The 'Luciae' or 'Wichuriana' Rambler Roses
The 'Luciae' or 'Wichuriana' hybrids are a small group of rambler roses
bred from either Rosa luciae wichuriana or Rosa luciae luciae during the last
years of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth. Much of
the early work was done by Barbier et Cie and there would be
every justification to call this group of roses "The Barbier Group". With very
rare exceptions the roses in this group are from the seed of either Rosa luciae
luciae or Rosa luciae wichuriana and the pollen of other roses; in many there
is no R. multiflora or to R. sempervirens ancestry. The largest collection of
Barbier Ramblers is to be found growing at the Roseraie de
l'Hay near Paris.
The French nursery of Barbier et Cie, which subsequently
became Barbier Freres et Compagnie, introduced more than fifty
Ramblers though sadly today many are no longer in commerce. In the first
quarter of the century Barbier released many wonderful cultivars from Rosa
luciae luciae using top class Tea, China and Noisette roses as the pollen
bearers. At the same time, and also in the Orleans region of France, the
nursery of Fauque et Fils were also raising hybrids from R.l.
luciae, as indeed was the nursery of Remi Tanne near Rouen.
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In the USA during the same period rose breeders were also engaged
in similar hybridisation using R. l. wichuriana rather than R. l. luciae.
Foremost among the American breeders were Michael Horvath in
Rhode Island, Michael Walsh and W Albert Manda in
New Jersey, and Dr Van Fleet of Maryland.
After the
1920's interest in these Ramblers in Europe waned and there was little further
development, however in the USA there was a continuation of the breeding and
many fine roses of Wichuriana ancestry, both Rambler and Climber, were raised
during the 1930's and 1940's particularly by Dr & Mrs
Brownsell in Rhode Island, and Martin Jacobus in New
Jersey.
In 1910 Dr W Van Fleet had introduced a rose of
the same name, twenty years later a clear light pink sport was introduced by
Somerset Rose Nursery. 'New Dawn' is usually classified as
a Climber rather than a Rambler, it has medium size semi-double flowers, a
strong scent, and is repeat flowering: it has been used widely by breeders and
is the parent of many fine Climbers. |
Rosa luciae luciae originates from China, and Rosa luciae wichuriana
from Japan, in all probability they are the same in all but name, though the
Ramblers bred from R. l. luciae are considerably hardier than those from R. l.
wichuriana, and it is probably the reason many of the Barbier Ramblers have
survived in Northern Europe. A common feature of the roses in this group is
that they all have beautiful glossy foliage of refined shape and form;
unfortunately however this invaribly becomes mildewed when grown against a wall
, and they are best grown in positions where they have totally free movement of
air on trellis, arches or pergola.
The flower forms vary from cultivar to cultivar but they are almost
all of 'old rose form'. Some are flat and others slightly cupped; some quilled
and some quartered; some are loosely double and others single; but without
exception, to a greater or lesser degree, they all possess the most wonderful
fragrance which is often referred to as being of 'fresh apple'. Many cultivars
still retain the trait of the old roses and possess the factor that allows
their fragrance to 'float' on the air.
Whilst most of the roses in this
group will have the occasional flower from June to October they are not fully
recurrent, and have their main flowering in June. It may be a short flowering
period but is one of the joys of the summer. |
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Our collection of 'Luciae' or 'Wichuriana' Ramblers had to be moved to
allow building work to be carried out and is now together in a 'rose walk', as
time goes by we hope to source further elusive Barbier cultivars in Europe.
Details of ramblers of Luciae or Wichuriana descent which have no R.
sempervirens or R. multiflora in their breeding are found in
R. l. luciae and R. l.
witchuriana Ramblers - Direct hybrids those indicated with a
Ö are to be
found growing in our garden .......... and hopefully some of those we do not
have will find their way here before too long!
Of course many fine roses were raised from R. l. witchuriana or R. l.
luciae where ancestry can also be traced back to R. sempervirens and/or R.
multiflora, details of these are included in Ramblers of mixed
Wichuriana breeding.
and there are of course a few other roses to be found in our garden,
these are included in General Roses.
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