Rosa alba Great Maidens Blush

The 'Cuisse de Nymphe' Rose is a historic variety, with controversial origins, but unanimously recognized as one of the oldest hybrids of the white rose (Rosa alba) of the Greeks and Romans. 'Cuisse de Nymphe' forms a harmonious bush with slightly trailing branches, which truly bend in July under the abundance of its summer flowering. Its flowers are small, double, and flattened rosettes, with a white colour touched with carnation pink, and wonderful fragrance. Essential in a garden of antique roses lovers, this original rose is a masterpiece of delicacy set on a vigorous evergreen bush that improves with age, like a vintage wine.

The 'Maiden's Blush' Rose or 'Cuisse de Nymphe', cultivated since time immemorial, now covers several different hybrids of Rosa x alba. We distinguish the 'Grande Cuisse de nymphe', the 'Petite Cuisse de nymphe', the 'Cuisse de nymphe émue'... Some specialists claim that these varieties have long been confused. 

'Cuisse de Nymphe' forms a vigorous, well-branched bush with a dense habit, reaching 1.5 to 2 metres (4 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 7 inches) in height (depending on the clones) and 1.2 metres (3 feet 11 inches) in width. Its branches are composed of thorny stems adorned with abundant green-grey-blue foliage, matte, with a villous underside, more or less evergreen depending on the severity of the winter. It is not very susceptible to rose diseases. Its flowering, unique but remarkably abundant, usually takes place in July. On one-year-old branches, clusters of 5 to 7 pretty rounded cream-colored buds form, which open into white flowers, suffused with pink towards the centre. 4 to 6cm (1.6 to 2.4in) wide, they have more or less double cup shapes, opening flat, bubbling and filled with short petals. Their fragrance is very noticeable, in a musky and powdery register. They are followed by the formation of long orange fruits.

The hybrid roses of Rosa x alba are all wonderfully fragrant, with abundant flowering, vigorous growth, and a slightly trailing habit. These shrubs with healthy and ornamental grey-green foliage are very hardy and long-lived. They thrive very well in semi-shaded areas. 'Cuisse de Nymphe' is superb in hedges, flower beds, or as a solitary plant. It tolerates all soils and climates, which allows it to be adopted in all regions. In a large romantic flower bed or a small country hedge, it can be associated with Rosa complicata, so easy to cultivate, or with Rosa x chinensis 'Mutabilis', a multicoloured harlequin, flowering all summer long. In spring, the fragrance and roundness of lilacs, the innocence of mock oranges will accompany its brand new youth, while in summer, Abelias and shrubby cinquefoils will take over. Finally, it is a sturdy and low-maintenance shrub.

If the passion for botanical roses and their direct hybrids is not widespread, it is fully justified, especially in difficult soils or under challenging climates: these roses are not only the ancestors of our modern roses, but also generally more robust and reliable.