1
Discover the World of Miniature Roses
Like light gleaming through stained glass.
anonymous.
When God made the first roses I believe miniatures must have been included too, for miniatures are only large roses made small. This "magic," of creating miniatures (if we may call it such) is not altogether the plant breeder's special art.
There are numerous stories and accounts of the so-called discovery of miniature roses. Some of these are, no doubt, based on facts, but too often we are asked to believe as "facts" certain things which may have through the years, and with numerous retellings, become mixed with fancy. For example, there are those who would have us believe Rosa rouletti is really one of the old varieties re-discovered. Such may be true, but I cannot accept such a view.
Here I shall relate some of the facts and fancies concerning the history of miniature roses. You can draw your own conclusions from these notes.
During the early years of the past century sailing ships manned by adventurers, fortune seekers, and sometimes pirates plied the seven seas. It was an age of discovery. Many men of this era were rough, tough, and bold; but there were also teachers, missionaries, botanists, musicians and dreamers.
In the year 1810, so the story goes, the British took Mauritius away from the French. This tiny island, located not too far from Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean is the point of discovery. Here British botanists arc reported to have found growing a very tiny rose. Whether by seeds, slips or plants we do not know, but soon forms of this tiny rose were growing in the gardens of England and Europe.
From early accounts (sometimes rather fragmentary) we know that miniature roses in several forms were soon prized as pot and garden plants. By 1840 some had even found their way to America. It is reported that some kinds were available, the plants of which were no larger than a teacup!
The renowned floral artist, Miss Mary Lawrance, among her many rose illustrations, is supposed to have painted at least one picture in which a specimen of this tiny rose was shown. It is not surprising then that it came to be known as Miss Lawrance's Rose (or Rosa lawranceana). (See "R. chinensis, minima," Modern Roses VI, page 376.)
Some accounts even place the introduction of miniature roses into France at a date earlier than 1810. Thus the French may have found the miniature rose and carried it back to France before the loss of Mauritius.
But in the rush and turmoil of the times and the rather rapid development of other forms of the rose, especially the larger flowered rose varieties, miniature roses were lost. In our own United States the westward surge of our people, the California gold rush, the War Between the States, the vast distances and lack of rapid transportation left little time or inclination to fuss with miniature roses. Besides, it was the big, hardy kinds which could most easily survive the slow, uncertain transportation. At the same time, they seemed to fit the spirit of the times as well as match the rugged geography of great mountains, vast deserts and wide fertile valleys. In this restless time, both in Europe and America, gardeners paid little attention to miniature roses so they were forgotten.
Then, in 1917 a wonderful little rose was discovered growing in pots on a window ledge in Switzerland. Henri Correvon, a Swiss alpine plant and rock garden authority, was informed by his friend, Colonel Roulet, an officer in the Swiss army, of the happy discovery. Here, again, it is difficult to separate fact from fancy, for several stories of the find and how the starts or cuttings were obtained are told. However, the following account by Correvan excerpted from his work, Flowerdum, is probably the most authentic account with the possible exception of reported age of the plant.
"My friend, Roulet, who lived at the foot of Jura (a mountain chain between France and Switzerland), above Grandson, informed me one day that he had a potted midget rosebush which grew on a window ledge of a cottage at Mauborjet (at 1176 meters of altitude) ; he told me that this rosebush had been grown in this pot for a century, that it bloomed from one end of the summer to the other, that it was absolutely dwarf and belonged to this family for the last 150 years; he offered to give me some branches of it for rooting. "We succeeded in propagating it, and from the beginning, I realized that this was an interesting variety. That was in 1917, and from 1920 on, , we were in position to deliver certain quantities. At the present time this plant is on sale at the Flower Market of Paris and large quantities are sold at a high price, ten times as much as we ourselves had sold it. In England this rosebush has become very popular and the horticulturists have earned for this plant the Medal of Honor. It was the same in America where the little 'Jura Lass' is much appreciated."
Many plant discoveries are not recorded in a clear "I was there" manner. At the time it just doesn't seem important, and so we get the report, at best, second- or third-hand or the facts are dimmed by time or embellished by fancy.
However, this little rose did get discovered and was introduced into the gardens of Europe and then into America. And the new little rose did get a name. M. Correvon named it for his friend, Colonel (or Doctor) Roulet. Thus Rosa roulettii was introduced into our modern rose world and the stage was set for the role of its many descendants.
A patient and interested Dutch nurseryman, Jan (John) de Vink, soon started making crosses using this same Rosa roulettii as one of the parents. Thus, in 1935, the first of a new tribe of roses was introduced into America. On one of his many trips abroad, Mr. Robert Pyle (Conard-Pyle Co.) discovered Mr. de Vink and his tiny roses. Arrangements were made to bring a number of the best to this country 'Tom Thumb' (known in Europe as 'Peon') was the first. This was followed by such famous varieties as 'Pixie,' 'Midget,' 'Red Imp,' 'Cinderella' and others. Another miniature, 'Oakington Ruby,' was introduced in England in 1933 by Mr. C. R. Bloom.
During the 1930's Senor Pedro Dot a Spanish hybridizer had become world famous for his many brilliantly colored hybrid tea rose originations. Then came the Spanish Civil War. It was no longer possible to carry on the work in full scale so Senor Dot directed his skill toward miniatures. From his work came the first yellow miniature, introduced into America in 1940 as 'Baby Gold Star.' Several more of his originations have also found their way to our gardens. Others who have contributed to the development of our present day varieties of miniatures are Mr. Thomas Robinson, who for a time did considerable work in England, M. Tantau and Kordes in Germany, Alain Meilland, France and Q. Mansuino of San Remo, Italy. In the United States Dr. Dennison Morey has originated a number of varieties which have been introduced into the trade by Jackson and Perkins.
About 1936 1 became interested in miniatures and soon started breeding along this line, but it was several years later before intensive work really got under way. A complete account of this work, together with plans and hopes for the future, is covered later in this book.
Return to Table of Contents
Back to Old Garden Roses and Beyond