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 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

Figured is a very double white rose with mossy stems and buds.  Botanical Register f.102, 1816.

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
  • White moss rose

 

Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Rosa gallica white moss

 

 

Confidence level medium