Why does Heirloom Roses continue to sell a different rose under the name La Ville de Bruxelles? Supposedly they've been told of the problem over the years but continue to sell the incorrect rose. Seems like very unethical business practice
Many nurseries decline to change rose names despite being told they're incorrect. They don't see it as unethical. They don't think adequate research has been done to justify changing, or they trust the supplier, or they assume the breeder's descendants will have the correct rose, or international experts grow it by that name, or that's what it's labelled in Sangerhausen (though it has been through two world wars), or that's the name they've always grown it under, or it's the name the public know and ask for it by. It's exasperating.
Supposedly the rose Heirloom Roses sells as La Ville de Bruxelles reblooms. And pictures I've seen show a bloom with an open cupped center with the stamens showing. Some have suggested it might be Comte de Chambord, but they also sell that rose and you'd think they wouldn't be the same. I bought my LVDB from them recently before I knew that theirs apparently isn't legit. Mine hasn't bloomed yet, but the leaves are a darker matte green with smooth edges, not the lighter green and serrated edge of the real LVDB. Also the sepals of their rose aren't elongated and decorative like they should be.
The repeat blooming Ville de Bruxelles has been around for decades. Back in the 90s, or maybe earlier, there was a small vogue for historic roses and at least one wholesaler decided to get in on the new craze. Several odd mislabels entered the rose trade at that time. of which your VdB is one. There was also the repeat blooming Koningin von Denmark which turned out to be (probably) Jacques Cartier. The present owners of Heirloom are not experts about, and I gather, not all that interested in heritage roses. The alleged VdeB would have been part of the stock inherited from the former owners. Researching of which might well be a rabbit hole they don't want to go down.
We do not have any photos of LVdB showing rebloom. If Heirloom's rose shows rebloom, we can make a separate listing. Any other nurseries having the same?
How large is the bloom? Is "blooms so large branches bend down with their weight" accurate or just hyperbole? That was a description I foun on the label on a waxed 5&10 plant.
I have two of these rose bushes, and the blooms are large. They are approximately 3" diameter, and there are multiple blooms on a stem, between 3 and 5. The lower branches on my bush do bend down, but primary central branches remain strong. It is a beautiful large bloom and very fragrant.
