Rosa centifolia L. var. albamuscosa
The flowers of the ‘White Moss Rose’ described by Gore as middle-sized, full, white, usually tinged with flesh-colour in the centre before they are fully expanded. It is considered to be a sport of the ‘Common Moss’, first noted in 1788, and does occasionally revert to pink. Rosa centifolia var. albo-muscosa was beautifully illustrated in Willmot.
Horticultural & Botanical History
No additional data.
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [T.857/1843].
Notes
Less likely is ‘Shailer's White Moss’, called by Gore the ‘New White Moss Rose’, and figured in the Botanical Register as Rosa provincialis muscosa flore-pleno alba, the ‘Double white moss-provins rose’. It originated as a sporting branch of the ‘Old Moss’ rose at Henry Shailer’s nursery at Little Chelsea early in the 19th century. This rose is used for illustration here.
‘White Bath’, introduced by Salter in 1815, is another possibility, particularly as this rose is specifically named in the 1861 list.
‘White Moss’, ‘White Bath’ and ‘Shailer’s White Moss’, are similar but, according to contemporary writers, not identical. According to Gore, Shailer’s rose has fuller, larger and whiter flowers than ‘White Moss’. Rivers considered that Shailer’s rose was less mossy than ‘White Bath’ and its flowers were not pure white, inclining to a pale flesh-colour, and its habit more delicate. [Gore, Paul (1848, 1863, 1888, 1903), Rivers (1854, 1857, 1863), BR f.102/1816, Willmot].
Published Feb 10, 2010 - 09:03 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2011 - 04:10 PM
Rosa centifolia L. albamuscosa | BR f.102/1816 as Rosa provincialis muscosa flore-plena alba | BHL
| Family | Rosaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, probably France |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Rosa gallica white moss
|
| Confidence level | medium |
