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'Bengale verte' rose Reviews & Comments
Discussion id : 160-182
most recent 1 FEB HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 1 FEB by odinthor
I would like to add the original from the 1860 Gardeners' Chronicle, of which at present HMF has the French translation from Revue des Jardins et des Champs of that year. But before I do, I would like to call attention to its statement that the rose in question had not heretofore been found, or at least found offered, in England; and I mention this because I have seen statements in modern books to the effect that the Green Rose originated in a small nursery in England, and that the Bambridge & Harrison firm which was long credited with its initial introduction was an English nursery. I find no trace of Bambridge & Harrison in England; neither do I find any listing for them in Ray Desmond's exhaustive Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists.

For that matter, the existence at all of Bambridge & Harrison itself is an elusive thing which very much needs clarification. The first one sees of Harrison, alone, comes evidently in 1899; and "Baubridge" [sic] doesn't show up until 1902, both of these from French publications. What prompted the French mentions of Harrison, then Baubridge/Bambridge? What prompted the correction from "Baubridge" to "Bambridge"?

Be that as it may, here, as promised, from the Gardeners' Chronicle, vol. 20, September 22, 1860, p. 852, and one gathers by Lindley, who was the publication's editor, is the original article, sans italics and other typographical whimsicalities:

“There is to be found in French Rose Catalogues a certain R. Bengale verte, which we seek in vain in those of England. In the Prix Courant for 1857 of Guillot Père & Clement, of Lyons, mention is made of a certain Rosa Viridiflora, ‘à fleurs vertes, fl. moy., vert foncé, couleur du feuillage,’ first introduced into the world in the autumn of 1856, price 2 francs. Some thought this an apocryphal announcement; most believers formed an opinion of the new comer by no means complimentary; a very few resolved to judge for themselves. At last the infant has shown its face in various places between Ross-shire and London, and a very strange face it proves to be. Conceive a China Rose with every part bright green, deep on the outside, pallid in the middle. The calyx wholly unchanged; the five natural petals transformed into five small broad green leaves, and all the rest of the centre consisting of pale green staps of various degrees of narrowness, spreading evenly round the middle and forming a green star with innumerable points. Such is the Rose Bengale verte. Scent it has none, nor does it show even the feeblest inclination to exchange its verdure for a rosy hue. It is however quite regular in its form and greenness, no change having been remarked in it since the year of its birth. It is now a well-established 5-year-old with a fixed habit.

“It must be owned that a green-eyed monster like this is not inviting. Nobody except the lovers of curiosities would think of nursing it. Nevertheless it is a really important question whether out of such a beginning something beautiful may one day spring. That even is by no means improbable. Although misshapen, Bengale verte is not hopelessly barren. Upon turning over the folds of its flower we found in one instance two or three perfect ovaries with their style and stigma in a natural condition. Suppose some Rose with glowing colours could be persuaded to fertilize it. Seeds thus obtained would certainly exhibit some departure from its primitive features—maybe a great departure. And then, by the ordinary methods of breeding it may be expected that a new race would be secured. The experiment would cost nothing; and if successful would secure a rich reward. Will no fair gardener try? It is ladies’ work, and to those lovers of all that is new we commend it. How delightful it would be to find a young Rose with double flowers streaked with red and white and delicate green. If such a flower is to be found this Bengale verte points the way to it.” Gardeners’ Chronicle, vol. 20, September 22, 1860, p. 852.
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Reply #1 of 1 posted 1 FEB by jedmar
Test from Gardeners Chronicle added, thank you! Bambridge & Harrison is a mystery indeed. We had eliminated them as discoverers or introducers quite some time ago. Bambridge was maybe Cambridge and Harrison was Henderson?
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Discussion id : 125-622
most recent 11 FEB 21 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 11 FEB 21 by Give me caffeine
Trewallyn are no longer listing this rose (I have checked their complete catalogue, as well as their list of roses for sale on this site).
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Reply #1 of 4 posted 11 FEB 21 by ....
..
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Reply #2 of 4 posted 11 FEB 21 by Give me caffeine
Awesome. Thanks for the tips. :)
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Reply #3 of 4 posted 11 FEB 21 by Plazbo
If going to Green E Roses, best to call first, their site catalogue isn't the most frequently updated source of info. Which isn't a diss in any way, their business is more in person than online. I'm just usually there a couple times a year and know there's often things there that aren't listed on their site and some things on their site that aren't there.

I did see it there pre covid though (haven't been there since) so probably do have it, but still call first.
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Reply #4 of 4 posted 11 FEB 21 by Give me caffeine
No worries. Will do.
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Discussion id : 124-735
most recent 29 DEC 20 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 29 DEC 20 by David Giroux
Green Rose,
This rose, as grown at the Heritage Rose Garden & my yard (both in San Jose, CA) produces flowers with a pleasing spicy scent as opposed to the listing here that says "No Fragrance"
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Discussion id : 98-333
most recent 2 APR 17 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 2 APR 17 by Andrew from Dolton
Margery Fish, A Flower For Every Day. Published by The Garden Book Club, 121 Charring Cross Road, London W.C.2.

Mrs Fish's garden East Lambrook Manor is in Somerset in the south-west of England.

P83
I know not everyone shares my love for the green China roses, R. viridiflora. People who enjoy most green flowers are quite rude about it, and say it isn't like a rose at all. It is queer, I agree, and never quite as wonderful as I think it is going to be, but I enjoy its harmony of dull green and faded crimson and would always want it in the garden. Sometimes it has a very late flowering which it would be wise to do often for without the competition of other flowers, we realise it is beautiful as well as being queer.
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Reply #1 of 2 posted 2 APR 17 by Give me caffeine
I've never found Viridiflora that appealing, at least not in pictures, but a friend of mine is a florist and she would commit murder to get her hands on a reliable supply.

To be fair I can see it being a useful accent in some floral arrangements, but I'm still not convinced it's a worthy garden shrub. I may end up growing some anyway, just as a favour, or giving her one for Christmas.
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Reply #2 of 2 posted 2 APR 17 by Andrew from Dolton
It's so very different to anything else, odd and strange plants have an appeal to me. I don't find it in the least attractive!
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