Now what did Miss Jekyll say about rugosa roses? Ah yes -
"The danger in rugosa hybrids is the tendency towards a strong magenta colouring".Yes, that difficult magenta colour present in the typical R. rugosa species - it is not rose red, nor rose pink, but more like a rather nasty chemical spill in an IG Farben factory.
Fortunately not all rugosas carry this trait. The white rugosas can be very good, especially the glacial white of Blanc double de Coubert. The pinks too can be exceptionally soft and subtle. Conrad F. Meyer is an excellent plant with impressive salmon pink flowers.
However it is Sarah Van Fleet (see photograph) that is arguably the most beautiful of the pink rugosas. It is a delicate washed pink coupled with a graceful flower-form. Graham Thomas describes it as "shallow cups of cool pink with a hint of lilac" and that just about does the job. It was raised by Van Fleet (USA) in 1926 and said to result from a cross between R. rugosa and a long forgotten pink hybrid tea, "My Maryland".
This is the rose mentioned in the novel "A Month in the Country" by J L Carr. A beautiful rose and a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteIt also provides excellent security. Once stuck inside its thorns -- good luck getting out without major damage to skin and clothes.
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