Old Moss Cabbage Rose

PICTURE SOURCE Choix des Plus Belles Fleurs (1827-33)

ORIGINAL BOTANICAL NAME Rosa muscosa multiplex

ORIGINAL FRENCH NAME Rosier mousseux á fleurs doubles

CURRENT BOTANTICAL NAME R. centifolia var. muscosa

COMMON NAME Old Moss Cabbage Rose

CLASS Centifolia

ORIGIN Sport from R. Centifolia, pre 1700

FLOWERING Once-flowering; summer

SCENT Strong, sweet fragrance

GROWTH Medium-tall shrub; 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 metres)

AVAILABILITY Still in cultivation

At left; picture of the Old Moss Rose, R. centifolia var. muscosa, painted by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, portrait 09 out of 17, Choix des Plus Belles Fleurs (1827-33)

The engraving for this print appears to have been based on the same original watercolour painting as the Old Moss Cabbage Rose published earlier by Redouté in Les Roses. This engraving has less foliage than the one in Les Roses and is labelled with the botantical name ‘Rosa Muscosa’ and the French name ‘Rosier Mousseux’ Other than that it appears identical.