Mme Isaac Pereire rose
Mme Isaac Pereire Rose: A Fragrant Marvel of the 19th Century
Renowned for its abundant fuchsia blooms and captivating fragrance, the Mme Isaac Pereire rose is an emblem of both the virtues and challenges of 19th-century roses. Bred by Garcon in France in 1881, this climbing Bourbon rose enchants with its large, cup-shaped flowers and a scent that transcends time.
Key Highlight Characteristics:
- Name: Mme Isaac Pereire (La Bienheureux de la Salle, Madame Isaac Pereire)
- Breeder: Garcon, France, 1881
- Type: Climbing Bourbon Rose
- Color: Fuchsia
- Flowering: Repeat Flowering
- Fragrance: Strong, Old Rose/Fruity
- Bloom Size: Large
- Family: Old Rose
- Size: Large Shrub, 150cm x 125cm
- Year of Introduction: 1841
Ideal Growing Conditions:
- Mixed Border
- Shady Areas
- East, South, West Facing
- All Soil Types
- Full Sunlight
Mme Isaac Pereire embodies the dual nature of 19th-century roses – a spectacle of the most lavish flowers imaginable and the most delightful fragrance inherent to roses. However, it’s also a rare, thorny shrub, highly susceptible to black spot disease, and somewhat inconsistent in flower quality. Even the color of Mme Isaac Pereire’s blooms can vary, ranging from intensely raspberry to lavender-pink at the edges, often described as strawberry, cherry, or bright fuchsia.
The heavy blooms, appearing in clusters of up to 5, are prone to peculiarities. In the first flush, they may succumb to proliferation, where stamens transform into green petal-like structures. Sometimes, the outer petals curl, forming giant pompoms. Yet, as autumn approaches, the central void fills with neatly arranged dark pink petals, creating a quartered bloom with a twisted outer edge.
The plant frequently produces long, unsightly shoots that only bloom at the tips. These can be managed by pegging them to the ground for more even flowering the following year.
Fragrance and Growth:
Mme Isaac Pereire is widely celebrated as one of the most aromatic roses, and rightfully so. Its fragrance is intensely rich, dense, reminiscent of ripe raspberries. The robust and vigorous bush can reach up to 2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in width. The initial blooms are massive, beautifully shaped, and deeply saturated in purplish-magenta hues. However, the flowers are smaller and occasionally deformed in subsequent flushes. The rose is susceptible to powdery mildew and thrives best as a climbing rose in well-ventilated spaces.
While the magenta blooms grace the garden throughout the summer, they peak in the fall. Each flower, measuring 7-15 cm, forms a quartered pattern as the petals curl at the edges. The fragrance, fruity and possibly the most potent among roses, lingers. The foliage is abundant, large, and dark green, contributing to the overall allure of the rose.
Mme Isaac Pereire is a rose of contradictions, with its magnificent blooms and potent fragrance juxtaposed against thorny challenges. It remains a timeless beauty, weaving nostalgia and charm into the fabric of any garden it graces.
