The China roses

The China roses 

We now come at a very important group of roses. Why? Because the China roses would change the rose world forever. It's these roses which gave us good reblooming hybrids when crossed with the European roses.

Rosa Chinensis is native to current China and was first discovered by Nicholas Joseph Von Jacquin in 1768. It is a shrub of 1 to 2 metres high with slender but strong stems. They have five petals which are red. Other varieties of rosa Chinensis were discovered too such as varieties with double petals. It's difficult to say which forms are truly wild because the Chinese people have been cultivating China roses for centuries. When Rosa Chinensis was crossed with Rosa Gigantea we got Rosa Odorata and by further hybridization the Tea roses appeared from which eventually our Hybrid Teas appeared. So the discovery of Rosa Chinensis was a turning point in rose history. 

China roses are wonderful plants and bloom all year round in mild climates. They love warm, dry weather and are easily propagated from cuttings. They only have a mild fragrance but this changed when crossed with the European roses.

Good examples are Cramoisi supérieur and Cramoisi supérieur climbing, Old Blush, Hermosa, Mutabilis etc...