Today’s rose ‘Madame Knorr’ is one of the ‘Portland’ class. Portlands are a small class of roses with obscure origins, perhaps the best known being ‘Comte de Chambord’. The original ‘Portland’ arrived in France via England with the name ‘Rosa portlandica’ and became known as the ‘Duchess of Portland’ It was believed that a Duchess of Portland imported this rose at the time of introduction, 1809. This date places the rose in the lifetime of the third Duchess of Portland who had little interest in gardening. However, the second Duchess Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) was a patron of gardening and grew the rose that later bore her name, pushing the introduction date into France to 1775.
‘Duchess of Portland’ was originally believed to be a Damask x China. DNA analysis disproves ‘Slater’s Crimson China’ as one of the parents, and instead suggests a Gallica/Autumn Damask lineage. The Portland repeat blooming comes from the Autumn Damasks. However, not every Portland gives good repeat blooms
‘Madame Knorr’ was bred by Victor Verdier in Paris and was introduced in 1855 at a time when the Portland roses were sliding out of fashion as their descendants the Hybrid Perpetuals became popular. Although photographed on a wet June day last summer she was a handsome rose. Small bright buds unfurl to a large silvery pink bloom. Short necked so the blooms nestle into the foliage. A darker centre with pale backed petals always gives such an attractive picture. Very fragrant even in cool damp conditions. She blooms once with a big flush in June with scattered blooms later.
Who was Madame Knorr? The invaluable website Helpmefind (www.helpmefind.com) has a comment that this rose is possibly named for Henriette Knorr (1828-?) née Ziegenmayer first wife of Carl Heinrich Knorr 1800 -1875, Amalie Henriette Caroline Seyffardt 1806-1867. Carl set up the food company Knorr, now part of the Unilever group.
Excellent disease resistant matt grey green foliage. Makes a small bushy 1m high shrub. The Portlands are tough roses, coping with the cold and intense heat. ‘Madame Knorr’ isn’t listed in the inestimable ‘Growing Roses in Cold Climates,’ (see below re availability). The authors recommend protection for these roses should you grow them to protect as much of the stems as possible. Most authorities give a USDA zone of 6b-9b. If any of you grow her in cooler zones please comment.
‘Madame Knorr’ appears to be widely available in Europe, also Australia, and New Zealand. She appears to be grown in the States but quite how widely I am not sure. Do comment on this point. There are references to her being identical to ‘Comte de Chambord’ aka ‘Madame Boll,’ or rather sold under the wrong name. Comments again are helpful.
An interesting rose, perhaps if I were collecting Portlands I would add her to my garden, but I am just a bit obsessed with my Teas, Chinas, and Pembertons now. Too many roses and too little time!
Initially published on 5th February 2022 on my Facebook blog Rose of the Day.
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