Boursault Rose 'Morletii'

The Boursaults constitute one of the most obscure classes of roses. Bred mostly in France in the Nineteenth Century, they are little more than novelties today, but likely succeeded as niche collector's items back in novelty-obsessed Victorian-era gardening, as their flowers arrive very early in the season, blooming just slightly later than the Banksias (a group of related climbing roses known to flower in conjunction with tulips and hyacinth). 'Morletii" is blooming now in central Mississippi.

'Morletii,' a Boursault from 1883

They are very distinctive in appearance, with violet-colored, totally-thornless wood, soft leaden leaves, and procumbent or climbing habit. They sucker very lightly, and are best grown as short climbers or large, arching shrubs. Traditionally, they are said to descend from Rosa pendulina, or the "Alpine Rose," but it is possible that a case of Nineteenth-Century misidentification occurred, and that they are really the descendants of the North-American Native R. blanda. 

Bred by Morlet (reportedly something of a charlatan) in 1883, the rose in question has semidouble flowers of a rather ragged shape much like crumpled paper, with a paler center marked by golden stamens. The flowers are short lived but the plant provides color for a few weeks in spring, before most other roses have developed flower buds. In my experience, it is quite sterile-- so there aren't any ornamental hips for fall; however, the leaves turn bright red come autumn. It is not much troubled by disease, but can get some black spot in humid climes.

Why grow Boursaults? Admittedly, the best thing this small class has going for it is its obscurity and history. Today they are much outclassed by other roses which are repeat-blooming and more disease-resistant. But I always find something charming and rustic about roses with "informal" (to put it charitably) flower shapes and a scrambly habit; one certainly can't image the likes of 'Knock Out' being as graceful next to a split-rail fence or in a mixed perennial assemblage. So I can safely grant the rose Luddite seal of approval to 'Morletii,' which is still currently sold by Rogue Valley Roses.