1 July 2005 ? Roses tell the history of the Royal National Rose Society
1876 ? 1899
The Society was formed on the 7th December 1876 at a meeting held at the Horticultural Club in London. The first National Show was held in 1877. In 1888 Her Majesty Queen Alexandra became Patron of the Society.
1879 ? MME ALFRED CARRIERE introduced. A vigorous climber, highly scented with beautiful clusters of white/ flushed soft pink double flowers, it grows up to 3m.
1883 ? ÉCLAIR introduced. A very dark red shrub rose (1m) with fragrant full blooms free flowering on fairly vigorous growth.
1900 ? 1924
1905 saw the first Autumn show as roses with later flowering qualities evolved. This increased activity made people more aware of the Society?s work and the membership grew to around 6000 by 1914. Roses attained a rich variety of colour, form and type.
1916 ? PAUL?S HIMALAYAN MUSK introduced. A rambler, ideal for pergolas, it has vigorous long trailing growth bearing dainty clusters of small very fragrant soft pink flowers.
1919 ? KATHLEEN HARROP introduced. This climbs to 3m with clusters of soft shell pink, fragrant, double blooms on arching thornless stems.
1925 ? 1949
In 1925 Queen Mary became Patron of the Society. Although much activity ceased during the War a surge of new colours and types appeared from 1947 onwards. The dainty five petal cluster Hybrid Tea rose was introduced in 1947.
1927 ? MME GREGOIRE STAECHELIN introduced. Free flowering in early summer, this delicately scented climber has huge ruffled blooms, pale pink with a deeper pink veined reverse.
1947 ? DUSKY MAIDEN introduced. This fragrant floribunda has beautiful dark, velvety red petals around prominent rich golden-yellow stamens.
1950 ? 1974
In 1953 Her Royal Highness, Princess Mary, the Princess Royal became Patron of the Society. Ten years later she opened the Society?s new headquarters and gardens in Chiswell Green Hertfordshire. The royal patronage was graciously accepted by the Queen Mother and 1965 saw the name changed to ?Royal National Rose Society?. The British Association of Rose Breeders was established to ensure that new roses met strict standards.
1953 ? MAIGOLD introduced. A climber (2.5m) with abundant semi-double coppery yellow, scented blooms.
1964 ? BLUE MOON introduced. A hybrid tea (1m) with double, fragrant lilac blooms on upright growth.
1975 ? 1999
1976 was an event packed centenary year aimed at raising the profile of the rose. The British Association of Rose Breeders planted 5000 roses at Springfields in Spalding and over 10,000 rose buttonholes were given to people in Trafalgar Square. The Rose Festival moved from the Gardens of the Rose to Hampton Court in 1991.
1978 ? MARGARET MERRIL introduced. Floribunda rose (80 cm) with clusters of white, very fragrant blooms.
1982 ? BONICA introduced. Ground cover rose with wonderful rose pink, fragrant, double blooms.
2000 ? to date
To mark the Queen Mother?s 100th Birthday in 2000, the Society supplied 1 million rose petals which were scattered during the celebrations. In 2004 the stock in the Gardens of the Rose was catalogued and members visited and took plants away before work started on the new garden scheduled to open in Spring 2007.
2000 ? CLARENCE HOUSE given to and named by Her Majesty the Queen Mother to celebrate her 100th Birthday. A climber (3m) with, very fragrant, creamy white old fashioned blooms flecked with yellow.
2003 ? ST ALBAN named to honour the Royal National Rose Society for all its good work. A shrub (1.2m) or climber (2.5m) with delicately scented full blooms of rich yellow.
1879 ? MME ALFRED CARRIERE introduced. A vigorous climber, highly scented with beautiful clusters of white/ flushed soft pink double flowers, it grows up to 3m.
1883 ? ÉCLAIR introduced. A very dark red shrub rose (1m) with fragrant full blooms free flowering on fairly vigorous growth.
1916 ? PAUL?S HIMALAYAN MUSK introduced. A rambler, ideal for pergolas, it has vigorous long trailing growth bearing dainty clusters of small very fragrant soft pink flowers.
1919 ? KATHLEEN HARROP introduced. This climbs to 3m with clusters of soft shell pink, fragrant, double blooms on arching thornless stems.
1927 ? MME GREGOIRE STAECHELIN introduced. Free flowering in early summer, this delicately scented climber has huge ruffled blooms, pale pink with a deeper pink veined reverse.
1947 ? DUSKY MAIDEN introduced. This fragrant floribunda has beautiful dark, velvety red petals around prominent rich golden-yellow stamens.
1953 ? MAIGOLD introduced. A climber (2.5m) with abundant semi-double coppery yellow, scented blooms.
1964 ? BLUE MOON introduced. A hybrid tea (1m) with double, fragrant lilac blooms on upright growth.
1978 ? MARGARET MERRIL introduced. Floribunda rose (80 cm) with clusters of white, very fragrant blooms.
1982 ? BONICA introduced. Ground cover rose with wonderful rose pink, fragrant, double blooms.
2000 ? CLARENCE HOUSE given to and named by Her Majesty the Queen Mother to celebrate her 100th Birthday. A climber (3m) with, very fragrant, creamy white old fashioned blooms flecked with yellow.
2003 ? ST ALBAN named to honour the Royal National Rose Society for all its good work. A shrub (1.2m) or climber (2.5m) with delicately scented full blooms of rich yellow.