich lilac-rose tint topping each 5-6 foot cane. It is constantly in bloom, but quite susceptible to black spot.
Mme Ernest Calvat is a pale pink sport of Mme. Isaac Pereire, below.
Mme Isaac Pereire possesses fat, cabbagey blooms of deep, dark pink of incredible fragrance. One of the most fragrant roses, it repeats well in autumn. It is a very hardy, vigorous plant which forms a tall shrub of 7 feet.
Mme. Lauriol de Barny displays lots of silky, silvery pink, quartered blooms on drooping sprays. Fragrant, too. Non-recurrent. 6 ft.
Mme Pierre Oger - A sport of Reine Victoria, with very fragrant, very delicate pink- blushed, cream-colored globular blooms on a narrow 4 foot shrub.
Mme Ernest Calvat is a pale pink sport of Mme. Isaac Pereire, below.
Mme Isaac Pereire possesses fat, cabbagey blooms of deep, dark pink of incredible fragrance. One of the most fragrant roses, it repeats well in autumn. It is a very hardy, vigorous plant which forms a tall shrub of 7 feet.
Mme. Lauriol de Barny displays lots of silky, silvery pink, quartered blooms on drooping sprays. Fragrant, too. Non-recurrent. 6 ft.
Mme Pierre Oger - A sport of Reine Victoria, with very fragrant, very delicate pink- blushed, cream-colored globular blooms on a narrow 4 foot shrub.
Queen of Bourbons - Clusters of very fragrant, mid-sized, quartered, salmon-blush pink blooms with crinkled petals. Very hardy. Bears hips. Non-recurrent. Shrubby, but can be used a climber. 6-10 feet.
Carnival Bourbons -- IT'S SHOW TIME!
Commandant Beaurepaire has very fragrant, medium-sized, very- double blooms. Each is brilliantly and uniquely striped with several shades of pink and red. The smooth, dense, dark-green foliage shows off the hundreds of splashy petals. It's a party! but the party ends in mid-summer. 7 feet.
Honorine de Brabant is similar, except its blooms are paler and it repeats.
Variegata de Bologna - One of the best striped roses. Clusters of large, white, globular blooms are streaked, splashed and flecked with dark pink. Flashy! It has an excellent fragrance but is non-recurrent. A husky, hearty shrub with dense foliage, Variegata may reach 10 feet. Susceptible to blackspot.
"Hedging Your Bets" with Bold and Beautiful Bourbons -- Introducing the Coquette, the Gipsy Boy and Robin!
Coquette des Alpes - She resembles Boule de Neige, but with blush pink blooms. She is incredibly fragrant and blooms continually. This Coquette is thorny, tall, vigorous and good for hedging.
Gipsy Boy (Listed above under Best Bourbons). GB is a strong, bushy, thorny rose which can reach 8 ft. His deep, dark red, full blooms are non-recurrent. He can be used as climber but makes a perfect hedge.
Gloire de Rosomanes / Ragged Robin - A parent of the famous Hybrid Perpetual, General Jack, and other red roses, Gloire is a vigorous, 8-10 ft high, thorny shrub, bearing myriad semi-double blooms of wine red and producing winter hips, too. Gloire is reliable and rugged and repeats well. Highly ornamental, thus ideal for hedging.
Sources
Austin, David. Old Roses and English Roses. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Antique Collectors Club, 1992
Keays, Mrs. Frederick Love. Old Roses. NY: MacMillan, 1935.
Thomson, Richard. Old Roses for Modern Gardens. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1959
Westrich, Josh. Old Garden Roses and Selected Modern Hybrids. Text by Eva Dierauff and Anny Jacob. Foreword by Helene von Stein-Zeppelin.
Trans. Keith Thomas. London: Thames and Hudson, 1988.
