Please help me identify my MIL's rose

4 years ago

This rose has been in my husband's family for over 75 years. It belonged to his great aunt in mid-Missouri (St. Louis), and has stayed in the family since. It currently lives on a family farm with my MIL (Z6a). Repeat flowering, mod old rose fragrance, and though it doesn't look too great, it has bloomed here and there for many years with little attention and in part shade. I am sorry for the poor photos, but I must catch the rose as it is on the given day we visit (these pictures were taken over a 3 month period). Bloom size approx 2.5-3 inches inches and stems are quite thin but get to about 3.5 ft tall. I am indebted to your assistance. Thank you!

Featured Answer

Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland

4 years ago

Root a bunch of cuttings! Plant them in different locations just in case something happens. It‘s a lovely rose 💕

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Comments (8)

Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland
4 years ago
I’m horrible at IDs - maybe Portland From Glendora? Or something similar 😀
SamuellaZ6a thanked Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland
bellarosa
4 years ago
Looks like REINE DES VIOLETTES. Very fragrant rose.
SamuellaZ6a thanked bellarosa
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User
4 years ago
It is almost certainly from the Portland/Hybrid Perpetual family of roses, which would place it in the late 1800's, possibly early 1900's. The color isn't right for 'Reine des Violettes' (and the foliage would be more grey-green and the canes thornless). The bloom form is similar to roses like 'Portland from Glendora', but there are several that have similar looks.

Its hard to nail down some of these Portland types, as there were quite a few and they overlapped a lot in terms of bloom and growth style.
SamuellaZ6a thanked User
SamuellaZ6a
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you! RRV has been ravaging the area, and my MIL was hoping to get a name (or something similar) in case the rose gets infected. She is very grateful to you all!
SamuellaZ6a
Original Author
4 years ago
Found a better picture!
portlandmysteryrose
4 years ago
Ditto Paul and Dingo! A gorgeous old rose and truly a special one. Carol
SamuellaZ6a thanked portlandmysteryrose
SamuellaZ6a
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hello,

i thought i would add some more photos from this year. I forgot to mention in my initial post that the rose suckers—and that when moved to a different location, the rose sprouts again (sucker about 2ft to the left of the original rose below). My MIL notes that the rose appears to have suckered 4 times since it was moved from St. Louis in 1987, but I am wondering if this change now that it is getting more regular attention since I’ve rallied the family to care for it more (I do what I can when I visit, like mulching and fertilizing, but I live 3 hours away). The rose definitely gets crud and defoliates, but is still tough as nails.