A description from Monticello: Hardy, deciduous, flowering shrub. Description: Bright rose-pink, semi-double flowers that deepen as the flower ages, late spring through the growing season; deep green foliage tinged red. Habit: Dense multi-stemmed shrub grows to 5' feet high and around 5' feet wide. Culture: Prefers full sun to light shade and rich garden loam. Cold Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 through 10. The distinctive rose was discovered by Charles Walker growing on a roadside in Georgia in 1984 and he gave it the study name Thomaston Road Dwarf China. In 1998 Doug Seidel, after seeing it in Marie Butler's Virginia garden, believed it had the characteristics of a deep pink Noisette rose (Rosa noisettiana purpurea) illustrated in Les Roses (1817-1824), by Pierre-Joseph Redoute, the French artist who painted all of the roses of the Empress Josephine's garden.
Is it possible that this is the same Noisette as the 'Noisette à fleurs rouges'? That rose was apparently illustrated by Redouté, according to the references at the HMF record: http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.59549&tab=7
To further muddy the waters, I have this reference from The Rose Amateur's Guide by Thomas Rivers, Jr., 2d ed., 1840, p.153
The Red Noisette, a very old variety, was raised from seed by Mr. Wells of Redleaf: it is a pretty bright semi-double rose, now eclipsed by new and fine varieties.
Possibly. But without MORE INFORMATION from other gardeners we will never know. For instance the "Redoute's Red Noisette" file gives no colour, no class, no height, no nothing! Not even who found it or when. Without this information, there is Buckley's chance of identifying anything.
Thory gives some pretty good information about this rose (listed in my el cheap version as Rosa Noisettiana purpurea, Pink Noisette, on page 338) Does the foundling age darker or lighter, for example.
Thanks, Virginia, for the reference on 'The Red Noisette'. I've added this to a new file, and also added a possible synonym, with note, that it may be 'Wells Pink'.
