Rosa moschata Esch-sur-Sûre - Musk Rose

The 'Esch-sur-Sûre®' rose is a vigorous repeat flowering bush that never fails to impress. This moshata hybrid catches the eye with its single flowers that change colour over the days. It flowers early in the season and for a long period, with its purple young shoots adding extra colour to its flaming corollas. This easy-going variety excels in an informal hedge. Don't hesitate to cut its branches to create large cut flower arrangements!

The 'Esch-sur-Sûre' rose ('VEL23mkawa') was selected and marketed by Lens Roses in Belgium, a nursery continuing the work of Louis Lens and now run by Ann Velle-Boudolf and Rudy Velle; this cultivar was named on 24th September 2023 in the Luxembourg commune of Esch-sur-Sûre. The hybrid musk group to which it belongs descends from Rosa moschata and other species or old roses.
It's a bush with an upright habit, with branches that become slightly trailing when laden with flowers. Its growth is fairly rapid. The plant reaches between 1.50m and 1.80m in height with a spread of 1.20m to 1.50m at 8-10 years old. The vigorous stems are reddish-brown and heavily thorned. The young shoots progress from purple to bronze before greening. The deciduous foliage is dark green, semi-glossy, formed of 5 to 7 lanceolate leaflets. The elongated buds, orange-red in colour, open into single to semi-double flowers (9-11 petals), approximately 7cm in diameter, grouped in corymbs of 5 to 9 units. The petal colour evolves from bright orange to pastel orange, turning yellow, then pink when fully open; the cluster of golden stamens remains clearly visible at the centre of the flower, attracting pollinators. This flowering emits a light musky fragrance. The plant flowers from May to October-November. Small rosehips may form if the spent flower heads are not removed at the end of the season. Hardiness: down to -15°C.

The remarkable 'Esch-sur-Sûre®' rose deserves a prime position. Plant it as a standalone specimen or in groups of 3 in a sunny border, but also in a small flowering hedge. Pair it with other tall roses. 'Sally Holmes' or 'Kew Gardens', with their very light tones, will temper its warm colours. If you like orange and salmon tones, pair it with 'Westerland' or 'Buff Beauty'. To add bright red, choose the large botanical rose 'Moyesii Geranium', which is full and airy. A small herbaceous clematis 'New Love' will fill its base with very blue bell-shaped flowers.

'Esch-sur-Sûre' was officially named during the local "ESCH 23" celebrations, a nod to Luxembourg's rich rose-growing heritage and Lens Roses' historical connections with moschata hybrids.