These are hybrids and cultivars based on the upright, suckering R. gallica cultivated since ancient times, but most originated from breeding in the 19th century and are derived from open pollinated plants. They thus show the influence of a number of other groups, notably the more spreading and arching habits of the Damask and Centifolia roses. Shrubs mostly to 1 m or so tall. There are a few small prickles and the strongly scented flowers, which appear once in spring to early summer, are mostly double and rarely white.
Source: (2002). Rosaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Foliage greyish. Flowers double, flat, delicate pale pink, strongly scented. Parentage unknown, raised Parmentier, Belgium, 1845.
Stems almost thornless. Leaflets dark green. Flowers in clusters, deep purple, velvety, strongly scented. Parentage unknown, raised by Laffay, France, 1840.
Flowers purple and deep red, generally quartered and with a green centre. An old cultivar from the Roseraie de l'Hay collection. Raised Laffay, France, 1840.
Arching shrub. Flowers bright pink with pale centre, stamens yellow. Parentage and origin unknown. May be grown as a climber.
Flowers small, pale pink, strongly scented. Parentage unknown, raised Laffay, France, 1829.
Flowers prolific, double, pale pink with deeper centres, fading. Parentage unknown, but raised c. 1819.
Flowers single to semi-double, prolific, crimson with yellow stamens, fragrant. 'Scharlachglut' _ 'Tuscany Superb' raised by Beales, uk, 1982.
Flowers mauve, double, fragrant. Parentage unknown, raised in mid- 18th century, int. 1821.
Flowers double, pale pinkish white with deeper pink striping. Parentage unknown, raised Vibert, France, 1845.
, Apothecary's Rose (Red Rose of Lancaster). Small shrub with semi-double, crimson, highly fragrant flowers. [var. officinalis]
Growth spreading and spindly. Flowers double, pinkish purple, fragrant. Origin unknown, probably France, c. 1831.
See r. gallica.
An old, thin-stemmed, almost thornless cultivar discovered at Sissinghurst, uk, and reintroduced in 1947. Flowers semi-double, petals deep maroon but paler at the edges and below with golden yellow stamens, fragrant. Parentage and origin unknown.
Flowers semi-double, velvety, with yellow central boss of stamens, strongly scented. Sport of 'Tuscany' selected by Paul, uk, 1848.
, Rosa Mundi Rose. Of uncertain origin, possibly a sport of 'Officinalis', the Apothecary's Rose, with flowers striped and spotted white, pink and red. ['Rosa Mundi'] Not to be confused with r. _damascena f. versicolor.
