Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Rosa ‘Rose De Meaux’

A Centifolia dwarf shrub. It has pink flowers, very small and full, form compact, almost scentless, growth habit erect on a dwarf shrub.  [Gore, Rivers (1854, 1857, 1863), Paul (1848, 1863, 1888, 1903), Willmot].

 

 

Horticultural & Botanical History

Thomas Rivers commented: ‘The Dwarf Provence Roses, Rose de Meaux, and the Pompon rose, are among the oldest of our garden roses, and known by every child brought up in a garden, as they are “so early and so pretty”.’  Rivers is clearly separating Rose de Meaux and the Pompon rose as different varieties.  With the latter he may be referring to the ‘White de Meaux’, also known as ‘Rosier de Pompon’, a form with white flowers with pink centres. 

It was figured in Curtis’s  Botanical Magazine as Rosa Provincialis var. ‘Pompone Rose’.  ‘The flowers are smaller than those of any other double rose, generally of the size represented on the plate, and particularly distinguished by the brilliant colour of the eye or central petals; a flower of this sort just on the point of expansion is superlatively beautiful. […] the roots should not be divided oftener than once in three years; if the old wood be cut down every year, after the plant has done blowing, this rose will throw out more vigorous shoots and blossom more freely.’  [BM t.407/1798].  Described by a number of authors as introduced into England by Sweet in 1814, although certainly pre-1789.

 

 

History at Camden Park

Although not listed in the 1843 catalogue it was mentioned, the name attched in apparent error to Rosa cinnamomea.  The words ‘with many others’ were written after ‘Rose De Meaux’ in the 1845 catalogue and it was listed in the 1850 and 1857 editions [T.874/1845].

 

 

Notes

Published Feb 11, 2010 - 12:10 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2011 - 03:34 PM

Figured are pinnate leaves and small double white roses with a deep pink centre.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.407, 1798.

Rosa ‘Rose de Meaux’ | BM t.407/1798 | BHL

 

Family Rosaceae
Category
Region of origin

Garden origin, probably France

Synonyms
  • Rosa pomponia DC.

 

Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Rosa rose de Meaux 

 

 

Confidence level high