WILLIAM LOBB – deep purple historic moss rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Heritage character, collector appeal and a distinctive moss phenotype make William Lobb a focused choice for nurseries building themed ranges and historical assortments from own-root material. This rooted cutting format gives a renewable, long-term production base for premium 5–7 L container lines and bush-trained plants with discreet support, well suited to park, specimen and flower bed projects where curators value authenticity and documented origin. With hardiness to H7 and USDA 4b, it supports UK-wide supply, including cooler, exposed regions with reliable winter tolerance and wind resilience. As an own-root line it underpins low-replacement, predictable capacity over time, progressing naturally from root establishment in year one to structural framework in year two and full ornamental value from year three, aligning with planned release windows for historic shrub rose programmes. The strong, long-lasting fragrance, large double blooms, and once-flowering display help position finished product as a seasonal showpiece for discerning wholesale and institutional buyers who value provenance and a rare, deep purple aesthetic.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Heritage Moss Feature Bush – Own-root, bush-trained plants with discreet support, finished in 5–7 L premium containers as a named 1855 moss rose for heritage beds; positioned as a selection/specialty item for retail/collector channels.
- AGM Historic Fragrance Collection Trio – A curated multi-SKU set where William Lobb represents the richly scented, deep purple AGM historic shrub element in coordinated 5–7 L pots; targeted at thematic rose gardens via specialist nurseries and retail/collector partners.
- Park Specimen Premium Line – Taller, well-framed own-root plants selected for 150–230 cm performance and strong colour effect, supplied from 5–7 L containers for park, specimen and flower bed projects through project-oriented retail/collector wholesalers.
- Historic Single-Flush Highlight – Once-flowering, large double rosette blooms and dramatic colour shifts promoted as a seasonal highlight SKU, scheduled to peak in display periods for show gardens and historic collections; sold as premium container, specialty stock via retail/collector outlets.
- Cold-Region Heritage Assortment – A grouped offer for H7 and USDA 4b-capable historic roses where William Lobb fills the purple, moss, strong-fragrance slot, produced on own roots in 5–7 L for northern heritage gardens supplied through specialist retail/collector networks.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Historical moss rose from the Heritage rose collection, traded as William Lobb – deep purple historic moss rose – Laffay; ARS exhibition name William Lobb; unregistered cultivar with verified authenticity status. |
| Origin and breeding |
Historic moss rose seedling descended from ‘Gloire des Mousseux’, bred in France by Jean Laffay and introduced in 1855; initial distribution by Jean Laffay, breeding year and introduction year both recorded as 1855. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, first granted in 1993, confirming tested garden performance and ornamental merit for historic rose use where recognised, particularly in UK evaluation contexts. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, slightly arching shrub habit, typically 150–230 cm high with 100–160 cm spread, moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and densely thorned shoots; weak self-cleaning, with most spent blooms needing deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double rosette flowers, 2.75–3.95 inches across, in clusters; 26–39 petals give a full, textured appearance. Not remontant, providing a single main flush of bloom, with limited pollinator attraction due to dense petal formation. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds are dark violet–purple, newly opened blooms deep crimson-purple with pink-lilac sheen; colour mutes to smoky greyish-lilac and then to silvery tones, giving a crimson-tinged aubergine-lilac effect before medium-level fading in sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scented rose character with a full-bodied, rich fragrance profile; high ornamental fragrance value for sensory plantings, although the very double flower form means it is primarily appreciated for scent and display, not for pollinators. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ovoid hips produced, 14–22 mm diameter, red–orange (RHS 40A); not typically the focus of ornamental use but relevant for historic authenticity and seed set where collections value full life-cycle representation. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately -32 to -29 °C, with RHS H7 and Swedish zone 5, USDA 4b ratings; disease susceptibility medium for powdery mildew and black spot and very susceptible to rust, implying need for regular, planned plant protection programmes. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best used as a park, specimen or flower bed shrub, bush-trained with discreet support. Maintenance requirement high, including regular fungicide programmes and deadheading; recommended for premium container, specialty production, 5–7 L pots and managed sites. |
William Lobb offers a distinctive historic moss identity, strong fragrance and hardy shrub performance on a predictable, regenerative own-root base, making it a sound choice where you wish to plan specialist heritage capacity and discuss aligned scheduling.
