Gallica 'Officinalis'

Heritage rose

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Deep, rich carmine-red shade with a slight purplish tinge. - historical, gallica rose - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - richly spicy sweet character

– Very strongly scented, richly spicy sweet blooms.
– Deep carmine-red flowers with historic character.
– Robust shrub with dense grey‑green foliage.
– Good winter hardiness to USDA zone 4a.
– Tolerates moderate heat and drought periods well.
– Special feature: Decorative orange-red hips extend the season.

Selection / specialty

pharmaROSA® NEONATAL rooted rose cutting

29,63 £

Due to courier service regulations – and the introduction of customs clearance – delivery to Ireland is temporarily suspended.

5 (7211)

GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose

Heritage material such as GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' offers a stable bushy base for nursery propagation where own-root longevity and predictable capacity are key. This semi-double, carmine-red, strongly scented flowers once per season, supporting premium, story-led ranges for thematic rose gardens, collections and public projects. The dense, grey‑green foliage and moderate ornamental hips support characterful shrub forms in 5–7 L premium containers, while own-root structure underpins low replacement and reliable regeneration. Its very high winter hardiness to H7 makes it suitable even for exposed northern UK and Scottish schemes with reliable cold tolerance in open sites. As tray-rooted pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material, it integrates efficiently into professional propagation beds and container lines, supporting scalable, identity-secure stock for collectors and historical assortments. With clear historic value and a defined park and hedge role, Year 1 root establishment, Year 2 structural build and Year 3 full ornamental expression give you a transparent, plannable development arc for long-term projects.

Usage options

Target area	Reasoning
Premium 5–7 L heritage container line	The strong, richly spicy sweet fragrance and historic character make this cultivar ideal for premium container positioning where narrative and sensory impact justify higher price points. Bush-trained with discreet support in 5–7 L containers, it delivers a clear once-blooming seasonal highlight that suits premium, selection / specialty routes. Own-root stability supports nursery propagation beds feeding retail/collector channels seeking authentic historical roses for curated ranges aimed at the retail/collector audience.
Thematic and collection rose gardens	As a historical Gallica with verified identity, this is well suited to cultivar collections and thematic gardens that prioritise authenticity and continuity. pharmaROSA® NEONATAL tray-rooted plants support reliable stock-building in propagation beds and 5–7 L premium containers for exhibition and show-garden supply. The own-root form underpins long-term stand renewal and low replacement, aligning with selection / specialty positioning for institutional and public-collection projects serving the public-realm channel.
Park and urban green-space shrub plantings	The bushy habit, dense grey‑green foliage and moderate thorniness provide good structure and visual mass for park and urban green-space schemes. Once-blooming, medium self-cleaning and ornamental hips enable seasonal interest with manageable maintenance in professionally managed beds. NEONATAL rooted cuttings integrate easily into container grow-on workflows, supporting predictable roll-out for flowerbed and hedge roles within historical ranges targeted at the municipal/urban sector.
Hedging and boundary features	Its moderate height and spread, combined with bushy structure and moderate prickliness, make it fit for characterful, informal hedging and boundary lines. Own-root material provides durable, gap-resistant stands where regeneration from the base secures continuity after pruning or stress. Bush-trained with discreet support and finished in 5–7 L premium containers, it is a logical specialty hedge offer for selection / specialty assortments targeting the landscape-specifier market.
Projects in colder or exposed sites	With H7 hardiness and USDA 4a equivalence, this cultivar is technically fit for colder and exposed locations, supporting consistent overwinter survival and multi-year stand planning. NEONATAL own-root production allows nurseries to hold and rotate stock without graft-union risk, reducing losses in harder winters. This aligns with premium container and specialty routes where reliability underpins professional credibility, particularly for schemes in northern regions and upland parks for the Scotland/North focus.
Medium-maintenance historical beds	Medium disease resistance and moderate maintenance needs suit professionally managed historical beds where occasional plant protection is acceptable. The defined, once-blooming window allows clear scheduling of grooming and any treatments around the main display period. Own-root plants recover well from renewal pruning, supporting sustainable long-term beds in 5–7 L premium container supply chains serving selection / specialty concepts for the heritage-garden segment.
Pollinator-accented heritage plantings	Semi-double, open blooms with accessible stamens offer partial pollinator value while retaining the historic Gallica character collectors expect. This makes it suitable for curated heritage-ecology blends in parks, specimen plantings and themed beds. NEONATAL tray-rooted stock simplifies integration into nursery propagation systems and container lines supplying premium, story-based assortments to retail/collector networks focused on eco-heritage customers.
Ornamental hip production and autumn interest	Moderate production of orange-red, ovoid hips extends ornamental value into autumn, useful for hedges, park shrub groups and specimen roles. Medium self-cleaning facilitates hip formation without excessive manual deadheading, supporting efficient maintenance in professional settings. Own-root stands give long-term productivity for ornamental fruit, aligning with selection / specialty positioning for nurseries targeting autumn-interest heritage offers to the wholesale/landscape trade.

Finished-product ideas

5–7 L Heritage Fragrance Shrub – Bush-trained with discreet support in 5–7 L premium containers, emphasising intense fragrance and historic value for selection / specialty benches – target audience/channel retail/collector.
Historic Park Hedge Unit – Own-root, bushy shrubs supplied as premium container stock for informal hedging, leveraging cold hardiness and ornamental hips – target audience/channel municipal/urban.
Thematic Gallica Collection Piece – Identity-verified NEONATAL material grown on into uniform 5–7 L shrubs for curated historical assortments and show-garden collections – target audience/channel public-realm and heritage-garden specifiers.
Premium Specimen for Urban Beds – Fragrant, once-blooming shrubs finished in specialty containers for focal use in flowerbeds and urban green spaces – target audience/channel wholesale/landscape.
Autumn Hip Feature Shrub – Container-grown plants positioned for ornamental hip display in park and hedge schemes, built from own-root NEONATAL stock for long-term stands – target audience/channel eco-heritage and landscape professionals.

Technical cultivar profile

Parameter	Data
Name and registration	Gallica 'Officinalis' Heritage rose, a historical Gallica shrub rose used under the trade name GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose; ARS exhibition name Officinalis, heritage rose collection type.
Origin and breeding	Selection of wild Rosa gallica with breeding year recorded as 1160; breeder and introduction data not provided, reflecting its long-established, pre-modern origin typical of heritage medicinal Gallica material.
Growth and structural characteristics	Bushy shrub 100–150 cm high, 80–130 cm spread, moderately thorny with dense, matte, grey‑green foliage; medium self-cleaning, allowing some spent blooms to remain and form hips, suited to shrub and hedge roles.
Flower morphology	Semi-double, cupped, medium-sized clusters (1.5–2.75 in) with 13–25 petals; once-blooming, not remontant, delivering a defined seasonal display window suited to historical and thematic schemes requiring concentrated flowering.
Colour data and phenology	Deep carmine-red with slight purplish tinge; ARS code dp, RHS 53A outer and 53C inner; buds dark crimson, flowers may lighten and take a purplish tone with age, with good colour retention and uniform rose-colour in full bloom.
Fragrance and aroma	Very strongly scented with a richly spicy sweet character that readily fills garden spaces; suitable where fragrance is a key specification criterion in premium and themed heritage plantings and collector-focused assortments.
Hip characteristics	Produces moderate numbers of ornamental hips, 10–16 mm, ovoid, orange-red; visually effective in hedges and shrub plantings, contributing useful autumn interest in park, boundary and specimen applications.
Resistance and winter hardiness	Hardy to approximately –34 to –32 °C, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5, USDA 4a; medium resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, requiring occasional plant protection in professional production and landscape settings.
Horticultural recommendations	Recommended for flowerbeds, parks, specimen use, hedges, urban green spaces and ornamental fruit; moderate maintenance, bush-trained with discreet support, best marketed as premium specialty container stock around 5–7 L.

GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' combines intense fragrance, historic character and robust hardiness on a durable own-root base that supports predictable, regenerating stands; we invite you to discuss scheduling and capacity for your heritage rose programmes.

Detailed product attributes

Product Identification Data

Product Name: GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose

Product Type: pharmaROSA® NEONATAL - rooted rose cutting

Product Quality: -

Cultivar Authenticity: Verified:03.06.2025

Cultivar Quality Rating: premium silver

Item Number: [971] 20-595 (14.02.2026) pharmarosaneonatal.co.uk

Name and Registration

Meaning of Cultivar Name: The Latin word "officinalis" indicates that it was used for medicinal (pharmaceutical) purposes.

Cultivar Synonym: Apothecary’s Rose; Red Rose of Lancaster; Rosa gallica var. officinalis; Old Red Damask

Registered Cultivar Name: -

Original Trade Name: Officinalis

Former Name: -

Current Trade Name: Gallica 'Officinalis' Heritage rose

American Rose Society Approved Exhibition Name: Officinalis

Rose Group: Gallica, Provins

Commercial Type: historical, gallica rose

Commercial Group: Historical rose

Exhibition Category: shrub rose

Collection: Heritage rose

Origin and Breeding

Initial Distributor: -

Introduction Year: Data not available

Registration Year: Data not available

Breeder: -

Breeding Company / Institution: unknown / no data

Breeding Year: -, 1160

Parentage: selection of wild Rosa gallica

Awards and Honours

Global and Lifetime Awards: -

Horticultural Ratings and Recommendations: -

Competition and Show Awards: -

Collectors' Recommendations: -

Growth and Structural Characteristics

Height: 3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm)

Spread: 2.6-4.3ft (80-130 cm)

Growth Habit: bushy

Foliage: The variety has dense foliage, with leaves that have a matte surface and a grey‑green hue.

Prickliness: moderately thorny

Self-Cleaning Description: Some of the spent flowers remain on the plant and tend to form rose hips.

Self-Cleaning Intensity: self-cleaning medium

Flower Morphology

Petal Count: 13-25

Flower Fullness: semi-double

Flower Shape: cupped

Flower Size: M (1,5-2,75 in)

Inflorescence Type: cluster-flowered

Colour Code: ARS code: dp RHS code: 53A (outer), 53C (inner)

Repeat Flowering: Not remontant; blooms once.

Colour Data and Phenology

Colour: carmine-red

Flower Colour Description: Deep, rich carmine-red shade with a slight purplish tinge.

Closed Bud: Dark crimson surface with a matt sheen and occasional carmine-red at the tip.

Newly Opened Flower: Intense carmine-red petals with a delicate purple tinge at the edges.

Full Bloom: Uniform rose-colour — crimson red with slightly lighter feathering in the centre.

Before Fading: The petals darken slightly, tending towards crimson red, without a bluish undertone.

Colour Fading Description: In strong sunlight it lightens slightly and, with age, may develop a purplish tint.

Colour Retention Level: good

Fragrance and Aroma

Fragrance Strength: very strongly scented, garden-filling rose

Fragrance Character: richly spicy sweet character

Pollinator Attraction: Semi-double, open blooms with readily accessible stamens attract bees.

Pollinator-Friendly Rating: Its semi-double flowers make it partially pollinator-friendly.

Soap and Cosmetic Use: -

Hip Characteristics

Maximum Hip Diameter: 10-16 mm

Hip Shape: egg-shaped

Hip Colour: orange-red

Hip Comment: Rose hips produced moderately in autumn, 10–16 mm in diameter, ovoid, orange-red and of ornamental value.

Resistance and Hardiness

Hardiness (°C): -34–-32 °C

RHS Hardiness Rating: H7

Swedish Hardiness Zone: Zon 5

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a

Heat and Drought Tolerance Description: Tolerates moderate drought; requires watering during prolonged drought.

Heat and Drought Tolerance Level: good

Disease Resistance: medium

powdery mildew – medium
black spot – medium
rust – medium

Horticultural Recommendations

Recommended product path: Premium container, specialty

Recommended target pot: 5–7 L

Release form: Bush-trained + discreet support

Recommended use: Maintenance requirement moderate; occasionally requires plant protection.

Primary Uses: flowerbed, park, specimen plant, hedge, urban green space, ornamental fruit

Comments

Positioning: Selection / specialty

Target customer/channel: Retail/collector

Main value proposition: Characterful bloom and historic value

GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose

Deep, rich carmine-red shade with a slight purplish tinge. - historical, gallica rose - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - richly spicy sweet character

Online rose order - carmine-red - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - Gallica 'Officinalis' - historical, gallica rose - (3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm))

Inflorescence: cluster-flowered Height: 3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm) Flower shape: cupped Winter hardiness: - carmine-red - - historical, gallica rose - Flower size: M (1,5-2,75 in) Flower size: M (1,5-2,75 in) - Height: 3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm) Height: 3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm) - Flower fullness: semi-double Gallica 'Officinalis' - Roses in the garden | pharmaROSA® Neonatal - premium silver -

We showcase the external appearance of the roses available for online purchase from our webshop.

Which product type is right for you?

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Information

In what condition do we dispatch the roses from our online shop?

Ask yourself the question: What final product do I want to create from it?

Wholesale of cuttings

PharmaRosa® NEONATAL is the cost‑effective starting point for rose product production.

As a uniform, own‑rooted propagation material, it provides a stable basis for further growing-on and can be integrated flexibly into different finished product production technologies.
Rooted in trays (rooted), 3–6‑month‑old, own‑rooted rose cutting.
Uniform developmental stage, with a root system that has thoroughly penetrated the plug.
For professional growing‑on.
Tray packaging: 10 pcs/tray.
Quality and varietal identity: production supported by a dedicated identification and traceability logic.
Can be transplanted during frost‑free periods, designed for finished product production.

PharmaRosa® NEONATAL provides a controlled, uniform starting stock for planned growing‑on that can be integrated into your own technology – especially where scheduling and varietal identity are paramount.

PharmaRosa® NEONATAL own-rooted rose propagation material in a plug, with a root system penetrating the plug (semi-finished product / semi-finished rose). PharmaRosa® NEONATAL rose propagation material size: 3–6‑month‑old, own-rooted cutting with a uniform developmental stage. PharmaRosa® NEONATAL tray stock: own-rooted rose propagation material in trays, uniform developmental stage (10 pcs/tray).

Captions (from left to right): Semi-finished product (NEONATAL own-rooted rose propagation material in a plug with a fully developed root system) • Size demonstration (3–6‑month‑old, uniform cutting) • Root system detail (plug penetrated by the root system) • Tray stock (10 pcs/tray, uniform developmental stage)