Rosa chinensis Viridiflora - Shrub Rose

This green-flowered rose, known as Rosa chinensis 'Viridiflora', is a nature's fancy that arrived in England from China in the year 1743. A spontaneous mutation transformed the traditional Bengal roses on this bush with a tangled habit into frizzy pompoms, made up not of petals but of long green bracts streaked with brown-red-pink. Blooming until the end of summer, these discreet roses emit a light, peppery fragrance among beautiful, smooth green foliage free from diseases.

The Chinese Viridiflora rose belongs to the Rosaceae family; it is a mutation of an uncertain or unknown variety of rosa chinensis, theoretically unable to reproduce by seed, as it is asexual, without stamens or pistils. This prickly bush with a somewhat unkempt habit will reach a height of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) and at least the same width. Its growth is relatively fast. After four years of cultivation, it will already form a beautiful bush. The Viridiflora rose offers a perpetual flowering, often continuous from May to the end of summer. Tiny green-blue oval buds, grouped in bouquets of 3 to 7, give rise to pompom flowers carried by thin stems. They measure 4 cm (2in) in diameter, are double and composed only of 35 pale green leafy bracts, more or less streaked with faded red, with a heart covered in brownish hairs. They turn brown and parchment-like as they disappear. These roses from elsewhere also emit a very slightly perceptible spicy fragrance. The abundant and ornamental foliage, semi-evergreen, comprises very healthy medium-green leaves. This rose adapts to any soil, even poor ones, and tolerates shade.

Many people love old roses because they are the ancestors of modern roses and beautiful additions to gardens. One such rose is the Rosa chinensis 'Viridiflora', which has been around since ancient Chinese times and used to be cultivated only in the Forbidden City. Gardeners have made it possible for this rose to reach us today, and it deserves to be included in rose or naturalistic gardens. It looks best when it is planted in a prominent spot near the house or on a pathway where it can be easily enjoyed. It also pairs well with light flowers like Paniculate Gypsophila, valerian, catmints, bellflowers, garden irises, fennel, caryopteris, gauras, and even lavender. If you want to give it a modern look, you can also pair it with grasses. Lastly, you can add its extravagant pompoms to bouquets with a dominant green colour.