JULIE DE MERSAN – pink historic moss rose - Thomas
Historic yet fully viable for today’s premium propagation, JULIE DE MERSAN offers moss rose character on a bushy, medium‑tall framework that suits specimen and collection‑grade production. As own‑root pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material, the 3–6‑month tray‑rooted cuttings provide a stable, renewable base for nursery propagation beds and 5–7 L premium containers, integrating smoothly into high‑volume scheduling while supporting specialist, selection‑driven ranges. Once‑flowering, very double, cluster‑borne blooms in graded pink tones with intense fragrance position this cultivar as a niche collector highlight for thematic and historic rose gardens, including curated wholesale programmes for retail/collector channels. Moderate disease and winter hardiness across challenging UK zones supports reliable collection stands, particularly where winters and wind can be demanding in northern and exposed regions, and own‑root structure allows the typical year‑one root establishment, year‑two shoot build‑up, and year‑three full ornamental expression growers expect from durable heritage shrubs.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Historic Moss Feature Shrub – Own-root, bush-trained plants with discreet support, once-flowering but highly fragrant, positioned as a premium container historic moss rose for specimen and flower bed use – retail/collector channels.
- Scented Heritage Collection Pot – Curated 5–7 L line focused on very strong, resinous fragrance and historic provenance, grown from NEONATAL trays for homogeneous performance in scented and collection gardens – specialist retail programmes.
- Moss Rose Thematic Bed Line – Batch-produced shrubs from tray-rooted cuttings, selected for bushy habit and graded pink pompon blooms, supplied as premium container, specialty stock for thematic moss ranges – garden centre heritage benches.
- Cold-Zone Historic Range Unit – H7/USDA 5b hardy own-root shrubs aimed at northern and exposed projects, delivered in uniform 5–7 L pots for reliable planting in collection beds and specimen roles – public-realm and collector-focussed nurseries.
- Hip-Interest Heritage Accent – Shrubs selected for occasional red spherical hips and dense foliage, finished as premium historic accents for collection and scented gardens where seasonal detail matters – niche mail-order and connoisseur outlets.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Historic moss shrub rose marketed as Julie de Mersan, a historic rose type with current trade name “Julie de Mersan Historic rose Thomas”; unregistered cultivar with American Rose Society exhibition name Julie de Mersan. |
| Origin and breeding |
French historic cultivar bred by Désiré Thomas around 1854, with parentage unknown; first distributed by F. C. Davis in Australia in 1862, now maintained as a historical rose within specialist and collection assortments. |
| Awards and recognition |
not provided |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub habit, 105–175 cm high with 70–110 cm spread; dense, matte, dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; own-root production supports durable, regenerating frameworks suitable for long-lived collection and specimen plantings. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, cluster-borne blooms with 40+ petals in a round pompon form; non-remontant once-flowering pattern delivering a strong seasonal display suited to historic and thematic garden concepts rather than continuous-flowering demands. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep pink buds open to glossy mid-pink flowers, then fade through vivid pink to pastel with a subtle silvery tinge; ARS pink, RHS 57C outer and 62B inner tones; moderate colour retention with attractive veining across the main flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling scent with a richly sweet, resinous character; primarily ornamental value as the very double blooms restrict stamen access, giving weak pollinator attraction but high sensory impact in scented and collection garden settings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional spherical red hips form after flowering, 11–19 mm in diameter; hips add modest seasonal and historical authenticity interest where fruiting is desired within collection or display plantings, under suitable management. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate disease resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; winter hardy to approximately -26 – -23 °C (H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); tolerates heat but only moderate drought, favouring evenly moist soils under professional care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for flower beds, specimen roles, collection and scented gardens; best as bush-trained plants with discreet support, medium maintenance and occasional pest control; suited to premium container, specialty production from own-root NEONATAL cuttings. |
JULIE DE MERSAN combines historic moss character, powerful fragrance and robust cold-climate shrub performance on a predictable, regenerating own-root base, making it a reliable choice for premium collection ranges where we can jointly plan volumes and scheduling.
