The Centifolias

I am familiar with about 25 varieties of Centifolia roses, or Provence roses as they are also called, this being almost the entire collection. No one really knows their true origin, nor is anyone altogether sure about their evolution through the centuries. It is clear, however, that their genealogy is very mixed and includes among other species R. gallica and R. x damascena. In the past there appear to have been many more Centifolia roses: hundreds of different varieties were thought to have been developed in Holland in the 16th and 17th centuries and, since the Dutch have always been such good horticulturists, there is no reason to doubt this. Even accepting that so many roses of various kinds have become extinct over the rears. I am still rather mystified as to why so few Centifolias have survived to this dav.

Although rose literature over the ages does not record this, I believe that the Dutch rose breeders had stock of ancient Centifolia-tvpe roses with which to work, perhaps roses pre-dating Roman times. This theory is borne from the fact that most Centifolias that have survived until now have flowers that are far too double for easy hybridization. Furthermore, the climate in Europe is said to have been colder three or four centuries ago than it is now, and breeding roses would have been difficult without much artificial heat. I believe those Centifolias that have become lost to us today were the single and semi-double forms, which would have been much easier to hybridize, with only the fully double offspring being selected for cultivation and wider distribution — as cut flowers perhaps, the main purpose for which the Dutch would have grown them. Such full-petalled roses are seen in many of the paintings by the Dutch and Flemish old masters and other artists of the day, often shown being worn as decoration by equally well-proportioned women, or in posies, vases, and elaborate arrangements of other flowers and fruit.

CENTIFOLIAS FOR THE GARDEN

It is not surprising that Centifolias have been depicted time and again by artists down the ages, for without question they are very beautiful roses. The majority have flowers composed of many petals — the name centifolia means one hundred leaves — all packed together to create flat, very double cushions when fully open. Although one or two members of this group are white and a few others are reddish shades, pink is by far the predominant color of Centifolias as a whole. Almost all flower only once in a season. Another consistent attribute of the group is fragrance, which is distinctive and almost intoxicating in strength.

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