Rosa x wichuraiana 'Paul Transon' - Rambling Rose

The Climbing Rose 'Paul Transon' is an excellent creation by Barbier, dating back to 1900. This vigorous climber is a treasure for partial shade, even in hot climates. Its double roses resemble dahlias and are similar to the 'Paul Noël'; slightly ruffled when fully open, they sport a coral pink colour with coppery reflections and emit a fruity fragrance. Produced profusely in early summer, they sometimes bloom again in September, in small quantities, on mature plants. Not content with being magnificent in flowers, this rose produces beautiful, healthy, shiny foliage. 

This exceptional large rose, just like 'Albertine', 'Alberic Barbier', 'Alexandre Girault', 'And François Juranville' to name just a few, is a creation by the French rose breeder Barbier, who extensively worked on hybridisations with Rosa wichuraiana at the beginning of the 20th century. Strictly speaking, 'Paul Transon' is not an old rose since its creation is later than 1867, but it has all the characteristics of one, and as such, it is classified as such. From which the Rosa luciae originates, it forms thickets in coastal regions and seaside cliffs and grows on limestone soils. It has passed some interesting features on to this lovely climber, such as shiny and dark foliage, great vigour, and a usually single but very generous flowering. 'Paul Transon' will efficiently and quickly reach 4m (13ft) in height with a spread of 2m (7ft). Its long, vigorous stems are flexible. At the opening, this 7cm (3in) wide rose presents wider peripheral petals, which spread out like a saucer and enclose the finer and numerous centre petals. Then the corolla opens a little ruffle in superb colour, a coppery-salmon pink softened by paler reflections, which varies depending on the sunlight. The flowering mainly occurs in May or May-June, sometimes repeating lightly at the end of summer on plants several years old. The roses do not lose their petals when fading, and it is preferable to remove them for aesthetic reasons.

'Paul Transon' is particularly interesting, bringing a bit of lushness and colour to shaded areas of the garden. Sturdy, undemanding, and frugal, it will thrive in all areas with a few care measures at planting. It can be perfectly trained as a large bush. When trained, it will adorn a gate, a fence, or a small pergola. Planted behind a slightly strict flowerbed, it will bring a touch of lightness. The Trio 'Alberic Barbier', 'Albertine', and 'Paul Transon', intertwined in a harmony of colours and fragrances, is a pure marvel in June.