History of Roses: The Hybrid Perpetuals
By Jerry Haynes
Hybrid Perpetuals were the most popular roses in the world for more than
60 years, perhaps even more popular than hybrid teas are today. Beginning
with Jean Laffay's 'Princesse Hélène' in 1837 and continuing to 1899,
Hybrid Perpetuals were THE roses to grow.
Brent C. Dickerson has said that the early years of Hybrid
Perpetuals are not well understood. The 1820s and 1830s were decades of
enormous change in the rose world. To compare 1820, when the onceblooming "European" sorts (Gallicas, Damasks, Centifolias, etc.) were
‘La Reine’
fully and overwhelmingly in control of the rose garden, with 1840, when
Photo from Vintage Gardens
http://www.vintagegardens.com/
the Bourbons, Chinas, Teas, and Hybrid Perpetuals had clearly swept away
the bulk of the old European
roses out of the catalogs and out of the gardens, is to witness the most striking change in rose history. Even the
often-cited introduction of Joseph Pernet-Ducher's Pernetiana strain in 1900, beginning with 'Soleil d'Or', the first
yellow hybrid tea, and permeating mainstream breeding by 1920 or 1930, is hardly comparable as a change, being
primarily a revolution in coloration, with some ramifications in culture. In contrast, the changes experienced from
1820 to 1840 were on a broad front. in addition to an expansion of the color range, the new plants were completely
different in appearance and nature from those which dominated the old rose gardens, requiring differing care; the
look of the flowers both in bud and fully open was different, bringing new concepts and ideals; and, most exciting,
some recurrence of bloom became expected of all mainstream roses.
The ability to re-bloom had actually been lurking around in rosedom since Roman times. There had been the cultivar
'Bifera' which, according to its treatment, would bloom several times a year. This Damask Perpetual had been
supplemented by another Damask, the 'Tous-les-Mois', in the late 1600s; and, as the years went on, a small number of
additional Damask Perpetuals were introduced--none of them strikingly generous with their re-bloom, and yet earning
a place in many gardens (as they still do) for what they did provide.
Between the middle of the 18th Century and 1830, some quite different re-blooming roses were imported from the
Orient. These were the China Roses and the Tea Roses. These races bloomed continuously during the warm seasons;
but their great disadvantage was their tenderness, rendering them conservatory or window-sill plants rather than
garden plants. The re-blooming Noisette roses, deriving originally from a cross between the China Rose Old Blush
and the Musk Rose, began to appear and diversify by 1815 (the first one appeared in America about 1800); but these
too were regarded as of uncertain hardiness. The other important race of re-blooming roses known to rosarians of the
1820s was the just-introduced Bourbon rose, which sprang it seems from a chance cross between the China Rose and
the old 'Tous-les-Mois' on the Ile Bourbon in the Indian Ocean, where those two roses were used as hedging material.
This, though promising, did not at first produce a satisfactory re-blooming rose, and so in the 1820s, re-blooming was
a limited phenomenon in rosedom.
Enter Monsieur Jean Laffay. He is generally recognized as the creator of the Hybrid Perpetuals or, as he knew them,
the Hybrides Remontants. Perhaps his greatest triumph is the rose 'La Reine'.
Jean Laffay was born in Paris in 1794 and began his horticultural career as gardener to a nurseryman by the name of
Ternaux in1828. He had his first nursery in Auteuil (near Paris), France. His main period of activity was from 1837
to 1855 in Bellevue-Meudon, near Paris, where he raised hundreds of thousands of seedlings each year in an effort to
obtain hardy, repeat-blooming roses. He raised many of his splendid Hybrid Perpetuals from 'Athelin' and 'Celine'
(Hybrid Bourbon), crossing them with the free-flowering varieties of Damask Perpetual and Bourbon. His early
introductions were mostly Chinas and Teas such as 'Bengale d'Automne' (1825) and 'Mme Desprez' (1831); his later
ones mostly Hybrid Perpetuals, Bourbons and Mosses of which 'Great Western' (1840), La Reine(1842), and 'Gloire
des Mousseuses' (1852) are still widely grown. Laffay, introduced the first typical Hybrid Perpetual 'Princesse Helene'
in 1837. From 1837 to 1843 Laffay produced eighteen Hybrid Perpetuals of merit. His hybridizing efforts were
directed toward the creation of a rose that would be both hardy and remontant.
It was in 1837 that Monsieur Laffay sent to his friend, Mr. William Paul, 'Princesse Helene', the first crossbred hybrid
from the old Damasks. Thus, he is generally credited with having created the Hybrid Perpetual class. He told William
Paul that he used Hybrid Chinas, especially two of Bourbon variety,--'Athelin', a rose-crimson, medium-sized, double
rose, and 'Celine', pale rose-color, very large and double, -- which he crossed with Damask Perpetuals and Bourbons. The
six years from 1837 to 1843, the dates from Laffay's first to his great 'La Reine', gave birth to: 'Princesse Helene' (1837),
'Mme. Laffay' (1839), 'Queen Victoria' (1840), 'Duchess of Sutherland' (1840), 'William Jesse' (1840), 'Mistress Elliott'
(1841), 'Lane' (1842), and 'La Reine' (1843). The persistence of the purple cast in the color through so many of the above
roses is very interesting, as this color was perpetuated into the descendants for many years. 'La Reine' became the head of
a large family of which many survive. Her descendants usually have the semi-globular form, are very large, fragrant, and
show lilac in the pink or rose-color.
William Paul also tells us that the French breeder Jean Laffay raised up to 200,000 seedlings annually -- more than many
large-scale breeders grow today. In those days, only a few breeders kept records of their controlled crosses for
hybridization. Most breeders, like Laffay, just gathered the hips from all their roses and evaluated the resulting random
seedlings. His residence at Bellevue, near Paris, where these roses were raised, was a most enviable one; he lived
surrounded with roses and chestnut trees, and his garden, though not extensive, commanded a wide and most agreeable
prospect. The soil was stiff clay, and never appeared to have had much labor bestowed on its amelioration. When Laffay
moved to Meudon on the outskirts of Paris in the early 1840s, his garden was on an elevated and airy spot, with a deep,
rich, heavy loam.
Laffay lived through two revolutions. One involved Napoleon, the other involved roses. His role in the former was minor;
his role in the latter central. He successfully bred more great roses in more official rose classes than any other breeder can
claim to have done.
Noteworthy Hybrid Perpetuals are:
‘Général Jacqueminot’ (Roussel, 1853), giving us strong glowing
reds in later roses such as, ‘Marie Baumann’, ‘Senateur Vaisse’, ‘Duke
of Edinburgh’. Bud scarlet-crimson; flowers dark red, whitish reverse;
27 petals; intense fragrance; recurrent bloom; foliage rich green; long,
strong stems; vigorous, bushy growth; one of the studs of the rose
world; prone to mildew, rust and blackspot.
Photo from http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/rose-802.html
‘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. 70 petals; moderate
fragrance; rebloom; flowers reddish-crimson, shaded purple; vigorous,
tall growth.
Photo from http://www.roguevalleyroses.com/rose/charles-lefebvre
‘Victor Verdier’ was introduced in 1859 by Larcharme. This is the
chief parent of the class. To it we are indebted for those short, stout,
upright, free-flowering varieties, such as ‘Mlle Eugenie Verdier’,
‘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. Flowers are bright rose, center
carmine, reverse lighter, large, 50 petals, globular; moderate fragrance;
‘Victor Verdier’ was introduced in 1859 by Larcharme. This is the
chief parent of the class. To it we are indebted for those short, stout,
upright, free-flowering varieties, such as ‘Mlle Eugenie Verdier’,
‘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. Flowers are bright rose, center
carmine, reverse lighter, large, 50 petals, globular; moderate fragrance;
vigorous growth.
Photo from http://www.historicroses.org/index.php?s=history_hybrid_perpetuals
'Baronne Prévost' (Jean Desprez - 1842) Though sometimes troubled
by blackspot and mildew, 'Baronne Prévost' is possibly the most
disease resistant of the Hybrid Perpetuals. For this reason, it is one of
the few that flourish in the humid Southeast. Because this rose is also
notably cold tolerant, it is a good choice for areas such as the lower
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, where a hard winter may be
followed by a summer of heat and humidity, and for southern Ontario.
Its blossoms are luxurious: broad, flattened, pink rosettes with a button
eye at the center. While not quite as big as those of 'Paul Neyron', the
blossoms of 'Baronne Prevost' are borne more prolifically. This oldtime aristocrat flowers heavily in late spring or early summer, then
sporadically throughout the summer, with a heavier repeat in autumn.
This is a tough shrub, one that works well in a mixed border of flowers
and shrubs.
Photo from
http://www.roguevalleyroses.com/search/apachesolr_search/baronne%20prevost
'Reine des Violettes' (Mille-Mallet - 1860) The 3-inch flowers of this
Hybrid Perpetual are very double, opening rosy purple and fading to
violet. The undersides of the petals are lighter and silkier than the
velvety upper surfaces. Petals are quartered and surround a button eye.
The blossoms are borne singly or in small clusters and bear a strong,
complex fragrance. Flowers fade quickly after they have fully matured.
Foliage is sparse and silvery green; canes are nearly smooth.
This bushy plant grows tall and spreads wide; hard pruning is necessary
to maintain a compact habit. The long, flexible canes can be trained to
climb. The rose is particularly attractive grown on walls. This rose
requires rich soil to perform at its best.
Photo from http://www.raleighrosesociety.com/hampton_tour.htm
'Paul Neyron' (Antoine Levet (père) - 1869) 'Paul Neyron' is a giant
among roses: it bears what may be the largest flowers of any rose in
cultivation. The fragrant, rich pink, tousled blooms may measure 7
inches (18cm) across, and they are exhibited proudly atop strong,
upright canes. Even the leaves of this rose, which are large, glossy
green, and bold, are remarkable. This vigorous shrub needs room in
which to flex its muscles. 'Paul Neyron' makes a strong statement at the
back of a mixed border of flowers and shrubs and works well as a
flowering hedge.
Photo from http://www.vintagegardens.com/index.html
'Marchesa Boccella' (also erroneously sold as 'Jacques Cartier')
produces large, full flowers in repeat flushes throughout the growing
season. Each very double bloom is delicate pink with blush edges. Born
in tight clusters on short, stiff stems, they are very fragrant. The petals
are more numerous but smaller than those of most Hybrid Perpetuals.
Foliage is dense and bright green. One of the finest of the class, this
rose is a robust grower with a medium to tall erect form and is
somewhat spreading. Its recurring flowering habit and lush foliage are
suited to large beds and borders.
Photo from http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/rose-2007.html