Rosa x alba "Maiden's Blush"

The various types of Rosa x alba (according to Hurst, a canina x damascena cross) are tough and vigorous. Miss Jekyll called it "a capital rose" and it was a great favourite of cottage gardens all through the 19th century. The double white forms Maxima and Semiplena are most commonly seen, but a beautiful pale pink form, Maiden's Blush, arose in the 18th century (usually the date of 1797 is given) - and quickly established itself as a great favourite. Mrs Gore could write in 1838 that "Our cottage and farm gardens adhere almost exclusively to the Cabbage Rose, Damask, and Maiden's Blush". Paul praised the "delicately coloured blossoms, and the ample cool-looking leaves which it supplies". There was soon an attempt to improve on Maiden's Blush, resulting in varieties like Celeste [Celestial], Félicité and La Séduisante. Madame Audot and Queen of Denmark also followed. The Victorians loved a delicate blush pink. The great rosarian Paul accordingly wanted to create a moss rose with the delicate pink colouring of Maiden's blush. He writes: "To obtain this I hybridised the Moss du Luxembourg with an alba Rose, and among the offspring was a Moss Rose with flowers like the Maiden's Blush, afterwards named 'Princess Alice'."