Rosa x wichuraiana 'Albertine' - Rambling Rose

The 'Albertine' Rose embodies the spirit of the Roaring Twenties like no other. This exuberant climber, thorny as can be, carefree in nature, possesses an exceptional temperament and a remarkable flowering in June-July. It owes its reputation to the charming form of its double and crumpled roses, the radiance of its ever-changing pink colour, and, of course, its sweet, highly volatile fragrance. Albertine blooms even in the shade and withstands cold winters and dry, hot summers. Albertine, the seductress, is also well-equipped to combat rose diseases. It is no coincidence that this rose is often the first old climber to be planted in a garden!

The 'Albertine' Rose, created in 1921 by René Barbier and brothers, resulted from cross-breeding between the Wichura Rose (synonym Rosa luciae), a botanical species native to East Asia, and the hybrid tea rose 'Mrs. Arthur Robert Waddell'. Awarded the Award of Garden Merit in England, it, like 'Alberic Barbier', 'Francois Juranville', and 'Leontine Gervais', brought fortune to its creator, who went as far as Ohio to obtain the strains of their vigorous Asian ancestor.

'Albertine' can easily reach a height of 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 feet) with a spread of about 3 metres (10 feet). Its long, flexible stems are very thorny and covered with small, medium green foliage, satin-like to almost matte, which shows respectable resistance to rose diseases. The flowers of this summer-flowering climber appear from late May to July, earlier or later, depending on the region. They emerge from short shoots of the second year as salmon-copper-coloured buds. They open into somewhat disordered, 8 to 9cm (3 to 4in) diameter double roses, clustered in small bouquets along the stems. Copper-coloured buds and more or less salmon-pink, soft rose-to-carnation pink, candy pink flowers coexist on the plant. A sweet, intense fragrance in warm and calm weather surrounds them. However, this very vigorous and drought-resistant rose can be susceptible to powdery mildew and black spot depending on growing conditions. The fruits remain decorative until winter unless the birds eat them all, as they adore them.

With 'Albertine', we enter the exclusive circle of climbing roses undeterred by anything. Like 'Alberic Barbier', New Dawn, Felicia, American Pillar, Mme Alfred Carrière, and May Queen, it is particularly interesting for bringing lushness and colour to difficult or slightly shaded garden areas. Robust, undemanding, and low-maintenance, it thrives almost anywhere with some care at planting. Like other large climbers, it can easily conceal an unsightly structure or climb a sturdy wall or small tree. The Trio 'Alberic Barbier', 'Albertine', and 'Alchemist', entwined together in a harmony of colours and fragrances, is a pure marvel in June.

Created by Barbier in 1921.