LÉDA – white historic Damask rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL rooted cutting
Historic Damask fragrance remontant container premium collectors pollinators LÉDA offers a verified, own‑root propagation base for nurseries seeking stable production of a distinctive historic Damask shrub with very strong, classic rose scent and eye‑catching white flowers edged raspberry‑red. Its remontant, clustered, medium‑sized rosette blooms support repeatable flowering performance for premium, 5–7 L bush‑trained production with discreet support. Own‑root material underpins long‑term, renewable stock stands with predictable behaviour for thematic and collection plantings that must remain uniform over time. Well suited to premium container and specimen routes, it aligns with UK collector and fragrance‑garden expectations, including sites that reflect the North and Scotland’s need for robust winter and wind tolerance, while fitting into nursery and wholesale supply chains serving retail and specialist historic rose assortments; the typical development arc is roots in year one, structural framework in year two, and full ornamental expression from year three.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Premium Historic Damask Bush – Bush-trained with discreet support for a compact, upright, fragrant historic shrub; positioned as a premium container, specialty SKU for fragrance gardens and traditional ambience – target audience/channel: nurseries supplying specialist retail collectors.
- Collection-Series Historic Damask Line – Use own-root LÉDA as a core cultivar in a labelled historic Damask series, grown in 5–7 L and focused on authenticity and strong scent – target audience/channel: thematic and show-garden curators and heritage-focused garden centres.
- Fragrance-Garden Feature Specimen – Select the strongest, most uniform plants for 40–50 L tubs as high-impact entry or terrace features, emphasising very strong fragrance and bicolour character – target audience/channel: estates, boutique projects, and upmarket independent retailers.
- Pollinator-Conscious Historic Shrub Offer – Market LÉDA within a semi-double, pollinator-accommodating historic shrub set, using uniform own-root 5–7 L plants and medium-maintenance guidance – target audience/channel: public-realm suppliers and environmentally profiled retail programmes.
- Dual-Purpose Garden and Cutting Bush – Position 5–7 L LÉDA as a fragrant historic shrub that also yields occasional speciality stems, supporting value-add communication without changing the primary shrub route – target audience/channel: nurseries serving hobby florists and specialist rose collectors.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Damask historic shrub rose; current trade name LÉDA – white historic Damask rose; American Rose Society exhibition name Leda; collection: Historic rose; commercial group: Historical rose; registration data not provided. |
| Origin and breeding |
Historic United Kingdom Damask rose, bred around 1818 and in commerce before 1827; breeder, parentage and initial distributor are unknown or not provided; represents traditional Damask heritage with collected-origin status. |
| Awards and recognition |
Not provided. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub, approximately 90–150 cm high with 70–110 cm spread; dense, slightly glossy grey-green foliage and moderate prickliness; suited to bush training with discreet support for bed, container or specimen use. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double rosette flowers in clusters, medium-sized (about 1.5–2.75 inches); 13–25 petals; remontant with abundant second flush; form and structure align with historic Damask aesthetic and fragrance-focused garden use. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Snow-white petals edged raspberry-red; ARS white, RHS 155C and 57A; buds deep crimson with off-white tips, opening to pure white with vivid crimson edge, fading to milky off-white with a finer pinkish margin; very good colour retention. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, classic rose fragrance, clearly noticeable from a distance; fragrance character aligned with traditional Damask scent, making the cultivar highly suitable for fragrance gardens and for adding olfactory impact to collections. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of decorative, ovoid red hips, approximately 15–25 mm in diameter; hips add autumn-winter interest for collection or specimen plantings and can be used to extend the visual season in display areas. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; good tolerance of heat and drought; winter hardiness around −32 to −29 °C, corresponding to RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5 and USDA Zone 4b; medium maintenance with occasional protection. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended as flowerbed, container, specimen and cut-flower shrub; suited to bush-trained production with discreet support, primarily in premium 5–7 L containers; maintenance requirement medium, with occasional plant protection advised. |
LÉDA offers a strongly fragrant, visually distinctive historic Damask shrub on a predictable, regenerative own-root base, supporting durable, uniform stock and premium historic ranges; please feel free to discuss scheduling and capacity options with us.
