Rosa × odorata explained

Rosa × odorata or Rosa odorata is a hybrid flowering plant of the genus Rosa native to Yunnan in southwest China, whose taxonomy has been confused. It has been considered a hybrid of Rosa gigantea and Rosa chinensis, or as a quite rare wild species that includes R. gigantea. The wild forms are cultivated to some extent. Cultivars were developed in China in ancient times from R. chinensis crosses, and these have been important in the ancestry of the tea-scented China roses, also called tea roses, and their descendants the hybrid tea roses.

Varieties

Four varieties of the species are recognized in the Flora of China:[1]

Cultivars

The cultivar R. odorata 'Mutabilis' is widely cultivated, and is notable for the fact that the blooms change colour from yellow to pink. Growing to 1.5m (04.9feet) tall and broad, it is a lax, thornless shrub. It prefers an open position in full sun. This cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]

Other cultivar names include 'Bengal Crimson'[3] [4] and Bengal Beauty.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011291 Flora of China: Rosa odorata
  2. Web site: Rosa × odorata 'Mutabilis' (Ch). Royal Horticultural Society . 2017 . 2017-01-15.
  3. Web site: Rosa x odorata Bengal Crimson | from Specialist in Old Roses.
  4. Web site: The Botanic Nursery - Catalogue . 2020-04-11 . 2020-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024204458/https://www.thebotanicnursery.co.uk/search.php?srch=Rosa . dead .
  5. Web site: Rosa x odorata Sanquinea Group Tea rose China rose chinensis 'Sanguinea' chinensis sanguinea 'Sanguinea' 'Bengal Beauty' 'Bengal Crimson' Chinese rose Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice.
  6. Web site: Rosa × odorata 'Bengal Crimson' AGM. 22 November 2019.