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'Sweet-scented China' rose Reviews & Comments
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There is some discussion under "Agnes Smith'. The Tealadies' research indicates that the original Hume's Blush disappeared in Europe in the 19th century. There are a number of Hume's Blush candidates around, but none with continuity of the name - they're all speculative.
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Thank you Margaret. Most of the pictures of 'Hume's Blush Tea-Scented China' share similar traits to each other even to the old paintings. CASS' pictures have more in common with 'Agnes Smith' than the 'Hume's Blush Tea-Scented China' in commerce.
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#2 of 13 posted
29 MAY 18 by
HubertG
I've read that Pernetianas were often grafted on 'Odorata' rootstock because they often didn't take to regularly used stocks. I'm not sure if the 'Odorata' used in the early 20th century would be the same as Hume's Blush.
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That's interesting HerbertG, I always thought that there had been a surviving plant at Sangerhausen. I'm not saying that anyone is right or wrong but the pictures posted by CASS are different to the others.
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#4 of 13 posted
29 MAY 18 by
HubertG
Andrew, they were American references too. If it had survived as a usable rootstock into the 20thC, it could be still be growing wild somewhere.
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Another synonym for the rootstock R. indica major is Odorata 22449.
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Very true HerbertG, I've found several roses growing where old cottages once stood that must have survived well over 100 years.
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It's possible that "Agnes Smith" was used as an understock, which might explain why it is sometimes sold as Irene Watts.
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#8 of 13 posted
29 MAY 18 by
HubertG
Just my two cents, but I don't feel that "Agnes Smith" is the original Hume's Blush. Agnes is always various shades of a clear pink for me. Not really like the early descriptions in colour, in my opinion.
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#9 of 13 posted
29 MAY 18 by
HubertG
Andrew, your most recently posted photo of this rose (where you show the backs and a bud) does tie in with this 1828 reference ... " it is nearest allied to the Rosa indica but still of a paler colour when in full bloom, and sometimes nearly white; yet the under side of the outer petals is strongly marked with a deepy purply red, which gives it, in the bud state, an appearance of being a high-coloured rose."
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Ah that is interesting. After the flowers have opened a day or so they go an ivory colour but like you say always with the dark colour still on the backs. I have uploaded another picture.
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#11 of 13 posted
29 MAY 18 by
HubertG
Andrew, in you new photo the terminal leaflet does appear to be the largest one like the early references describe. Does it smell anything of tea?
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Oh like "a freshly open packet of China tea" so I'm told they're supposed to smell of, I have to say I can't smell it myself. The crushed leaves just have a sort of leafy smell whilst the flowers haven't got a very defined rose fragrance their smell reminds me of sweet peas. I thought they were called Tea roses because some came from China and they arrived in the west aboard tea clipper ships. The terminal leaflet is about half as long again as the four side leaves.
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#13 of 13 posted
31 MAY 18 by
HubertG
That freshly opened chest of tea quote always irks me a bit because I've always felt that the Teas that smell most like tea, smell like the scent of the vapour when you take the lid off the teapot. Lol maybe that's just my nose, but I don't detect a dried tea scent in any of them. I'm pretty sure the name arose when Hume's Blush was called the 'China Rose scented of tea' by the French and the name just stuck for the whole class. The sweet pea scent you detect is interesting - they are usually very fragrant. For what it's worth, Maman Cochet is the rose in whose fragrance I can detect the closest thing to real tea.
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Reference: A Short Treatise on Horticulture Book (1828) Page(s) 146. The last line should read: "There is also a variety with single flowers, and another with double <b>yellow</b> flowers, which are yet rare."
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Periodical catalogue of greenhouse shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants, and bulbous roots: cultivated and for sale at the Linnaean Botanic Garden, Flushing, near New-York. (1832) p. 157 William Prince & Sons, Proprietors
546 Tea scented, of exquisite fragrance - indica odorata 579 Vanilla scented, extremely fragrant - indica odoratissima
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Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London Magazine (1842) Page(s) 254. Observations upon the Effects produced on Plants by the Frost which occurred in England in the Winter of 1837-8. By John Lindley, Ph. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. Vice Secretary. Read December 4, 1838. The white and yellow China Rose, the sweet scented hybrid, Hamon, and Blairii, were entirely destroyed even in Hampshire
The phrase "the sweet scented hybrid" refers to Hamon. I.e., the sweet scented hybrid (Hamon),
This is an example of the ambiguity of commas: they may separate items in a list, and they may be used in place of parentheses. They are confusing when used in both ways in the same sentence.
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