Rosa x wichuraiana 'Dorothy Perkins'

The Dorothy Perkins Rose, born in 1901, remains one of the most well-known and appreciated old climbing roses despite its susceptibility to powdery mildew and its rather late flowering. This variety combines undeniable ornamental qualities and generosity with easy cultivation in most of our gardens. Its miniature double roses are reminiscent of pompoms, evolving from bright pink to almost white, creating charming garlands of pink shades. With a flourishing habit, this climbing rose is very versatile; it can also be grown as a bush or form a large ground cover, depending on the preferences of each gardener. From its ancestor Rosa wichuraiana, Dorothy Perkins inherited robustness and good resistance to climatic extremes: it is unaffected by cold, rain, and heat; nothing can defeat it, not even powdery mildew!

This exceptional climbing rose is an American creation by Jackson and Perkins, dating back to 1901. Strictly speaking, it is not an old rose, as it was created after 1867, but it has all the characteristics and is classified as such. This horticultural hybrid is part of the complex Rosa Wichuraiana family. The Asian ancestor of this family of excellent climbing roses, Rosa luciae, forms thickets in coastal regions and seaside cliffs and grows on limestone soils. It has passed on some interesting characteristics, such as glossy and dark foliage, beautiful vigour, and a unique but very generous flowering.

'Dorothy Perkins' develops long, upright, green stems with sharp, reddish prickles, flexible enough to be trained. It has a bushy and flourishing habit, reaching 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet) in height with a minimum spread of 2 metres (7 feet). Its long stems are flexible and covered with finely cut glossy foliage composed of 7 thin leaflets, unfortunately almost always covered by white powdery mildew spots, just like its distant cousin Rosa banksia Alba Plena. The plant's vigour is such that this disease seems to neither affect nor prevent it from flowering. The countless small, fully double rosettes of Dorothy Perkins, 3 cm (1in) wide, appear in June-July and continue for four weeks, almost hiding the foliage. They emerge on short shoots from the second year in clusters of 10 to 20 buds, starting with a bright candy pink shade that lightens over time. Dazzling as they are, they are unfortunately scentless. This hybrid does not produce fruit.

'Dorothy Perkins' is a timeless climbing rose, an incurable romantic one would love to invite into the garden just for its robustness and floribundity. Like other climbers, it is incomparable for adorning gates, fences, and small pergolas. Still, its vigorous growth also allows it to thrive without support in a flowering hedge alongside a vigorous clematis like 'Montana' or 'Prince Charles, gracefully spreading out on a lawn or being planted behind overly strict flower beds. It is an ideal companion for reviving dead trees or sheds that give a charming touch. Trained on an arch, on an ugly fence or a somewhat austere shed, it dresses up any setting without demanding much effort from the one who planted it.