'Perle d'Or' - Old Rose

The rose bush 'Perle d'Or' is an old Lyon creation by Rambaux, still highly regarded for its extraordinary flowering. It is a hybrid of polyantha and tea rose, repeat flowering, which produces numerous miniature, double roses, well-held, in shades of apricot, fawn and pink cream, countless. Its compact habit, graceful branches and long flowering period form an extremely refined subject to showcase. Resistant to rose diseases, its only weakness is hardiness, which can be lacking in cold climates. It will work wonders in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, even in full sun. It performs excellently in Mediterranean regions.

The 'Perle d'Or' flowers, gathered in clusters, come from the Polyantha rose, an old hybrid derived from Rosa multiflora and the China rose R. chinensis. 'Perle d'Or' is given as a synonym of 'Yellow Cecile Brunner' due to a certain resemblance (except for the colour). Some sources consider it a dwarf form of Rosa multiflora x 'Mme Falcot'. It is a creation by Joseph Rambaux dating back to 1875, introduced by Francis Dubreuil in 1884. This rose is very popular in the United States and is often planted in Texas or California. In France, it is commonly found in gardens on the French Riviera.

This 'Perle d'Or' rose has a flexible and graceful bushy habit, as wide as it is tall, supported by slender branches with few thorns, but well-branched. It will reach an average height and spread of 70 cm in a few years. The bush is more vigorous in hot climates and can easily reach or exceed 1 m in all directions. According to some sources, the plant can reach a height of 1.80 m. Its young stems are purple to reddish, just like its young leaves. The foliage is divided into dark green satin leaflets that are not very susceptible to diseases. This variety blooms continuously between May, June, and October if the soil does not dry out too much in summer. The flowers measure 4 cm wide and comprise 26 to 40 petals. Their shape is slightly tousled when fully open. Their colour ranges from orange-fawn in buds to salmon-apricot tinged with pink cream at the centre. The petals fade almost to white. They have a light, fruity fragrance. These miniature roses are gathered in clusters of 5 to 25 flowers. After pollination, small ovoid fruits form and turn vermilion in autumn. The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen in winter, depending on the climate.

The 'Perle d'Or' rose adapts remarkably well to container cultivation, which allows it to be grown in all regions as long as it is protected from severe frost in winter. Its branches suffer damage below -10 °C; it is a rose with a very "Chinese" temperament that loves heat. In mild regions, it can be planted in groups of 3 plants, arranged in a triangle, or a large border along a path, or to highlight a shrub bed, for example. It will blend perfectly with light or opulent perennial beds such as hardy geraniums, catnips, bell flowers, and sage. Plant it in front of a bed composed of abelias, deutzias or mock oranges. It will happily overflow from a large pot on the terrace, balcony, or a flower-filled basin.