Rosa Baron Girod de l'Ain

The 'Baron Girod de l'Ain' old Rose, is, according to the Journal des Roses of March 1906*, quite an original creation: « This bizarre and very pretty variety is nothing but an accident produced by a Eugène Fürst rose, in the nurseries of Mr. Reverchon, a horticulturist in Moulin-à-Vent, near Lyon (Rhône), and which has been almost completely fixed. » Awarded in its time and upon its introduction to the market (1897), this bushy rose produces double flowers, with open cups, of a beautiful crimson to violet-red, each disheveled petal being edged with white. This bush is very perpetual, and its corollas exhale a heady and fruity scent of dark flowers. It provides an excellent counterpoint to pastel and romantic roses in flowerbeds.

 (*Pierre du Plouy)

The 'Baron Girod de l'Ain' rose, fortuitously and successfully obtained by the rose grower Reverchon in 1897, is part of the old remontant hybrid roses. This variety forms a bush 1m (3ft 4in) to 1.30m (4ft 3in) high by 90cm (35.4in) wide. It first blooms in June-July, and then again in September-October. Its roses, 7 to 8cm (3.1in) wide, are composed of several rows of irregular, dentate petals arranged in a free, well-opened rosette, only revealing the golden yellow heart of the corolla late. The dominant colour is a deep crimson red at full bloom, with the entire corolla turning pink-violet over time. The originality of the colour comes from a fine white border that edges each petal. The foliage, overall very healthy, is however susceptible to rust. Its colour is a light green with a matte appearance. The fruits, called hips, are red-orange to brown.

Preferring cooler exposures, the old 'Baron Girod de l'Ain' rose is a plant that tolerates partial shade well. Its flowers can be used in bouquets, but it also makes a beautiful standalone specimen or mixed with a bed of English or old roses in pastel shades. It creates an elegant contrast with the simple and changing flowers of the 'Mutabilis' China rose or with the simple corollas, orange to copper, of Rosa foetida 'Bicolor'. It is also lovely next to the pansy flowers of the 'Blue Eyes' rose. Its modest growth allows it to fit into perennial beds, where it wonderfully accompanies perennial geraniums, dame's rocket, or purple toadflax. Finally, due to its fragrance, it deserves to be planted near a path, an entrance, or under a window.