Tom's Rose Garden

Souvenir du Docteur Jamain
(Lacharme, 1865)

I bought this Hybrid Perpetual rose from Heirloom Old Garden Roses enticed by the promise of beautiful dark violet color, ample reblooming, and heady fragrance. After one year in the ground, it has yet to produce a flower, but it's growing well, and I'm patient. I've pegged down two of its longer canes. This has encouraged the emergence of a number of laterals.

"Hybrid Perpetual shrub up to 6 ft or wall rose up to 8 ft not over vigorous but the finest rose I know for scent, which is strong, sweet and deep. Flowers deep crimson-maroon, maturing to deep purplish-crimson, full double and well-formed, opening flat and quartered like many of the old roses, of medium size, 3 to 3 1/2 in. across, velvety. Its colour is rich and subtle and lights up in the sunlight. Early to mid-June with some flowers later throughout the season. Foliage deep green with 5 leaflets, but susceptible to black spot and rust. Hips large, orange-red. It is well worth some care and attention and seems to grow best as a wall plant since the flowers tend to fade in strong sun. Prune some of the older flowering shoots out after flowering and again in winter." The Dictionary of Roses by Gault & Synge

Spring 1997

Pegging was the right thing to do with this plant. Every 3-4 inches along the arching main canes are lateral, each with 2-3 buds. This one will really be spectacular when it blooms.