ALL ABOUT ROSES
Old Garden Roses and Older Roses
Nothing Could Be Finer: The Aristocratic Noisette
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.
Noisette Roses are famous for a couple of reasons: first, because they were the first class of roses to exemplify the wonderful results that could be obtained by crossing China roses (R. chinensis) with Western species roses (R. moschata). Second, because they are the only class of roses originating in the United States. The class originated when William Champney, a Charleston, South Carolina rice planter, crossed Parson's Pink China and Rosa moschata [the famous Musk Rose] to create Champney's Pink Cluster, a durable, pretty and fragrant small pillar rose.
Subsequently, local nurseryman Phillipe Noisette used the seeds of Champney's creation to produce a seedling he called Blush Noisette. He sent it to his brother Louis in Paris, who was so impressed he decided to continue experimenting with it. Redoute learned of it, christened the new rose Rosa noisettiana, and added it to his portfolio of rose portraits.
The Noisettes evolved further when in 1830 or so they were crossed with the yellow and white Teas, "further widening their range and improving their quality"[Austin]. Instead of myriads of modest-sized blooms in large clusters, these Tea-Noisettes had small clusters of very large blooms. Instead of the compact climbing habit of the early Noisettes, later Noisettes such as Jaune Deprez and Lamarque were vigorous and could reach 30 or 40 feet (in frost-free climates). Noisettes proved to be an exceptional class, yielding some of the all time great roses (Mme Alfred Carriere, Gloire de Dijon) and sentimental favorites such as Jaune Desprez, Lamarque and Maréchal Niel. Hybridizing continued in the mid-1800s, producing hundreds
of named hybrids. Though Noisettes fell out of favor with the onset and pre-eminence of the hybrid tea, many of the best have survived and continue to give us pleasure.
The best qualities of the Noisettes are:
1. Their exceptionally long blooming season, recurrency and free-flowering nature. There are Noisettes that will bloom throughout the fall and into January in milder climates.
2. Their superb fragrances of spice, fruit, musk rose and tea. (Musk rose, Rosa moschata, has a fresh scent of honey, custard, and fresh ripe mangoes).
3. Their refinement. Smooth canes, gracefully presented foliage, and gentle, silky puffball flowers in delicate tints combine to present an elegant picture.
On the down side, Noisettes are tender -- a harsh winter can severely damage or even kill them. Noisettes such as Celine Forestier are frail plants that may be hard to grow. Some Noisettes have scanty foliage susceptible to blackspot or mildew. Last, Noisette roses have limited usefulness in the landscape; they are almost exclusively used as climbers, except for the somewhat shrubby early ones.
Noisettes are ideal for the American South, since they perform so well throughout a long growing season. They are more drought-tolerant than other rose classes, and, according to Liz Druitt, are more tolerant of clay soil.
Their "sweet tea" scent and place of origin probably accounts for some of the popularity they've enjoyed there.
The Early Noisettes
Aimee Vibert [Bouquet de la Mariee/Nivea]
Aimee is usually considered a Rambler, but has Noisette parentage. [It is thought to be either a sport of the Noisette 'Repens', or a hybrid of Champney's Pink Cluster and Rosa sempervirens. There are at least 3 variants of this rose]. Nearly thornless, Aimee has extremely attractive, lush foliage of glossy dark green. Its sprays of small white blooms are perfectly formed, double and lightly fragrant. It is supposed to repeat all season, but may not if damaged by early frost. It can reach 12-15 feet. Graham Thomas says Aimee is "...the only perpetual flowering white rambler of any quality." Hardy to Zone 5-6.
Blush Noisette [Rosa noisettiana]
Blush Noisette could be a sport of Champney's Pink Cluster, which it closely resembles. It has graceful, lax canes, plenty of medium green leaves, and is nearly thorn-free. Its new growth is plum-colored. It has a profusion of fuller blooms of an even paler pink with a rich clove fragrance. Blush Noisette is not a showy plant, but it is hardy, long-lived, always in bloom, and beautifully scented. It is somewhat subject to blackspot. Hardy to Zone 6. Can be grown as a shrub.
Champney's Pink Cluster
Myriads of double to semidouble smallish blooms of a very pale pink embellish oval, dark green, shiny leaves. Champney's Pink Cluster has an incredibly sweet perfume. It is vigorous, and relatively hardy for a Noisette [to Zone 6], but only reaches 8 feet when grown as a climber. Champney's Pink is subject to blackspot.
Fellenberg
Fellenberg is more like a China than a Tea or Noisette. The only red Noisette, its blooms have doubled, cupped, loose scarlet petals. It is very free flowering with a low, spreading habit. Hardy to Zone 7.
Nastarana
An extremely fragrant rose, smelling of sweet spice and cloves; possibly one of the most fragrant roses.
The best qualities of the Noisettes are:
1. Their exceptionally long blooming season, recurrency and free-flowering nature. There are Noisettes that will bloom throughout the fall and into January in milder climates.
2. Their superb fragrances of spice, fruit, musk rose and tea. (Musk rose, Rosa moschata, has a fresh scent of honey, custard, and fresh ripe mangoes).
3. Their refinement. Smooth canes, gracefully presented foliage, and gentle, silky puffball flowers in delicate tints combine to present an elegant picture.
On the down side, Noisettes are tender -- a harsh winter can severely damage or even kill them. Noisettes such as Celine Forestier are frail plants that may be hard to grow. Some Noisettes have scanty foliage susceptible to blackspot or mildew. Last, Noisette roses have limited usefulness in the landscape; they are almost exclusively used as climbers, except for the somewhat shrubby early ones.
Noisettes are ideal for the American South, since they perform so well throughout a long growing season. They are more drought-tolerant than other rose classes, and, according to Liz Druitt, are more tolerant of clay soil.
Their "sweet tea" scent and place of origin probably accounts for some of the popularity they've enjoyed there.
The Early Noisettes
Aimee Vibert [Bouquet de la Mariee/Nivea]
Aimee is usually considered a Rambler, but has Noisette parentage. [It is thought to be either a sport of the Noisette 'Repens', or a hybrid of Champney's Pink Cluster and Rosa sempervirens. There are at least 3 variants of this rose]. Nearly thornless, Aimee has extremely attractive, lush foliage of glossy dark green. Its sprays of small white blooms are perfectly formed, double and lightly fragrant. It is supposed to repeat all season, but may not if damaged by early frost. It can reach 12-15 feet. Graham Thomas says Aimee is "...the only perpetual flowering white rambler of any quality." Hardy to Zone 5-6.
Blush Noisette [Rosa noisettiana]
Blush Noisette could be a sport of Champney's Pink Cluster, which it closely resembles. It has graceful, lax canes, plenty of medium green leaves, and is nearly thorn-free. Its new growth is plum-colored. It has a profusion of fuller blooms of an even paler pink with a rich clove fragrance. Blush Noisette is not a showy plant, but it is hardy, long-lived, always in bloom, and beautifully scented. It is somewhat subject to blackspot. Hardy to Zone 6. Can be grown as a shrub.
Champney's Pink Cluster
Myriads of double to semidouble smallish blooms of a very pale pink embellish oval, dark green, shiny leaves. Champney's Pink Cluster has an incredibly sweet perfume. It is vigorous, and relatively hardy for a Noisette [to Zone 6], but only reaches 8 feet when grown as a climber. Champney's Pink is subject to blackspot.
Fellenberg
Fellenberg is more like a China than a Tea or Noisette. The only red Noisette, its blooms have doubled, cupped, loose scarlet petals. It is very free flowering with a low, spreading habit. Hardy to Zone 7.
Nastarana
An extremely fragrant rose, smelling of sweet spice and cloves; possibly one of the most fragrant roses.
Later Tea-Noisettes
Alister Stella Gray [Golden Rambler]
Graham Thomas has called her "one of the most perpetual of roses." Her pointed, scrolled deep yellow buds unfold into pale cream-colored petals. The blooms are double, silky, smallish, and quartered with a button center. Alister has a delicious sweet tea scent. She is a vigorous climber, reaches 15 feet, has a long season of bloom, and gives an exceptional floral show in the autumn. Hardy to Zone 7.
Celine Forestier
Celine is a bit challenging to grow, and takes time to get established. Hers are very large, quartered, flat blooms with a knotted center and button eye. Her petals are silky and range in color from creamy pale yellow to peach. Their fruit, spice and tea fragrance is "powerful, delicious and intense,"
Alister Stella Gray [Golden Rambler]
Graham Thomas has called her "one of the most perpetual of roses." Her pointed, scrolled deep yellow buds unfold into pale cream-colored petals. The blooms are double, silky, smallish, and quartered with a button center. Alister has a delicious sweet tea scent. She is a vigorous climber, reaches 15 feet, has a long season of bloom, and gives an exceptional floral show in the autumn. Hardy to Zone 7.
Celine Forestier
Celine is a bit challenging to grow, and takes time to get established. Hers are very large, quartered, flat blooms with a knotted center and button eye. Her petals are silky and range in color from creamy pale yellow to peach. Their fruit, spice and tea fragrance is "powerful, delicious and intense,"
according to Graham Thomas. Celine is always in bloom and works as either a shrub or a short climber. Hardy to Zones 7-8. Celine should be carefully sited and babied a bit for best results.
Chromatella [Cloth of Gold] has double yellow flowers and creamy buds and is loaded with blooms all season. It is fragrant and very tender. Zone 8.
Chromatella [Cloth of Gold] has double yellow flowers and creamy buds and is loaded with blooms all season. It is fragrant and very tender. Zone 8.
Jaune Desprez [Desprez à Fleur Jaunes]
This rose has a graceful habit and smallish, semidouble, flat blooms with lots of silky petals and a button eye. The blooms have a rich, honey-ginger, peachy coloring and an extremely sweet, apricot-fruity fragrance to match. It blooms abundantly throughout a long season, with an exceptional fall show to top it off. Jaune Desprez is disease-resistant. May reach 20 or more feet. Hardy to Zone 6.
Crepuscule's blooms are large and loose confections of golden orange and apricot. It is a vigorous plant with light green leaves and few thorns. Zone 7.
Gloire de Dijon [Old Glory]
"This rose has had extravagant praise from the time of its origination in 1852..." [Thompson]. "There can be few roses that have given more pleasure to more people..." [Austin]. "An altogether lovely rose, and one I never want to be without" [Thompson]. Gloire is a descendant of the famed Souvenir de la Malmaison. Very large, full, cupped blooms with ruffled tissue-like petals of soft amber yellow have subtle blushes of buff pink, gold, fawn, buff, and apricot. They are very fragrant, with a rich tea scent. The blooms are surrounded by thick, shiny, medium green leaves and reddish canes. Gloire blooms abundantly over a long season. In wet weather, Gloire is subject to blackspot but is otherwise disease-resistant. Like Mme Alfred Carrière, Gloire is much hardier than other Noisettes. Zone 5 or 6.
Lamarque is the triumphant result of a rendezvous between Blush Noisette and Park's Yellow Tea-Scented China. It is vigorous and even rampant in mild climates. It blooms throughout a long season, with clusters of large, fluffy, quartered pompons of lemon-blushed white. It has a light fruit-tea-musk fragrance. Lamarque is very tender and may be grown in a greenhouse. Zone 8.
Maréchal Niel
Maréchal has very large, beautiful, pointed buds and perfectly-formed blooms of clear golden yellow hue. Its nodding blooms are quartered and deeply cupped, and are set against soft green foliage. They have a powerful Tea scent. Maréchal blooms over many months. In spite of the fact that Maréchal is subject to mildew, resents scorching heat, is hard to establish and is very tender, it is a spectacularly beautiful and beloved rose. Austin writes "...there is nothing finer than a perfect example of its waxy blooms." Thompson concurs. "The memory of... Maréchal in full bloom is a memory to treasure." With luck, Maréchal may reach 15 feet. Zone 8.
Lamarque is the triumphant result of a rendezvous between Blush Noisette and Park's Yellow Tea-Scented China. It is vigorous and even rampant in mild climates. It blooms throughout a long season, with clusters of large, fluffy, quartered pompons of lemon-blushed white. It has a light fruit-tea-musk fragrance. Lamarque is very tender and may be grown in a greenhouse. Zone 8.
Maréchal Niel
Maréchal has very large, beautiful, pointed buds and perfectly-formed blooms of clear golden yellow hue. Its nodding blooms are quartered and deeply cupped, and are set against soft green foliage. They have a powerful Tea scent. Maréchal blooms over many months. In spite of the fact that Maréchal is subject to mildew, resents scorching heat, is hard to establish and is very tender, it is a spectacularly beautiful and beloved rose. Austin writes "...there is nothing finer than a perfect example of its waxy blooms." Thompson concurs. "The memory of... Maréchal in full bloom is a memory to treasure." With luck, Maréchal may reach 15 feet. Zone 8.
Mme Alfred Carriere
Mme is one of the best of all roses. She has been lavished with praise since her introduction in 1879. "Even today there is no white climbing rose to rival [her] in performance" [Austin]. Mme. is always in bloom. Her very full, puffy blooms of creamy white blushed with lemon release an intense fragrance of fruit and tea. She has plentiful leaves of a thick, leathery, light green and not many thorns. Her bloom season is nearly year-long. Very floriferous, hardy, vigorous, and easy to grow, she will reach 30 feet at maturity. She resists disease, pests, drought, and some shade. Hardy to Zone 5 or 6.
Mme is one of the best of all roses. She has been lavished with praise since her introduction in 1879. "Even today there is no white climbing rose to rival [her] in performance" [Austin]. Mme. is always in bloom. Her very full, puffy blooms of creamy white blushed with lemon release an intense fragrance of fruit and tea. She has plentiful leaves of a thick, leathery, light green and not many thorns. Her bloom season is nearly year-long. Very floriferous, hardy, vigorous, and easy to grow, she will reach 30 feet at maturity. She resists disease, pests, drought, and some shade. Hardy to Zone 5 or 6.
Reve D'Or [Golden Chain]
William Allen Richardson [a sport of Reve D'Or]
Reve's blooms are composed of rather small, deeply cupped, buff yellow petals blushed with pink; William's are apricot/yellow fading to white and are more double. They have plentiful glossy foliage and few thorns, are very free-flowering, and repeat well. Reve may be hard to establish, but it will eventually grow to 12 feet. Hardy to Zone 7.
Where Can I Use a Short Climber?
- In garden rooms: on the posts or walls of porches, pergolas or gazebos, around bowered garden seats, or as a patio screen. On the inside or outside of a greenhouse.
- On garden ornaments: on posts for bird or butterfly houses, birdbaths, sundials or mailboxes, on tuteurs, obelisks, arches or large topiary frames.
- On garden structures: on toolsheds or playhouses, along archways or arbors, on canopied gates, around stair railings or along posts linked with chains.
- On fences and low walls, on trellises, or around doorways.
- On small trees, through hedges, or along allees or palisades.
-- Louise Beebe Wilder in The Fragrant Path
"All in all, the Noisettes are amoug the loveliest of roses ever created."
-- Richard Thompson
SOURCES
Austin, David. Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses. London: Antique Collectors Club, 1993.
Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor, 1996.
Thomson, Richard. Old Roses for Modern Gardens. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1959.
Thomas, Graham. Climbing Roses Old and New. NY: St. Martins, 1965.
The Old Shrub Roses. London: Phoenix House, 1961.
Wilder, Louise Beebe. The Fragrant Garden. New York: Dover, 1974.
Zeman, Anne M. Fifty Easy Old-fashioned Roses, Climbers, and Vines. NY: Holt, 1995.
NOTE: Alister Stella Gray and Gloire de Dijon were also profiled in the article on Tea Roses. They can be grouped with either the Teas or the Noisettes.
