GIPSY BOY – crimson historic-Bourbon rose - Geschwind
Historic Bourbon aroma clustered hedging hardiness container heritage GIPSY BOY offers nurseries a verified, own-root starting point for premium historic shrub production, combining once-flowering impact, strong, long-lasting scent and dense, mid‑green foliage in a 130–180 cm upright, arching bush ideal for 5–7 L specialty containers and supported, bush-trained release. Its H7 classification and low‑temperature tolerance make it suitable for exposed northern and inland sites, supporting reliable scheduling for thematic and collector-focused ranges where provenance and cultivar identity are critical. The own-root form supports a practical development arc from roots in year one, structural shoots in year two and full ornamental value in year three, aligning well with UK production cycles and premium historic rose positioning.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Geschwind Heritage Bush – Own-root, bush-trained shrubs with discreet support, highlighting the cultivar’s Geschwind origin and strong fragrance for premium historic ranges – heritage-focused retailers
- Fragrance Feature Container – Scent-led 5–7 L container line emphasising the full-bodied bourbon aroma and clustered crimson flowers as a once-flowering seasonal highlight – garden-centre premium benches
- Historic Hedge Module – Multi-unit offer for informal hedging using dense, arching plants from uniform own-root containers, specified for parks and estates – landscape and estate contractors
- Thematic Bourbon Collection Pack – Coordinated SKU within a Bourbon and historic collection, leveraging the cultivar’s colour transitions and provenance story in specialty bush-trained form – collector-oriented mail-order
- Cold-Region Rose Garden Line – Range segment built on the cultivar’s winter hardiness and reliable shrub structure, supplied as robust own-root bushes ready for bed and specimen use – Scotland/North England distributors
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Historic Bourbon shrub rose marketed as Gipsy Boy, a historical rose type with American Rose Society exhibition name Gipsy Boy; unregistered cultivar with verified identity within the pharmaROSA NEONATAL range. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Rudolf Geschwind in Austria around 1909 from a ‘Russelliana’ seedling; first distributed by Peter Lambert in Germany, representing early twentieth-century Central European historic rose breeding. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Own-root shrub with upright, arching habit reaching about 130–180 cm high and 100–150 cm spread; dense, mid‑green matt foliage and strong prickliness support structural and hedging applications. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double blooms with approximately 26–39 petals, cup-shaped to flat-opening in clustered inflorescences; once-flowering habit provides a concentrated seasonal display rather than repeat blooms. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Flowers open deep crimson with purplish-violet centres, fading through smoky lilac-pink to mauve; good colour retention with slight lightening in strong sun, offering varied tones across the flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting, full-bodied fragrance with classic Bourbon character; primarily ornamental in value rather than for cosmetic processing, but well suited to scented garden and collection concepts. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to the double flower form, hips appear only occasionally; when present they are orange-red, spherical, about 12–18 mm diameter, offering modest but useful ornamental autumn and winter interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust with medium maintenance needs; classified RHS H7 and suitable down to around –32 to –29 °C, supporting use in colder, exposed planting sites. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended as a bush-trained shrub with discreet support in 5–7 L premium containers for flower beds, specimens, hedging and park use; medium maintenance including occasional disease control and deadheading strategy. |
GIPSY BOY combines historic Bourbon character, strong fragrance and cold-tolerant shrub structure with own-root predictability and regeneration, making it a stable option for premium historic ranges where we can jointly plan capacity and timelines.