History of Garden Roses

Hybrid Musk and Hybrid Polyantha roses

Hybrid Musk

Hybrid Musks were developed initially by the Reverend Josephy Pemberton of Essex in the early 1900's. He crossed ' Trier ' (descended from Rosa multiflora and a Tea Noisetter) with Hybrid Teas to produce Pemberton Musks such as 'Cornelia' and 'Felicia'. After his death, his work was continued by J.A. Bentall, while in Germany Wilhelm Kordes developed another race by crossing ' Trier ' with Dwarf Polyanthas to produce Kordes Musks such as 'Wilhelm' and its sport 'Will Scarlet'.

Hybrid Polyantha

In the 1920's, a Danish rose breeder Sven Poulsen crossed Dward Polyanthas with Hybrid Teas and produced the first Hybrid Polyantha or Poulsen roses. These early hybrids were vigorous with large flowers, but they were also scentless and had limited fertility. This was improved by further crossings so producing varieties like 'Dusky Maiden' and 'Frensham'.

The group of roses known today as Floribundas were derived partly from Hybrid Musks and partly from Hybrid Polyanthas.

More plants

Back up to: History of garden roses