History of Garden Roses

Pernetiana and Dwarf Polyantha roses

Pernetiana

This group was bred by a French nurseryman Joseph Pernet-Ducher. He crossed Rosa foetida 'Persiana' with the Hybrid Perpetual 'Antoine Ducher' and the second generation produced the first Pernetiana 'Soleil d'Or' in 1900. From 'Persiana' and 'Bicolor' all the brilliant yellow, orange and flame-coloured roses of today are descended.

The Pernetiana group is now merged in the Hybrid Tea group.

Dwarf Polyantha

The first Dward Polyanthas, also called Poly-poms, were raised in France in the 1870's from hybrids on R. multiflora from Japan and a China rose. As a race, they were dwarf, cluster-flowered, colourful and very hardy, but scentless, small-flowered and susceptible to mildew. Later crosses with R. chinensis 'Minima' produced the miniature roses and crosses with other groups such as the Tea Roses produced the Dwarf Hybrid Polyanthas e.g. 'Cecile Bruner' and Perle d'Or'.

Dwarf Polyanthas crossed with Hybrid Teas produced Hybrid Polyanthas.

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