The Hybrid Perpetuals

Rosa damascena hybrida
Reverend Joseph H. Pemberton 1908

The Damask was the premier rose in the early days of the last century, and fertilizing the Damask with the Hybrid China produced in this, the third generation from R. indica, the Hybrid Perpetual, which thus combines in its constitution the strain of R. indica, French Provence, and Damask, the influence of the last named preponderating. It is, however, difficult to account exactly for the Hybrid Perpetual, because the scientific method under which the seed of the modern roses is obtained was not pursued at that time. Apparently the practice was to gather the seed heps which had been naturally fertilized by wind or insects, and sow the seed in beds in the open; thus they ere chance seedlings from flowers naturally, not artificially, fertilized.

The first so-called Hybrid Perpetual* as we have observed, was that known as the Damask Perpetual, Rose du Roi, or Lee's Perpetual, but since this variety is said to have owed its origin not to a cross with another hybrid, but to a doubtful species, the Rose of Paestum, and is thus, like a Hybrid China, a rose of the first generation, we are not surprised to learn that several of the best varieties, of which the Damask Perpetual was the parent, were only summer flowering. Before a reliable race of Hybrid Perpetual was obtained, the Damask Perpetual had to be crossed with the Bourbon and China, and for this we are indebted to M. Laffay, the originator of the Hybrid Perpetual as we have it now.** Some of the earliest and most noteworthy sent out were Princess Hélène (1837), Duchess of Sutherland (see top illustration) and Madame Laffay (1839), Queen Victoria (1840) (see second illustration and notes at bottom of the page), La Reine (1843) and William Jesse (see lower illustration). By 1840 twenty varieties were catalogued, and although many more were brought out during the next twenty years, nevertheless they were not of such excellence as to entirely supersede the old summer-flowering favourites. The one hundred varieties which, in 1857, won chief prize for cut roses comprised only fifty-four Hybrid Perpetuals, twenty-three others being summer-flowering. The Hybrid Perpetual reigned supreme from 1860 to 1890; there were no Hybrid Teas or large Teas to challenge its position.

Gloire de Rosaménes (Vibert, 1825), a rose of an earlier generation than the others, and to which it appears we are indebted for Géant des Batailles and many other brilliant roses with red prickles, such as Alfred K. Williams. Probably also Générale Jacqueminot.

Jules Margottin (Margottin, 1853), a prolific parent, from which have been produced such types as Annie Laxton, Marquise de Castellane, Duchesse de Vallombrosa and many others.

Générale Jacqueminot (Roussel, 1853), giving us strong growing reds, as, for instance, Marie Baumann, Senateur Vaisse, Duke of Edinburgh, and most beautiful of all Horace Vernet.

La Reine d'Angleterre, presenting roses of the short, sturdy, erect type, such as Baroness Rothschild, Merveille de Lyon, and Gustave Piganeau.

La Reine (Laffay, 1843), from which came François Michelon, Anna de Diesbach, and others of which these are types.

Charles Lefébvre (Lacharme, 1861), the parent probably of such smooth-wooded varieties of dark reds as Comte Raimbaud, Victor Hugo, Duchess of Bedford, and others.

Victor Verdier (Lacharme, 1859). This is the chief parent of the class. To it we are indebted for those short, stout, upright, free-flowering varieties, such as Marie Finger, Étienne Levet. Comtesse d'Oxford and Suzanne Marie Rodocanachi. Rabbits are fond of this class, especially the last-named variety, preferring it to any Tea or Hybrid Tea; and from this fact we may conclude that a high degree of the Tea element (R. indica) is contained in the Victor Verdier race.

It would be of little practical service to enumerate here the best Hybrid Perpetuals, the list is ever changing, and the appendix will, one trusts, supply the requisite information. Since 1890 this race has remained almost stationary, the Hybrid Teas being now the progressive party. But before we pass to a few words on cultivation, permit it to be once more emphasized that we expect and must have perfume in a rose - the perfume derived from the strain of Damask and Hybrid Perpetual; and let us hope that our eminent raisers of new varieties will give this point some little consideration. Lovers of the Queen of Flowers look for that virtue in her that makes her the queen, and without which she is but a camellia or a cactus dahlia.

Beautiful of the roses of this class are, yet, taken as a whole, Hybrid Perpetuals are not good autumnal flowers; they are surpassed by the Teas, Hybrid Teas, and Chinas. Nevertheless, in brilliancy of colour nothing can equal them; poor indeed would be the rose garden that did not contain such sorts as Charles Lefébvre, Comte Raimbaud, Horace Vernet, Marie Baumann, Ulrich Brünner, and Victor Hugo; we cannot afford to lose these roses.

When we come to consider the question of pruning and general culture of the Hybrid Perpetual we are at a loss to know exactly what to say. Each variety has its idiosyncrasy; its own virtue and fault, its own habit and growth, the knowledge of which can be obtained only by close acquaintanceship. For instance, no rule as to pruning could be laid down, even for garden purposes, which would be equally applicable, let us say, to Ulrich Brünner and Victor Hugo, nor, if required for exhibition, would be the same advice on disbudding suit both Générale Jacqueminot and Her Majesty. All we can state here is that the Hybrid Perpetual is hardy, and in a normal winter requires no protection. Like most roses it does best in open situations, or apart from other flowers. It should be left unpruned, but the weaker the variety the harder - the shorter- should it be cut, and vice versa.

*"Hybrid Perpetual" is used a literal translation in this context: A rose which has been hybridized and which is perpetual, or repeat-flowering.
**Laffay introduced Princesse Hélène in 1837, which the author understands to be the first Hybrid Perpetual.