Rosa chinensis Old Blush - China Rose

The 'Old Blush' Rose is one of the first roses to have arrived in Europe from the Far East. Although not a botanical species, this rose, cultivated in Chinese gardens for over 1000 years, is very close to the wild rose R. chinensis var. spontanea. This well-stabilized horticultural variety has been enthusiastically praised in the West for centuries. Remarkably floriferous, this slender little bush tirelessly produces semi-double, airy flowers that darken to a very pale pink over time. This mythical rose retains all its charm in our eyes, especially when the climate allows it to bloom all year round, even in the heart of winter.

Rosa chinensis 'Old Blush', also known as Rosa 'Parsons Pink' or Rosa 'China Pink', is an ancient variety, probably a dwarf, perpetual natural mutation of the climbing wild Chinese rose, with single flowering and evergreen foliage. 'Old Blush' forms a slender, branched bush with a habit barely taller than wide, reaching approximately 1.2 metres (3 feet 11 inches) in height and 1 metre (3 feet 4 inches) in spread. Its young, sparsely thorny branches are initially purple, then turn green before lignifying. Its evergreen foliage, under mild climates, is divided into 3 to 5 entire leaflets, and is typical of the Chinese rose, initially purple and then light green in summer. The flowering is almost continuous, remarkably abundant in April-May depending on the climate, renewing itself in successive waves thanks to the rain. In mild climates, this rose still bears flowers at Christmas. The flowers, gathered in small clusters or solitary, are adorable semi-double roses, a bit tousled, with a tender pink colour turning into a deep pink. They measure approximately 6cm (2.4in) in diameter and are lightly scented. This variety, not very demanding in terms of soil, thrives on its own roots.

If the passion for botanical roses and their direct hybrids is not widespread, it is fully justified, especially in difficult soils : these roses are not only the parents of our modern roses, but they are also generally more robust and reliable. The 'Old Blush' rose is a fantastic rose that has given rise to countless modern tea hybrids. While its hardiness is sometimes lacking in the north (-12°C (10.4 °F)), it deserves to be honoured by being planted in a romantic bed or a small country hedge, alongside Rosa complicata or Rosa (x) chinensis 'Mutabilis', a multicoloured harlequin. It looks beautiful in front of a mass of tall asters (Aster laevis, Aster turbinellus, Kalimeris mongolica, Solidaster), free in a wild garden, or surrounded by warm tones like the autumn foliage of Cotinus and deciduous Euonymus. In spring, the fragrance and roundness of lilacs, the purity of mock oranges will accompany its youthful appearance, while in summer, the Ceanothus and shrubby Potentillas will take over. Finally, it is a very healthy, low maintenance shrub, and once well established, it is resistant to drought.