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Rosa chinensis viridiflora "reversion", Ralph Moore, California.

This rose was given to me by Sequoia Nursery in 1999. Ralph Moore described it to me during a visit to the nursery, and said that it appeared on one of their plants of R. chinensis viridiflora (Green Rose).

The historical documents about the Green Rose suggest that it is a sport from Parson's Pink China. This sport does little to either confirm or disprove this suggestion, as it seems to be only a partial sport back to normal form. (During the heat of the summer, it produces blooms that are in between the Green Rose and a normal bloom in form.) Sometimes the blooms are a pink as you see here, and sometimes they are a much deeper Chinese red hue. It has been known to set seed hips, but I have not experimented with this sport for breeding purposes. An historical curiosity more than a "pretty" rose for the garden.

ARS merit rating: none
Personal merit rating: 7.5
Hardiness: Likely USDA zones 6 to 10, zone 5 in a protected location.
Shrub size: uncertain, but likely 2.0 to 3.5 feet tall X 3 feet wide
Fragrance: 1.0, very slight scent.

Original photographs and site content © Paul Barden 1996-2003