ROSA PAESTANA: THE MYSTERIOUS PORTLAND ROSE

The class known as Portlands was named in honor of the Englishwoman Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, 2nd Duchess of Portland. The story goes that while on the Grand Tour of Italy in 1770 or so, she was given a mysterious rose. All that was known of its genealogy was that it came from Paestum, south of Naples. Paestum's renown as a rose-growing area began in 600 BC -- 2,600 years ago. First the Greeks, then the Romans grew roses in its rich soil. Interestingly, Paestum had had a reputation from antiquity for producing repeat-blooming roses. (You may recall that the twice-blooming Autumn Damask was not imported into Europe until the 13th century).

It has never been proven conclusively whether Paestum's growers used special cultural practices or used Chinas or species roses to produce repeat-blooming roses for ancient Greece and Rome. If it weren't for the discovery of Rosa paestana and the fact that flowering roses resembling the original Portland were found painted on the walls of ancient Pompeii, the idea might be dismissed as pure fantasy.

This repeat-flowering mystery rose was named Rosa paestana at first. But in 1800, Georg Dionysus Ehret, a famous botanical artist, renamed Rosa paestana after his patroness, the Duchess of Portland, who had commissioned him to do a series of rose watercolors. Since she had brought it back to England, it seemed only fair.

It was later conjectured that the Portland rose was an offspring of Autumn Damask, Slater's Crimson China, and possibly Rosa gallica. From 1800 to about 1850, Rosa paestana was extensively hybridized in France; it was crossed with Chinas, Autumn Damasks and Gallicas.

Over 150 varieties were developed including Rose Lelieur, Coeline Dubos and Blanche-Vibert. Eighty-four of these were grown in Kew Gardens.

By 1850 the luxurious Bourbons, then the flamboyant Hybrid Perpetuals gained center stage. Only a handful of Portlands have survived, but they are all rewarding roses.

Portland roses have many of the qualities of Damasks and Gallicas -- fine scent, floriferousness and vigor -- along with the China recurrency. The blooms of the Portland are crammed with petals centered with a button eye, and quite fragrant. The rosette-shaped blooms are set on short twiggy stems that seem to nestle within the plentiful foliage. The attractive, large leaves are medium-green.

The Portland roses have a dense, compact habit, manageable size and good remontancy. Because of this, they are easy to place in the garden, and are very effective in mixed borders, or as a low hedge. Portlands are unsuitable for cutting, and are somewhat susceptible to blackspot. Yet they are fairly easy to grow and are hardy to Zone 4.

Portlands of Note

Arthur de Sansal

'Arthur de Sansal' features clusters of very fragrant, flattened, fully double, dark crimson-violet blooms with button eyes. The sensuous blooms contrast with rough-textured foliage. This rose is floriferous and continually in bloom, though susceptible to mildew. Height: only 3' tall.

Blanc de Vibert / Blanche-Vibert

Its clusters of small, cupped, very double white blooms emit a sweet strong scent. Though produced abundantly, these delicate blooms are vulnerable -- they may be ruined by heavy rain or excessive heat. The healthy, light green foliage of 'Blanche-Vibert' adorns slender, upright canes, reminiscent of the Hybrid Perpetual or Hybrid Tea. Recurrency is fair.

Compte de Chambord / Madame Boll

Large, thick, light green leaves set off clusters of large, very double, quartered, richly-shaded pink/lilac blooms. The blooms have thin, silky, swirly petals with a sweet, strong fragrance. 'Compte de Chambord' has a long bloom season, good recurrency and a compact, rounded form with pretty leaves surrounding the lush blooms. This is an extremely beautiful and rewarding rose. (See the place the real Compte called home by clicking here.)