Michael Gibson
The Hybrid Perpetuals followed the Bourbons and Portlands as fashionable roses in Victorian gardens, and it is all too easy to simplify their parentage with a half truth, saying that they came about by cross breeding the two earlier families with, perhaps, a dash of China rose hybrids added. However, as always, nothing in rose ancestry is ever that simple.
Dr C. C. Hurst, whose work forms a section of Graham Stuart Thomas's The Old Shrub Roses, states, "the first Hybrid Perpetual was the famous 'Rose du Roi', raised in 1816 by Souchet in the garden of the King at Sivres, St Cloud, Paris, from the original Portland rose, whose history is chequered and somewhat obscure". This is of course some time before the generally accepted date for the introduction of the first Bourbon roses and 'Rose du Roi', with its small flowers, is more usually thought of now as a hybrid member of the Portland family. It was not until 1837 that Laffay, another French rose breeder, using Bourbon, Portland and Hybrid China parentage, introduced 'Princesse Hélène', the first typical, large-flowered Hybrid Perpetual, to be followed by 'Mme Laffay' and 'Duchesse of Sutherland' in 1839. The year 1842 brought the sweetly-scented lilac-pink 'Rose de la Reine', and Laffay produced, all told, some 18 Hybrid Perpetuals between 1837 and 1843. Other breeders joined in, adding the newly emerging Tea roses to the mix, and resulting in a type with blooms more akin to the later Hybrid Tea. 'Victor Verdier' was an example of this, as was 'Jules Margotin' of 1852 and the brilliant scarlet-crimson 'Général Jacqueminot', which was to give rise to a long line of distinguished red roses.
At this period, after the introduction of exciting, repeat-flowering China roses, nurserymen were crossing everything in sight with them or with their hybrids. But, as the technique in most nurseries was to plant one variety next to another and hope that the wind or insects would do the rest, they only had the sketchiest idea of which rose had resulted from which cross. Planned hybridisation was beginning to be understood and even practised by the few, such as Prévost and Vibert, but it was by no means universal.
Not unexpectedly with such confusion in the breeding lines, many Hybrid Perpetuals, despite their name, were by no means perpetual in their flowering. With even the best of them they would flower at midsummer and then there would be a long gap before the autumn flush, which was by not means always forthcoming. However, the early flowers were large by the standards of the time, and tended to be globular and 'cabbagey' before they became fully blown. With the deep pink 'Paul Neyron' of 1869 they reached a size considerably bigger than most Hybrid Teas of the present day, but they were not very attractive in the presentation of their flowers on the bush. They had a tendency to send up very long shoots at the tips of which, and only at the tips, their small clusters of flowers would be borne. The answer, the Victorians found was to remove the soft tips of the shoots in autumn and bend the remainder over until the ends were almost touching the ground. They would then be tied to pegs pushed into the soil all round the plant, or else to a specially made wire frame. Either way, numerous flowering side buds would break all along each shoot the following spring and probably quadruple the production of bloom. The effect was the same as that achieved by tying the shoots of ramblers and climbers along horizontal wires, instead of letting them go straight up. However, the Hybrid Perpetuals trained in this way needed a lot of space and a large bed.
The results of this practice in Victorian gardens helped the Hybrid Perpetual to achieve an unparalleled popularity and, at the same time, they gained a reputation in the rose shows that were being promoted so assiduously by the newly formed National Rose Society. Probably something of the order of 2,500 varieties altogether were put on the market until they were gradually merged with and eventually ousted by the Hybrid Teas. A list in my possession shows that, even as late as the beginning of the 20th century, there were at least 826 Hybrid Perpetuals available. One can hardly believe however that all were really worth growing.
Unlike many of the older roses, the petals of many had one, unshaded colour which did not change with age. They ranged from white, through pale and deep pink to red, violet, maroon and purple. Two varieties, 'Baron Girod de I'Ain' (1897) and 'Roger Lambelin' (1890), were a deep, dusky crimson with petals flecked white along the edges. Of the whites, Robert's 'Hélène Marette' of 1850 was probably the first to achieve complete purity without shadings of pink or lavender. The still well known 'Frau Karl Druschki' did not come along until much later, in 1901, and some people regard it as a Hybrid Tea anyway. Other later Hybrid Perpetuals.like 'Mrs John Laing' the blooms of which were beginning to show hints of a high, pointed centre, were in general, very difficult to tell from the early Hybrid Teas. In fact the very first Hybrid Tea, 'La France' was first sold as a Hybrid Perpetual.
Having mentioned quite a few Hybrid Perpetual varieties in passing, perhaps now is the time to describe in some detail a number of the better varieties available from nurseries today. This may help enthusiasts for old roses in their choice for their own gardens. It also cannot help but illustrate how confusing it can be to try to sort out common characteristics. This is hardly surprising, when one remembers the little bit of this and the little bit of that that comprised their ancestry. I have some experience of these roses, but I must confess that I have to take on trust the word of those perhaps with a keener eye or perhaps with better botanical knowledge than I have, when they say that certain of the roses I describe below are Hybrid Perpetuals.
'Baron Girod de I'Ain'. Reverchon, 1897. This is a sport of 'Eugene Furst' with large, double, fragrant, deep crimson-red blooms which open cupped and with, as mentioned earlier, the petal edges irregularly scalloped and flecked with white. They do lose some of their sparkle as they age (who doesn't?) and the red dulls somewhat, but they are worth growing for their novelty, if nothing else. The leaves are large and deep green and reasonably healthy. There is a good repeat flowering in the autumn.
'Baronne Prévost'. Desprez, 1842. Though one of the earliest of the Hybrid Perpetuals, no later variety surpassed it with its fine clusters of 10cm (4in) double, fragrant, clear pink blooms, some with a button eye. Its growth is sturdy and upright, reaching about 1.2x I.0m (4 x 3ft). Mid-green leaves and a good continuity of bloom.
'Frau Karl Drushki'. Lambert 1901. Its parentage indicates that it could be a Hybrid Perpetual or maybe a Hybrid Tea so that it turns up under either headings according to which nursery list you consult. It also has two names. 'Frau Karl Druschki' was changed to 'Snow Queen' during the 1914-1918 war in a rather pathetic attempt to hide its German origins; but the new name never really caught on in Britain, though it did in the USA. It is a tall and not particularly elegant grower, which can reach 1.5m (5ft) and is one that will benefit from being pegged down. This will result in the production of a succession of the most lovely, shapely, pure white blooms coming from pink-streaked buds. The clusters can sometimes be a little overcrowded, when some disbudding will result in truly enormous flowers. Unfortunately there is absolutely no scent and the light green leaves may have to be protected against mildew.
'Général Jacqueminot'. Roussel, (an amateur), 1853. Possibly a seedling of 'Gloire des Rosomanes', this wonderful scarlet-crimson rose has assured its place in history as a forebear of such red roses as 'Ena Harkness', 'Crimson Glory' and many more. In fact over 50 red varieties can claim this rose in their ancestry though not all are equally distinguished. It was affectionately known as General Jack, because, - so it was said - it was so popular with the rose trade. Or was it perhaps because its correct name was too difficult to spell and pronounce?
With the long centre petals of the later Hybrid Perpetuals, in the half-open stage, the blooms are quite high-centred, though this is lost when they open out more fully. Sweetly scented, they put on a tremendous show at midsummer but are less free-flowering in autumn 1.2 x lm (4 x 3ft).
'Georg Arends'. Hinner (1910). A latecomer to the family with the scrolled buds and high-centred flowers that one associates with much more modern roses. Of tall, ungainly growth, perhaps reaching I.5m (6ft), it is a candidate for pegging down when its massed, scented, rose pink blooms, which have a touch of cream on the reverse of the petals, will be shown off to perfection. Light green leaves.
'George Dickson'. Dickson (1912). This is also a very strong grower that will go up to 1.5m (5ft), and which can be used as a short climber. This helps in the display of its large, richly fragrant, cupped, crimson-purple blooms, which tend to hang their heads and are better viewed from below. It can of course also be pegged down if space is available. Large, dark green foliage as healthy as most.
'Mrs John Laing'. Bennett (1887). This has always been a great favourite, partly because of its compact 1.5 x 1.0m (5 x 3ft) growth, but also for its large, full, sweetly-scented, silvery-rose pink blooms. One of the most free-flowering of the family, with healthy, light green leaves.
'Paul Neyron'. Levet (1869).'Victor Verdier' x 'Anna de Diesbach'. A truly spectacular rose because of the sheer size of its double, 13cm (5in) plus, deep rose-pink blooms. Unfortunately they have very little scent, but they repeat well in the autumn. The handsome foliage comes on a bush which is on the tall side but is at the same time self-supporting.
'Prince Camille de Rohan'. Verdier (1861). Possibly one of the offspring of 'Général Jacqueminot'. This is a more modest grower than most of the family, not over 1.2m (4ft) tall and rather less than generous with its autumn blooms. It is however, more that worth growing for its unique, double, blackish-crimson blooms with their hints of maroon and purple. It needs a cool season to give of its best.
'Reine des Violettes'. Miller-Mallet (1860). This has the flower form of a Gallica and the growth habit of one of the less rampant Bourbons, thus reflecting very well my earlier comments about mixed ancestry. However, the flowers which come with great freedom, are truly sumptuous, double, quartered, and violet-purple, with a hint of cerise at the early stages. They open flat and come on a freely-branching, spreading bush that can reach 1.5m (6ft) provided it is in good soil. and is given quite hard pruning in early spring.
'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain'. Lacharme (1861). It needs some protection from the midday sun if the rich wine-red of the sumptuous, scented, double flowers is to hold its full glory. Without this they can become a little dingy, so try growing it on a wall that does not face directly to the south. There it will go up to 2.4-2.7m (8 -9ft) and make an excellent short climber. As a shrub it will be considerably less, but not a tidy grower.
'Vick's Caprice'. Discovered as a sport in 1897 in the USA. It is a compact 1.2 x 1.0m (4 x 3ft) grower, making it especially suitable for the smaller garden. The blooms show a Tea Rose influence, being high-centred and opening to a soft pink, splashed and striped white and a deeper pink. Lovely as they are, however, this beauty will only be maintained if it does not rain. However, there will always be more flowers to come and the autumn showing is good.
Michael Gibson was a founder member of the Historic Roses Group and the first editor of this journal.
This article appeared in the Autumn 1999 issue
Return to the HRG magazine page
|