Rosa gallica Officinalis - Old Gallic Rose

The Rosa (x) gallica Officinalis, the Apothecary's Rose, is a bush rose that has been cultivated in herb gardens for its medicinal properties since the 13th century. Its ornamental qualities and the uncommon vigor of this almost wild rose quickly seduced the very first rose breeders who used it to create other forms and varieties, most of which have now disappeared. Rescued from the past, this historic rose still appeals to enthusiasts of robust and reliable plants with its abundant semi-double and brightly coloured summer flowering, in a brilliant carmine pink. Full of charm, extremely hardy, it tolerates shade, withstands drought and will adapt to all gardens.

The Rosa (x) gallica Officinalis rose, also known as the Provins Rose, rosa gallica 'Plena', Rosa galliva or Rosa 'Semi-duplex' is considered a subspecies of the botanical rose Rosa gallica, native to central and southern Europe and Asia Minor. Already mentioned in the West in 1583 by Charles de Lécluse, the officinal rose was celebrated in its time by the Greek poet Anacreon in the 6th century BC. It was undoubtedly brought to Gaul during the Roman conquest and, under the instruction of Thibaud IV de Champagne, became one of the symbols of the city of Provins from 1240 onwards. All the so-called gallica roses are disease resistant and low-maintenance bushes, which tend to sucker when grown on their own roots.

The Apothecary's Rose has been awarded an Award of Garden Merit in the UK for its ornamental qualities as well as its performance in the garden. This low-growing bush, with a bushy habit, reaches approximately 90 cm (35.4 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in width, with a moderately fast growth rate. Its foliage is an emerald green hue, which is matte and remarkably healthy. It flowers in June-July, for a long and abundant semi-double to double flowering with medium-sized flowers reaching 8 to 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter, grouped in small clusters. The 8 to 15 petals that make up the flower are arranged in a flat cup. They are a bright carmine pink, set against a very bright yellow stamen centre. The flowering is followed by the formation of numerous fruits called hips, oval in shape and red-orange in colour when ripe. The fragrance of these roses is glorious, typical of old roses, more or less light or intense depending on the time of day and the climate. The gallica rose is very fertile, and a botanical species whose importance was major in the creation of the first European varieties.

Even though these roses are now being overlooked for the repeat-flowering varieties, gallica roses are nevertheless robust roses full of history. Shrubs like 'Officinalis', 'Versicolor', 'Cardinal de Richelieu' and 'Charles de Mills' survive in old abandoned gardens, while many others will have given up. Full of charm, brilliant and carefree, the Provins rose contributes to the exuberance of summer flowering shrub beds, landscaped hedges, mixed with buddleias, abelias, or deutzias. Its modest growth allows it to fit into perennial beds, where it wonderfully accompanies perennial geraniums, phlox paniculata, dame's rocket or purple toadflax. These are the rare qualities that make us forget that it only blooms once, a flaw that should not reproached when comparing to other flowering shrubs! It definitely deserves to be planted in all rose lovers' gardens.

If you have enough space, English, Old or Shrub Roses are magnificent when planted in groups of three. They will grow together to form 'one' opulent bush that will flower even more generously.