Is this rose a China hybrid?

Our Heritage of Old Roses - 20-21 - 1987
Judyth A. McLeod

For some reason, then, the original fragrant autumn Musk rose lost favour by the beginning of the nineteenth century, and was gradually supplanted by the much larger summer flowering R. brunonii which is easily recognised by its long drooping downy leaves. This latter is the Musk rose of Miss Willmott and of Bean.

Which all leads us to that most charming of English garden writers, the great E.A. Bowles who, in My Garden in Summer says, 'The true and rare old Musk Rose exists here, but in a juvenile state at present, for it is not many years since I brought it as cuttings from the splendid old specimen on the Grange at Bitton and I must not expect its deliciously scented, late in the season flowers before it has scrambled up its wall space'.

G.S. Thomas, who unravelled the mystery of the old Musk rose with all the detective skills needed to prove he would have been a decided asset to New Scotland Yard, went to E.A. Bowles home, Myddelton House, in late August, 1963 and 'there on a cold north-west facing wall of the house was a rose just coming into flower. It was without doubt the Old Musk Rose. I had walked straight to it'. From this specimen G.S. Thomas took both cuttings and material for budding. The budded material flowered in their first season and, as G.S. Thomas explained, were to his amazement double flowered forms which exactly resembled the portrait by Redoute. Bowles' rose was a single so that, in one go, G.S. Thomas was rewarded with the sponteneously sported double form of the rose (apparently a common event in the past) as well as the single form. This material has since been disseminated by  Graham Thomas. Our own shrub bears both single and double flowers in profusion. 

This note may explain why the Musk roses were said to be strictly late bloomers (August, September). Being cut back nearly to the ground seems to be a good way to delay the flowering, and possibly to increase the display.

The Compleat Florist (2nd ed. 1706)
Louis Liger d'Auxerre

Of the Rosa Moschata, alias Damask-Roses.
Your Damask Rose-Tree, requires a good Kitchin-Garden-Ground, a hot Sun, and frequent watering. One Advantage it has, that 'tis not afraid of Cold, and yields Flowers several Months in the Year.

The Rules of Gardening injoin us in every Autumn and Spring, to cut the old Branches of the Damask-Rose Tree to within Half a Foot of the Ground, that the Eyes which there remain may give Rise to many new Branches, which being unexhausted, will produce Roses in very great abundance.

We propagate this Species by the Sucker, which sprout from it, and which being planted in a fresh Place, readily take Root, and in a little time become pretty Shrubs.