Class: Gallica

Cardinal de Richelieu Photo © RoseGallery by SHO used with permission

"These are selections bred from the "French Rose," R. gallica. A Gallica will typically have a stocky plant, an open blossom which shows the stamens and is held upright, usually in colors varying on one side or the other from rose-red. Variations, however, are almost limitless as well as subtle, and all degrees of height and blossom may be found, from near singles to full doubles, from blush pinks to maroon, from clear homogeneous colors to cloudy, striped, and/or spotted blossoms. The plants are easily propagated by their runners or suckers when on their own roots. Some examples are 'D'Aguesseau', 'Camaieux', `Tuscany', 'Versicolor'."
- Brent C. Dickerson odinthor@csulb.edu, author, "The Old Rose Advisor"   

Native to Europe, the Gallicas are probably the oldest of the Old Garden Roses. Known since the 1300's, the Apothecary Rose (Rosa Gallica Officinalis) was once used for culinary, medicinal perfumery uses and remains the most popular Old Garden Rose. Lore attribues introduction of this rose to Provins, France by way of the Crusades and were prized by the Greeks and Romans. If growing a rose that was grown by a monk in his cloister or for a king's herald appeals to you, plant a Gallica. They are very fragrant, disease resistant, cold tolerant (hardy to zone 4) and produce fine hips, so if you value this quality in a rose, be sure to include Gallicas in the garden. Many other rose classes were derived from the R. gallica.(More about this historic rose: Apothecary's Rose)

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