La France (bush)

La France, Guillot 1867

First Hybrid Tea 

Seedling of Mme Falcot? 

Regarded as the very first Hybrid Tea rose La France created quite a stir in 1867 with its big silvery pink puffy blooms and its astonishing lemon 🍋 old rose fragrance

Was she really the first Hybrid Tea? We will never know for sure but there aren't many other candidates, maybe 2.

Is La France today still worthwhile to grow in our garden? You bet! But I have to say that her climbing sport (La France climbing) is even better. The blooms can sometimes suffer from weak neck syndrome and this makes the blooms nod down a bit. As a climber this however is an advantage as the flowers look down on us and we can reach closer to experience her great fragrance. 

However you may have her, as bush or climber, she will always be stunning 

Bloom shape: High pointed buds, opening into big puffy blooms 

Bloom color: Silvery light pink 

⬆️ Up to 130 cm or 4 ft, 400 cm or 12 ft as a climber

↔️ 60 cm or 2 ft

Reblooming skills: ++++

Fragrance: +++++

Health: +++

Resistant to rain? Medium 

Resistant to heat? Yes 

Shade tolerant? No 

Zone 7b and higher

Balling? No