Rosa Plaisanterie - Hybrid Musk Rose

Rosa Plaisanterie is an astonishing hybrid of the Chinese Mutabilis rose and the climbing Trier rose, combining the qualities of its two parents. It stands out for its vigour, as well as its little flowers that change colour throughout the day. The slightly fragrant flowers bloom early in the season and again in August-September. The young leaves of this large rose are tinged with red, the foliage is delicate but very dense, and disease-free. It is sturdy, healthy, and ideal in a country setting. Moderately hardy (-12 to -15°C (10.4 to 5°F)) and drought-resistant, this hybrid is well-suited for southern gardens.

While modern roses are often criticized for their stiffness and weak disease resistance, Louis Lens's creations take a different approach, promoting simplicity, generosity, and robustness. This variety, Plaisanterie, introduced by L. Lens in 1996, is a descendant of the musk rose (Rosa (x)moschata), through the Trier rose. Indeed, the Trier rose is the ancestor of many musk roses, both old and modern. Similar to polyanthas and floribundas, roses in this family produce flowers clustered in clusters, but their colours are more refined and they have a more flexible and graceful shape. This Plaisanterie rose naturally forms a large, well-branched, bushy shrub. When pruned in a specific way, it can also be used as a climber. If left unpruned, it will reach a minimum height of 1.75m (6ft) and a spread of 1.50m (5ft). Its young foliage is reddish, and the mature leaves are divided into bright green leaflets with a slight sheen. It has deciduous foliage that falls in autumn. The first flowering starts in May (sometimes in April in mild climates) and can sporadically continue in waves until early July, depending on the climate, if the soil does not dry out too much. The second flush between the end of summer and the first frost is excellent. The flowers are gathered in large, slightly loose clusters and each small bud opens into a single flower with a diameter of 4cm (2in). The bud is orange and opens into a yellow corolla that quickly turns pink and then almost violet. The heart of the flower is wide open to bees and other pollinating insects with a light scent.

Plaisanterie has a natural appearance and is easy to grow, so will fit well in many gardens. It can be grown in most regions, but it will benefit from being planted in a sheltered position in gardens which are exposed to severe frost. This undemanding variety is a good choice for hot and dry climates. This fantastic and charming, rose deserves to be planted more often. It is perfect in a flowering hedge, behind perennial borders, in a large shrub bed, or climbing a structure. It pairs well with botanical roses and all other flowering shrubs. Consider planting it with viticella clematis, which is just as easy to grow. In Mediterranean gardens, cirrhosa clematis, which flowers in autumn and winter, will decorate its bare branches.