99 Old Roses: Polyantha Roses.
Description
This article is from the Rose Gardening FAQ, by Bill Chandler chandler@austin.ibm.com, Jolene Adams jolene@cchem.berkeley.edu, Brent C. Dickerson odinthor@csulf.edu, Karen Baldwin kbaldwin@veribest.com, and many contributors
99 Old Roses: Polyantha Roses.
In 1869, Guillot fils of Lyon, France, sowed seed from R. multiflora
'Polyantha', a large shrub introduced from Japan around 1862, with
clusters of single, white, fragrant blossoms. From this, he obtained a
large crop of much varied seedlings; "I didn't have so many as two
which resembled their mother!" said he. Elsewhere in Lyon, the breeder
Rambaux had sown a separate crop, with similar results. Guillot fils
got seeds from a semi-double in the crop, sowed these, and from this
arose the first Polyantha, `Paquerette', released in 1875. Alongside
the "pure" Polyanthas, breeders crossed them with Teas to obtain
clusters of small but perfectly-formed buds, as with `Mlle. Cecile
Brunner' and `Perle d'Or'. Polyanthas normally produce dwarfish,
compact bushes ranging from one foot to three in height, bearing often
immense clusters of small blossoms which can range through the whole
spectrum of rose coloration. Some have a tendency towards leaflessness
in the Summer. New Polyanthas continue to be bred and released in the
present-day world of roses due to their unique qualities for breeding
and display. They were crossed beginning in the Teens and 20's with
Hybrid Teas to produce the Floribunda group. `Mlle. Cecile Brunner',
`Perle d'Or', `Rita Sammons', `Lady Anne Kidwell', `Mignonette',
`Clotilde Soupert', `Eblouissant', `Anne Marie de Montravel', `Mme.
Norbert Levavasseur', `Perle des Rouges', `Merveille des Rouges',
`Margo Koster', `Sunshine'.
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