Rosa Seagull - Rambling Rose

The 'Seagull' Old Rose reveals such power that it is classified among rambling roses. It offers a generous and long-lasting flowering, which often occurs as early as May. Among the very first to bloom, it produces large, fragrant white bouquets composed of small semi-double wild roses with a fruity fragrance. Then beautiful little orange fruits, decorative in autumn. Its foliage, a greyish green, very healthy, remains impeccable from spring to autumn. A variety celebrated by many enthusiasts of exuberant roses, sensational for ornamenting a tree, an unsightly old building or an ugly wall.

Obtained in 1907 by Pritchard, Seagull is a descendant of the botanical rose Rosa multiflora, a white rose of Asian origin, and the rose 'Général Jacqueminot', a French variety with red flowers dating back to 1853. 'Seagull' is a very thorny climbing rose with rapid growth, capable of producing shoots that can reach 5 to 8 metres (16 to 26 feet) in length, depending on the growing conditions. It will reach 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) or even 5 metres (16 feet) when mature. It produces stems adorned with curved prickle-like thorns and abundant foliage. In May, before most climbing roses, its stunning flowering appears, lasting about 5 weeks in cool climates. Grouped in 30 cm (12in) long corymbs at the ends of secondary and horizontal shoots, countless cream-white, semi-double and scalloped flowers, accentuated by a bouquet of golden yellow stamens, completely cover the vegetation. They measure about 3 cm (1in) in diameter and have a pronounced fragrance with notes of pineapple and cloves. Each wild rose forms a small orange fruit, so this rose is overwhelmed at the end of the season with clusters of colourful pearls that birds love. These hips contain a large quantity of a single-seeded akene. The Seagull rose is highly resistant to diseases of cultivated roses and perfectly hardy.

'Seagull' spreads like a great wave of white foam; it dazzles, then astounds, before fading away like a beautiful dream that one will think of, with a hint of regret, until the following spring. It will thrive almost anywhere but prefers sunny locations and shows greater vigour in fertile, deep soil. Like other rambling roses (Paul's Himalayan Musk, Sander's White Rambler, filipes Kiftsgate), it is incomparable for filling large spaces and giving a slightly abandoned look, growing freely above overly strict flowerbeds. It is an ideal companion for trees that it will revive, an excellent cover-up for uncertain fences, ugly buildings or sheds to which it gives a charming touch. Trained on a large arch near the terrace, it will create a romantic and fragrant passage. Since its flowering is early, it can be paired with 'Bobbie James' or filipes 'Kifstgate', ensuring 2 1/2 months of flowering.