The Hybrid Perpetuals form a link between the roses of the early part of the 19th century and those of today.
No other hybrid group can lay claim to so long a span of favor, for although the Hybrid Teas have won top popularity over them in recent years, the Hybrid Perpetuals are still greatly admired for their hardiness, vigor, and prolific, though seasonal, production of well-formed, attractive flowers.
While the number of varieties in commerce is not as great as it once was, a careful compilation of modern rose catalogs reveals that American horticulturists still list some 40 varieties.
The First Hybrid Perpetual
The first Hybrid Perpetual of record was named Rose du Roi and was introduced in 1816. Old rose books describe it as “bright crimson, large, double, very fragrant and flowering freely.”
It quickly attained great popularity and was unrivaled until 1837, when a much-improved variety, Princess Helene, appeared.
The next few years saw many more Hybrid Perpetuals introduced. La Reine (1843) and Victor Verdier (1852) were two outstanding varieties that made rose history, and their influence on the evolution of our modern roses is still to be noted.
During the half-century from 1840 to 1890, the Hybrid Perpetuals ruled rosedom, but since then, they have been gradually replaced by the Hybrid Teas—a class, by the way, which they helped to create.
The extent of their former popularity and their gradual replacement by the Hybrid Teas can best be illustrated by reference to three old rose catalogs.
The 1884 catalog of Paul & Sons of Cheshunt, England, listed over 900 Hybrid Perpetuals but only nine Hybrid Teas; the 1889 catalog of Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., offered 74 Hybrid Perpetuals and nine Hybrid Teas, and the 1890 issue of Park’s Rose Budget, Metal, Pa., listed 35 Hybrid Perpetuals and 12 Hybrid Teas.
Hybrid Perpetuals vs. Hybrid Teas
Undoubtedly, the Hybrid Teas won steadily increasing favor because of their more consistent flowering and greater range of color.
Still, they were more temperamental and lacked the majestic grace of the roses they gradually displaced.
Many rose fanciers, it may be noted, have since discovered that the Hybrid Perpetuals will thrive and flourish where the more exacting kinds will fail.
Since the majority of Hybrid Perpetuals were originally derived from the Hybrid Chinas, Portlands, Bourbons, and Noisettes, while the Hybrid Teas came from the Hybrid Perpetuals and Teas, it is apparent that the infusion of the tender Tea blood caused the Hybrid Teas to be more free blooming but less hardy.
The last authentic figures I know of comparing bloom production between the two groups appear on pages 117-122 of the 1919 American Rose Annual.
These figures show that the average bloom production of the Hybrid Perpetual is much greater than that of the Hybrid Tea but that about 95 percent of the bloom occurs in June and July, whereas that of the Hybrid Tea is spread over the months from June to October.
There are, however, a few exceptions, such as Georg Arends, Mrs. John Laing, and Mrs. R. G. Sharman-Crawford, which repeat as consistently as Hybrid Teas all summer.
Care and Pruning For Hybrid Perpetuals
By the end of July, the average Hybrid Perpetual has completed its blooming season, and the second growth, although quite vigorous, is usually unproductive during the rest of the year.
All the vitality of the plant goes into the new wood rather than blossoms, and the few flowers that come from the side shoots of the spring growth are inferior to those of early summer.
Many varieties that do not normally recur can sometimes be made to do so by removing about one-half of the wood after the early season bloom ends and by fertilizing.
Incidentally, the Hybrid Perpetuals are heavy feeders, but discretion should be used in applying fertilizer, as too much will cause excessive wood growth at the expense of bloom.
As most of the Hybrid Perpetual bloom occurs in June, and at this time, the plants produce more buds than they can properly open, the quality of the individual flowers can be greatly improved if some of the buds are removed. This is particularly true of varieties that bloom in clusters.
The Hybrid Perpetuals, being somewhat hardier than the Hybrid Teas, sometimes retain much of their wood for several seasons if left unpruned.
Although there’s a great temptation to retain part of this older wood, we must realize that only by the constant renewal of the wood can the vigor of the plant and the production of high-quality blooms be maintained.
Therefore, it is advisable in early spring to prune back all vigorous growth to 10 to 24 inches from the ground and remove all weak, old, and dead canes at the crown.
No group of roses is better adapted to the art of “pegging down” than the Hybrid Perpetuals. In this training method, all but two or three of the most vigorous canes are removed, and those remaining are bent horizontally and tied to pegs to be 1’ to 2’ feet from the ground.
The result is that a uniform growth of lateral shoots is made all along the cane rather than at the top only, and the yield of flowers is considerably increased. If the canes are heavy, they should be bent gradually to avoid breakage.
Although somewhat hardier than the Hybrid Teas, the Hybrid Perpetuals do require winter protection in northern gardens.
Earth should be mounded around each plant to a height of about 15 inches, and the depressions between plants should be filled with manure, leaves, or straw.
Varieties To Choose From
Of all the Hybrid Perpetual varieties that have been or are still in commerce, many are outstanding—so many that a resume must necessarily be brief.
There is no better white rose in any class than Frau Karl Druschki. Scentless but of exquisite form, the blossoms of this rose are produced in great profusion in June and July and sparingly after that. The plant rarely exceeds 8′ feet in height.
Marguerite Guillard
Marguerite Guillard, a thornless sport of Druschki, is similar in many respects to its parent but is somewhat less vigorous.
Candeur Lyonnaise and Louise Crettk, seedlings of Druschki, are also similar but somewhat inferior, as the former blooms less freely and the latter is not as hardy.
General Jacqueminot
Justly famous as a parent of many roses and long considered a standard of comparison for red roses, General Jacqueminot is probably the best-known of all rose varieties.
For nearly 100 years, rose lovers have cherished it as a prolific producer of very fragrant, clear red blooms with long stems.
“General Jack” is not dependably remnant but does bloom occasionally in late summer. The 4- to 5-foot bushy plants are healthy and attractive.
Roger Lambelin
The semi-double blooms of Roger Lambelin are of rather poor form, but they are produced freely and are unlike the flowers of any other rose. The color is bright crimson and each petal is fringed and margined, or streaked, with white.
Victor Verdier
Few Hybrid Perpetual or Hybrid Tea roses produce more flowers per plant than Victor Verdier. Unfortunately, many of the flowers “ball” under adverse conditions, and the plant is not as hardy as some other Hybrid Perpetuals.
The bright carmine flowers lack fragrance and soon fade, but this variety is valuable when quantity rather than quality is desired.
Henry Xevard
Henry Xevard is a rather modern variety (1924) that produces fragrant, well-formed, scarlet blooms on a very hardy 3-foot plant. It is recurrent and very desirable in all respects.
Prince Camille de Rohan
Prince Camille de Rohan is very similar in color to the Hybrid Tea variety Night, but it- is of better form, very fragrant, and the deep velvety crimson maroon color does not fade.
Little bloom, however, can be expected after July. The plant rarely exceeds 2′ feet in height.
Georg Arends
Those who like pure, unshaded pink roses will value Georg Arends, as there is no rose that can surpass it in this color.
The blossoms are of a pleasing form, very fragrant, and are produced continuously throughout the summer on a plant that is vigorous but not as hardy as some other Hybrid Perpetuals.
Paul Neyron and Heinrich Munch
It is difficult to discuss Hybrid Perpetuals without giving some recognition to Paul Neyron and its gigantic pink blossoms.
Heinrich Munch, however, is a much better variety, as the blooms are practically as large and are far more pleasing in both form and color. Both recur and grow to a height of about 4 feet.
Fisher Holmes
The flowers of Fisher Holmes are of magnificent form and color, but the plant rarely blooms after the middle of July.
Nevertheless, this variety is very desirable as the early summer production of dark, velvety reddish-crimson flowers is tremendous.
The plant habit is less vigorous than that of some others in its class, and only under ideal conditions will it exceed 3′ feet in height.
Triomphe de l’Exposition
Triomphe de l’Exposition, a large cherry-red, and General Washington. a large red-crimson, are varieties of a somewhat different color than any of those already mentioned. They are free blooming, occasionally recurrent, of moderate growth, and quite hardy.
Both are good subjects for amateur hybridization experiments as they are very receptive to foreign pollen and set seeds that germinate freely.
Other Varieties
Many other varieties that deserve mention are no longer available from American nurserymen. They have, therefore, been intentionally ignored in this brief discussion, as a reference to them might arouse a desire that could not be gratified.
A trial will convince even the most skeptical that I have not overrated the Hybrid Perpetuals.
They have so much to offer in color, vigor, hardiness, and abundance of bloom that they deserve greater recognition by present-day lovers of the rose.
44659 by R. E. Shepherd