Rosa x moschata Frisson Frais - Musk Rose

Rosa Frisson Frais is a charming shrub. Its small pastel roses bloom in generous clusters on well-branched vegetation. It flowers from early summer to autumn. A lovely red fruiting at the end of the season adds to its charm. it is adorned with lush light green foliage. Robust and disease-resistant, this hybrid of the musk rose will delight enthusiasts of romantic or wild gardens.

While modern roses are often criticised for their stiffness and weak disease resistance, Louis Lens's creations embody a completely different approach that promotes simplicity, generosity, and robustness. Frisson Frais was created by L. Lens in 1990. It is a hybrid of the musk rose (Rosa moschata), a bush probably native to Asia Minor or the Middle East. Similar to polyanthas and floribundas, roses in this family produce flowers gathered in bouquets, but their colours are more refined and they have a more flexible and graceful habit. Frisson Frais forms a small bushy plant with flexible branches. Its size will reach at least 1.4m (4ft) in height and 1.2m (4ft) in width. It sometimes reaches up to 1.5m (5ft) in height. Its slightly glossy foliage is divided into leaflets of a fairly light green. The leaves fall in autumn. From June to October, large clusters of pyramidal flowers bloom in successive waves. Each small bud opens into a small cup-shaped flower, 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. They are initially pale-pink, becoming more or less white in the centre. The heart of the flower is open to bees and other pollinating insects. The rose is scentless. After pollination, numerous small round fruits form and turn red in autumn. The hardiness of this rose is estimated at -15°C (5°F).

With its natural appearance and ease of cultivation, Frisson Frais will find its place in many gardens. It is perfect at the back of perennial beds and superb in a shrub ensemble. It pairs perfectly with pretty and easy-to-grow plants such as perennial geraniums (Geranium 'Blue Cloud', G. 'Anne Folkard', G. 'Nimbus', G. 'Orion'), bellflowers (lactiflora, rapunculoides), catmints, and ground cover roses in harmonious colours. Left to grow freely, it will form a flowery dome with blurred shapes that will perfectly highlight the opulent flowering of old roses such as Charles de Mills or William Lobb.

Awards: Gold Medal Madrid 1991. 3rd prize for landscape roses, Paris 1994.