Rosa multiflora Thunb. alba

Horticultural & Botanical History

It seems likely that Macarthur’s roses were derivatives of Rosa multiflora Thunb., a scrambling Chinese rose with a rather tight cluster of small white or pink flowers, introduced in 1804.  It existed in both single and double forms and was a favourite for many years.  Although usually grown as an arching or low-climbing shrub, dwarf forms, which continued to flower throughout the growing season, on short shoots instead of long arching ones, were long cultivated by the Chinese.  A garden form, ‘The Seven Sisters Rose’, Rosa multiflora var. platyphylla Thory., was introduced from Japan in 1815/1817.  It is figured in the Botanical Register with deep blush flowers [BR f.1372/1830].  Paul in 1848 described the multiflora roses, including alba and rubra, as generally climbing and weeping roses, producing flowers in large corymbs.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.850/1843].  Thomas Shepherd, Sydney’s first commercial nurseryman, obtained much of his stock from William Macarthur and the roses listed in his 1851 Catalogue of plants cultivated at the Darling Nursery include many featured in the Camden Park catalogues.  Under ‘Climbing Roses’ he includes both ‘Multifora alba’ and ‘Multiflora rubra’, strongly suggesting that Macarthur’s roses were climbers rather than dwarf forms.  [See also Rosa multiflora Thunb. var. rubra].

Notes

The roses now generally described as multiflora are derived from Rosa multiflora thunbergiana, first introduced into European cultivation in 1862, and can be discounted as being synonymous with the roses listed here.  These roses shuld not be confused with Rosa Thunbergiana described by George Don in the 1830s.