Roses for English Gardens: April 2010

Chapter 23 (extract 5) of "Roses for English Gardens" by Jekyll and Mawley (1902), in which the best ("choicest") roses available in the late Victorian period are listed.

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Illustration: Rose Mrs John Laing (from Foster-Melliar "The Book of the Rose" 1894)

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See also:

Best roses for exhibition (1902)

Best roses for garden cultivation (1902)

Best roses for greenhouse cultivation (1902)

Best climbing roses (1902)

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Abbreviations, &c., used in the Following Lists

A. Autumn-flowering. Roses which flower in the summer, and again, with more or less freedom, in the autumn.

S. Summer-flowering. Roses which only flower once within a year.

Cl. Poly. Climbing Polyantha.

H.C. Hybrid China.

H.N. Hybrid Noisette.

H.P. Hybrid Perpetual.

H.T. Hybrid Tea.

N. Noisette.

Pom. Pompon.

Sin. Single-flowered.

In the following list will be found, alphabetically arranged, a selection from the choicest varieties of Roses now in cultivation. The varieties marked with an asterisk make good standards: —

Aimée Vibert (N.).—Pure white; late flowering; very vigorous and almost evergreen. Flowers in clusters. (A.)
A. K. Williams (H.P.).—Carmine; early flowering and of moderate growth. One of the most perfect in form of all exhibition Roses. (A.)
*Alfred Colomb (H.P.).—Carmine; late flowering; vigorous, and fragrant. A fine exhibition variety. (A.)
Alister Stella Gray (N.).—Pale yellow; a good climbing Rose; flowers in clusters. Flowers again in the autumn. (A.)
Anna Olivier (T.).—Pale buff; vigorous; charming under glass, but the flowers in the open ground are easily damaged by wet. (A.)
Antoine Rivoire (H.T.).—Vigorous; a good cream-coloured garden Rose. (A.)
Augustine Guinoisseau (H.T.).—Blush white; vigorous; very free flowering, known as the " White La France," but the flowers are neither as large nor as full as La France. (A.)
Austrian Copper (Austrian Brier).—Coppery red inside of petal, and old gold outside; vigorous. The most beautiful of all single-flowered Roses. (S.)
Austrian Yellow (Austrian Brier).—Yellow; vigorous. Like the foregoing, except as regards colour. (S.)
Bardou Job (H.T).—Crimson; vigorous; bears large beautifully shaded flowers which are almost single. (A.)
Baroness Rothschild (H.P.).—Pink; upright growth; late flowering and good in colour. Scentless. (A.)
Beauté Inconstante (N.).—Metallic red shaded yellow; vigorous. Distinct and charming in colour, but variable in this respect, as its name implies. (A.)
Beauty of Waltham (H.P.).—Crimson. A useful exhibition Rose. (A.)
Ben Cant (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous. A new and welcome addition to the crimson exhibition Roses. (A.)
Bennett's Seedlings or Thoresbyana (Ayrshire).—White; one of the very best and hardiest summer-flowering climbing Roses. Blooms in clusters. (S.)
Bessie Brown (H.T.).—Creamy white; vigorous. Although only sent out in 1899 it was last year to be seen in nearly every exhibition stand. The first of the really good whites among the H.P.'s and H.T.'s. (A.)
Bouquet d'Or (T.).—Dark yellow; very vigorous. The best of the Gloire de Dijon race in flower and habit of growth; but not so free-flowering as Gloire de Dijon. Fragrant. (A.)
Bridesmaid (T.).—Pink; moderately vigorous. A deep coloured sport from Catherine Mermet, one of the best exhibition Teas. (A.)
Camoens (H.T.).—Rose; vigorous. A pretty free-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
Captain Hayward (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous. One of the best crimson Roses for exhibition; not very full, but has fine petals of great substance. (A.)
Caroline Testout (H.T.).—Pink; vigorous. Takes a high position both as an exhibition and garden Rose. Fragrant. (A.)
Catherine Mermet (T.).—Pale pink; moderately vigorous. One of the best exhibition Teas, and, like nearly all the sports from it, has the most perfectly formed flowers of all the Teas. (A.)
Cecile Brunner (Pom.).—Pink; dwarf. The best of the pink Pompons. (A.)
Charles Lefèbvre (H.P.).—Dark crimson; vigorous. An old exhibition Rose, which has never been equalled in its particular form and colour; few Roses are as beautiful when it is at its best. Fragrant. (A.)
Claire Jacquier (Cl. Poly.).—Nankeen yellow; a remarkably vigorous summer-flowering climber. Flowers in clusters. Not quite hardy. (S.)
Clara Watson (H.T).—Rosy cream; vigorous. A free-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
Common or Old Moss (Moss).—Pink; vigorous; one of the oldest Roses grown, but still the best of all the Mosses. Fragrant. (S.)
Common Provence or Cabbage Rose (Provence). — Pink; moderately vigorous; also one of our oldest Roses, but still unequalled in its class. (S.)
Common Sweet-brier (Sweet-brier). — Pale pink; vigorous, foliage deliciously fragrant. (S.)
Common Monthly or Old Blush (China).—Pink; vigorous. The most perpetual flowering of all Roses. (A.)
Comte de Raimbaud (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous, a fine crimson Rose for exhibition. (A.)
Comtesse de Nadaillac (T.).—Peach shaded apricot; growth moderate; grand exhibition Tea Rose. When at its best no Tea Rose is as beautiful. Not an easy Rose to grow. (A.)
Cramoisi Supérieur (China).—Crimson; moderately vigorous. The best of the crimson Chinas. (A.)
Dr. Andry (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous; a strong -growing exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Dr. Grill (T.).—Pale rosy fawn; moderately vigorous. A distinct and free-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
*Duke of Edinburgh (H.P.).—Scarlet crimson; vigorous. A bright and strong-growing exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Felicité-Perpetue (Evergreen).—Creamy white. One of the best white summer-flowering climbing Roses. Blooms in clusters of rosette-shaped flowers. (S.)
Fellenberg (China).—Crimson; vigorous; a good crimson in this free-flowering section. (A.)
*Fisher Holmes (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous. A good exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
*General Jacqueminot (H.P.).—Crimson; vigorous; one of the oldest of the H.P.'s. An excellent exhibition and garden Rose. Fragrant. (A.)
*Gloire de Dijon (T.).—Buff. The most free-flowering of all climbing Roses, and for general usefulness has no equal. Fragrant. (A.)
Gloire Lyonnaise (H.T.).—Lemon white; vigorous upright habit. A good and distinct garden Rose. (A.)
Gloire des Polyaniha (Pom.).—Rose; dwarf; an excellent rose-coloured Pompon. (A.)
G. Nabonnand (T.).—Pale flesh; vigorous; one of the best garden Roses of its colour. (A.)
Grüss an Teplitz (H.T.).—Crimson; vigorous. Unequalled as a free-flowering crimson garden Rose; a fine acquisition. (A.)
Gustave Piganeau (H.P.).—Shaded carmine; growth moderate; a fine and trustworthy exhibition Rose; but by no means an easy Rose to grow in many soils. (A.)
Gustave Regis (H.T.).—Nankeen yellow; vigorous. The best and most vigorous of the yellow garden Roses. (A.)
Harrisonii (Austrian Brier).—Yellow; vigorous. A very pretty summer-flowering garden Rose. (S.)
Her Majesty (H.P.).—Pale rose; vigorous upright habit. Flowers very large. A very fine late-flowering exhibition Rose. It is very subject to mildew and is scentless.(A.)
Horace Vernet (H.P.).—Dark crimson; growth moderate. The most beautiful dark exhibition Rose in cultivation. By no means an easy Rose to grow in many localities. In some gardens it grows as vigorously as other H.P.'s, but in most places it makes but very poor growth. (A.)
Innocente Pirola (T.).—Creamy white. A fine exhibition Tea, rather subject to mildew. (A.)
Janet's Pride (Sweet-brier).—White, tipped crimson; vigorous. Almost single-flowered. One of the best of the hybrid Sweet-briers. (S.)
*Kaiserin Augusta Victoria (H.T.).—Cream; vigorous. One of the best of the white, or nearly white, exhibition H.T.'s. There is a climbing variety of this Rose which promises to be a great acquisition. (A.)
Killarney (H.T.).—Pale pink; vigorous; already a great favourite. A good Rose for exhibition, and still more valuable for garden decoration. (A.)
Lady Penzance (Sweet-brier).—Coppery yellow. The most charming of all the hybrid Sweet-briers. It is said to be a cross between the common Sweet-brier and Austrian Copper. (S.)
*La France (H.T.).—Pale rose; vigorous. A hardy and very freeflowering exhibition and garden Rose. Fragrant. (A.)
*Laurette Messimy (China).—Rose; vigorous. A lovely semidouble continuous-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
L'Idéal (N.).—Metallic red; vigorous. A strong-growing garden Rose. Distinct and charming in colour, (A.)
Longworth Rambler (H.T.).—Crimson. The best of all the red climbing Roses on account of its freedom of flowering in the antumn. (A.)
Ma Capucine (T.).—Bronzy yellow, shaded red; of moderate growth. The best of all the button-hole Roses; quite distinct in colour. (A.)
Madame Abel Chatenay (H.T.).—Salmon pink; vigorous. The best garden Rose in its colour. (A.)
Madame Alfred Carrière (H.N.).—White. The best white climbing Rose. (A.)
Madame Anna Marie de Montravel (Pom.).—Dwarf. The best of the white Pompons. (A.)
Madame Chédane Guinoisseau (T.).—Yellow; moderately vigorous. A fine button-hole Rose. (A.)
Madame Cusin (T.).—Pale rose; upright growth. A good exhibition Tea; rather tender. (A.)
Madame de Watteville (T.).—Cream-edged rose; vigorous. A very distinct and pretty exhibition Tea; rather tender. (A.)
Madame Eugene Resal (China).—Coppery rose; vigorous. Much like Laurette Messimy, but deeper in colour. (A.)
Madame Gabriel Luizet (H.P.).—Pink; vigorous. An excellent early-flowering exhibition Rose. It seldom flowers in the autumn. (S.)
Madame Hoste (T.).—Lemon yellow; vigorous. A fine exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Madajne Jules Grolez (H.T.).—Clear rose; vigorous. A very distinct and free-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
Madame Lambard (T.).—Salmon shaded rose; vigorous. A good and continuous-flowering garden Tea. Very variable in colour. (A.)
*Maman Cochet (T.).—Pale pink; vigorous. A fine addition to the exhibition and garden Teas. (A.)
Marchioness of Londonderry (H.P.).—Ivory white; vigorous erect growth. Large petals of great substance. A good exhibition Rose. Colour too often a very unpleasant shade of white. (A.)
Maréchal Niel (N.).—Golden yellow; very vigorous. The finest yellow Rose in cultivation. Fragrant. Very subject to canker. (A.)
Marie Baumann (H.P.).—Soft carmine -red; moderately vigorous. A good exhibition Rose. Fragrant. (A.)
*Marie Van Houtte (T.).—Lemon yellow edged rose; vigorous. A charming exhibition and garden Tea of good growth. (A.)
*Marquise Litta (H.T.).—Carmine rose; vigorous. A fine and distinct early-flowering exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Meg Merrilies (Sweet-brier).—Crimson; very vigorous. One of the best of the Penzance Sweet-briers. (S.)
Mildred Grant (H.T.).—White; vigorous. This variety promises to be one of the most beautiful white Roses in the Hybrid Tea section ever raised, and consequently will be a great acquisition to the exhibitor. (A.)
Mrs. Bosanquet (China).—Pale flesh; vigorous; very free flowering. (A.)
Mrs. Edward Mawley (T.).—Pink, tinted carmine; moderately vigorous; very free-flowering. Although only sent out in 1899 it has already taken a high position among the exhibition Teas. (A.)
*Mrs. John Laing (H.P.).—Rosy pink; vigorous. Few Roses have so many good qualities. It is hardy, of good growth, and free-flowering, and almost as good in the garden as in the show. (A.)
*Mrs. R.G. Sharman-Crawford (H.P.).—Rosy pink. Beautiful in colour, and a fine early-flowering exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Mrs. W.J. Grant (H.T.).—Rosy pink; moderately vigorous; distinct in form and colour, and one of the best of our exhibition Roses. There is a climbing variety of this Rose which promises to be a great acquisition to the dwarf climbers. (A.)
Muriel Grahame (T.).—Pale cream; moderately vigorous. Has all the good qualities as an exhibition Tea of the fine variety, Catherine Mermet, from which it sported. (A.)
Paul's Carmine Pillar (Sin.).—Carmine; very vigorous. The most beautiful red, climbing, single-flowered Rose that has yet been raised. (S.)
Perle des Rouges (Pom.).—Crimson; dwarf. The best of the red Pompons. (A.)
Persian Yellow (Austrian Brier).—Golden yellow; vigorous. There is no other Rose in cultivation of the same bright shade of yellow. It does not succeed in all localities, and is the first Rose to feel the effects of a smoke-laden atmosphere. (S.)
*Prince Arthur (H.P.).—Shaded crimson; vigorous. A good exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Prince Camille de Rohan (H.P.).—Crimson maroon; vigorous. The best dark crimson Rose for garden decoration. (A.)
Reine Marie Henriette (H.T.).—Cherry carmine. A valuable red climbing Rose on account of its autumn-flowering qualities. (A.)
Reine Olga de Wurtemberg (H.T.).—Crimson. Almost a summer-flowering climbing Rose, as it yields so few blooms in the autumn. There is no red climber to equal it in colour. (S.)
Rève d'Or (N.).—Buff yellow. A very vigorous, free-flowering climber. Not quite hardy. (A.)
Rosa alpina (Sin.).—Rose; vigorous. Interesting on account of its being thornless, and also as the earliest of all Roses to bloom. (S.)
Rosa macrantha (Sin.).—Flesh. One of the best of the single-flowered climbers. Rather subject to mildew. (S.)
Rosa moschata = Brunoni (Sin.).—White; a vigorous climbing Rose, producing clusters of small white flowers. (S.)
Rosa multiflora (Sin.), also known as Rosa polyantha simplex (single-flowered).—White; a vigorous climber, producing large bunches of tiny white flowers. Rosa multiflora grandiflora is of similar growth, but the individual flowers are much larger. (S.)
Rosa Mundi (Gallica).—Red, striped white; moderately vigorous. The best of the so-called York and Lancaster Roses. (S.)
Rosa rubrifolia (Sin.).—Rose; very vigorous. The flowers are insignificant, but the foliage is quite distinct from that of all other Roses, being of a peculiar purplish-red shade. (S.)
Rosa sinica Anemone (single-flowered).—Pink shaded Rose; vigorous. Both the large single flowers and delicate glossy foliage are alike beautiful. (S.)
Souvenir d'Élise Vardon (T.).—Cream; growth moderate. A fine exhibition Tea, but a difficult Rose to cultivate on account of its weak growth. (A.)
Souvenir de Catherine Guillot (T.).—Growth moderate. A distinct and charming button-hole Rose. A vigorousgrowing Rose of the same unique colour would be a great acquisition. (A.)
Souvenir de la Malmaison (Bourbon).—Blush white; vigorous. One of the oldest Roses grown. A hardy and freeflowering garden Rose. (A.)
Souvenir de S.A. Prince (T.).—White; vigorous. A good white exhibition and garden Tea. (A.)
Souvenir du President Carnot (H.T.).—White; vigorous. A very free-flowering garden Rose. (A.)
Stanwell Perpetual (Scotch).—Pale blush. One of the earliest and latest garden Roses to flower. Fragrant. (A.)
*Suzanne M. Rodocanachi (H.P.).—Glowing rose; vigorous. A lovely exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
The Bride (T.).—White; moderately vigorous. Has all the good qualities as an exhibition Rose of the fine variety, Catherine Mermet, from which it sported. (A.)
The Garland (H.C.).—Blush. A very old summer-flowering climber of distinct habit and foliage. (S.)
Turner's Crimson Rambler (CI. Poly.).—Crimson. A remarkably vigorous climber; flowers freely in clusters. Few climbing Roses in recent years have been so largely grown. (S.)
*Ulrich Brunner (H.P.).—Cherry red. One of the most vigorous of all the H.P.'s. Fine both as an exhibition and garden Rose. (A.)
Victor Hugo (H.P.).—Bright crimson; moderately vigorous. The brightest crimson of all the exhibition H.P.'s. (A.)
*Viscountess Folkestone (H.T,).—Creamy white; vigorous; free-flowering. The most charming white, or nearly white, garden Rose. (A.)
White Banksian and Yellow Banksian.—Both are very old climbing Roses, bearing clusters of small double flowers. Being tender they will only thrive out-of-doors in warm and sheltered situations. (S.)
*White Maman Cochet (T.).—White; vigorous. The best exhibition and garden Tea Rose of recent introduction. (A.)
White Pet (China).—White; vigorous. May be best described as a dwarf-growing and free-flowering F'elicite-Perpetue. (A.)
Wichuriana (Sin.).—White; very vigorous. A new type of Rose which has a trailing habit, and late in the summer bears a large number of small white flowers. The foliage is small and shining. (S.)
*William Allen Richardson (N.).—Deep orange, with white edges. A most distinct and valuable climbing Rose. Early in the season the flowers often come almost white. (A.)

A good many charming Roses are unavoidably omitted from the above list, but sufficient have been mentioned to show the wealth of really good varieties for all purposes now available.

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Full list: Best roses now in cultivation (1902)