Appendix II lists some forty-seven (47) roses identified as "found" polyanthas. "Found' roses are those roses whose identify has not been determined either by official pronouncement by an appropriate committee of the American Rose Society or by unofficial usage in commerce and trade. Thirteen roses among the group are currently in commerce.
The commercial/non-commercial distinction does not necessarily determine the importance of the rose, although a case can be made that a rose in commerce being spread around the country constitutes a more important "found" rose than one isolated in either a public or private garden. There is apparently some existential imperative to attach official or known names to roses largely found in abandoned cemeteries, farmhouses and urban gardens. To some extent this is satisfied by the task of comparing ancient descriptions to modern examples. This tactic, however, ignores the very real possibility that some of the rose that are 'found' are not relics of some forgotten catalog, but sports, seedlings, or slightly varied clones of already known roses. And, certainly, after a suitable period of time, some of these roses will be so christened or at least made respectable.
The history of "found" roses in competition for ARS trophies in the time period 2001 to 2004 did not indicate any great success per se: the "found" roses won trophies in the Dowager, Victorian and polyantha classes at a rate of one-third of one per cent over the indicated time period. And the winning roses tended to cluster around a very few of the possible four hundred roses made eligible for that brief period of time. In the polyantha class there was the ignominy of have 9 trophies won by 'Caldwell Pink,' over the five years between 2000 and 2005; the ignominy rested in the fact that 'Caldwell Pink' was determined to be 'Pink Pet,' a 1928 China introduced by Lilley. (In all fairness, "Pink Pet' was also winning trophies during the same time period as a China; on occasion both 'Caldwell Pink' and 'Pink Pet' won trophies on the same day at the same show.
Also, to be fair, 'Pink Pet' was introduced as a polyantha originally, but was changed to a China in the original 'Modern Roses.')
As might be expected, the list of potential polyantas is both under and over inclusive. It is over-inclusive to the extent that some of the roses listed in Appendix II are believed to be identified as non-polyanthas. Thus "Angel Rose"
Is believed after investigation by the editors of MR11 to be of China, or Lawrenceana origin. "Barbara's White Poly" has been identified by more than one competent rosarian as the miniature 'Gourmet Popcorn.' And "Lyyke White Pet' seems to be have determined to be 'Caroline Marniesse,' a Noisette. Given the origins of polyanthas in the first instance, a cross of r. multiflora and teas or Chinas, it would be surprising if there were not some confusion in the assignment of class solely on the basis of shared growth habits and characteristics. Equally, it would not be surprising were 'found' roses assigned to other classes to be determined to be polyanthas, thus demonstrating the under-inclusiveness of the list.
Certainly, 'found' roses have contributed to the current array of polyanthas, both American and otherwise. 'Pink Soupert' was not in commerce for dozens of years until Ruth Knopf re-discovered it in a cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.
'Crimson Glow' at the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden was a rose found by Fred Boutin and labeled "Pine St Dark Red Floribunda Poly;' it was reintroduced into commerce under the 'Crimson Glow' label. A similar set of circumstances surrounded the re-introduction into commerce for 'Pinafore.'
And perhaps a similar pattern will prevail in the assessment of "Pink Gate" and the possibility of its being 'Kentfield.' Some of the "found" polyanthas seem to be representatives of European polyanthas, such as "Belmont Red' appearing to be 'Miss Edith Cavell,' or "Magenta Buttons," tentatively identified as 'Gabrielle Privat.'
Some "found" polyanthas have been in commerce for a significant period of time without any parallel identification from among the pool of known cultivars; "Lavender Pink Parfait" was re-introduced into commerce some 18 years ago without any attributions and the same set of circumstances is true for "Phalaenopsis." Nor have the various claimants to be the real 'Mignonette' been reduced to faux and real.
Some of the "found" polyanthas will turn out to be unique and incapable of being attributed; as such, they will eventually add to the known list of American polyanthas, distinguished, if for nothing else, for their durability and longevity.
It only seems reasonable to note that many others will disappear as public and private gardens fall to the vicissitudes of the real estate market, the horrors of urban development, and the vagaries of public management theories and practices. Widespread diffusion through commerce is probably the safest method of preservation of these possible additions to the array of American polyanthas.
A List of ‘Found’ American polyanthas.
“Found” Polyanthas |
Gardens |
Vendor |
01. Adan Plot Red Polyanthas (Aka Angel’s Camp Single Red) |
|
NIC |
02. Angel’s Camp China/Poly (aka LovelyRedPoly) |
SJHRG |
NIC |
03. Angel Rose (ARS unknown China/Lawrenceana) |
|
RRus |
04. Barbara’s White Poly1 (Gourmet Popcorn) |
|
B&B |
05. Baretta St. Single Polyantha (found in Sonora)> |
SJHRG |
NIC |
06. Belmont Red (Miss Edith Cavell) |
Cliff |
RU |
07. Belmont Yellow1 |
Cliff |
RU |
08. Bob’s Koster |
|
VintG |
09. Bud Wilson |
SJHRG |
NIC |
19. Butzke’s Snowflake |
SJHRG |
NIC |
11. Caldwell Pink1 (ID’d as Pink Pet) |
|
Many |
12. Cerise Margo Koster foundling |
|
VintG |
13. Charles Walker’s Mignonette1 |
SJHRG |
VintG |
14. Don & Mike |
SJHRG |
NIC |
15. False White Pet |
SJHRG |
NIC |
16. Fragrant Pink Poly |
SJHRG |
NIC |
17. Frances Lynn1 |
Cliff |
Phab |
18. Jean’s Pink Buttons |
|
Phab |
19. Jose’s White Morrison |
Morrison |
NIC |
20. Kathy Newton Pink Cluster1 (once blooming) |
|
Phab |
21. Lavender Pink Pam |
|
Phab |
22. Lavender Pink Parfait1 (rambler?) |
Riverbanks |
ARE |
23. Lindee1 (same as Footlights/Flushing Creek Poly) |
Cliff |
VintG |
24. Lykke White Pet (ID as Caroline Marniesse (noisette)) |
|
VintG |
25. Magenta Buttons (perhaps Gabrielle Private) |
|
RRus |
26. Marion’s Magenta |
|
Phab |
27. Mountain Mignonette1 |
Tamplin |
HiCo |
28. Mrs Price |
|
Ashd |
29. Orange Hearts1 (1999 3’x3’ repeats) |
Cliff |
Cham |
30. Paquerette (Beales) |
|
VintG |
31. Petite Rouge1 |
|
Phab |
32. Phaleanopsis1 |
|
Many |
33. Pierce Plot Cerise Poly |
SJHRG |
NIC |
34. Pink Gate1 ( Fred Boutin2 thinks it to be ‘Kentfield’) |
|
SEQ |
35. Pink Hearts1 |
|
Cham |
36. Pink Margo #1 |
|
VintG |
37. Pink Margo #2 (Echo group) |
|
VintG |
38. Red Hearts1 |
|
Cham |
39. Ruth Westwood’s Pink Poly |
|
VintG |
40. Ruth Westwood’s Single Pink |
|
VintG |
41. Sporting Dick Koster |
|
RRus |
42. Summer Snowflake (probably K.Zeimet)(CB seedling) |
|
RU |
43. Sweet Cory (White Fairy) |
|
RRus |
44. Vintage Gardens Red Poly |
|
VintG |
45. White Poly Seedling |
SJHRG |
NIC |
46. White Sporting Koster |
|
RRus |
47. Zeiss White Poly1 |
SJHRG |
B&B |
1 The rose is in commerce and currently available. This does not include those rose obtainable only by custom budding or available only through purchase at the nursery. There are thirteen so listed.
2 Fred Boutin is a botanist who is one of the founders of the Sacramento City Cemetery Garden, collector of over 200 ‘found’ roses in Tuolomne County, and a major agent in the re-introduction of ‘found’ roses into commerce. He well deserves the felicitous description of him by Jeri Jennings: ‘Redoubtable Rose Rescuer.’
Acronym identifications (by order of appearance)
AKA/aka Also known as
SJHRG San Jose Heritage Rose Garden
NIC Not in commerce
RRus Russian River Rose Company. No shipping
B&B B&B Nursery & Propagators
Cliff Private Palm Springs & Rancho Mirage Garden
RU Roses Unlimited
VintG Vintage Gardens
Phab Peaceful Habitations Rose Garden
Morrison Morrison Gardens, North Carolina. Private
Riverbanks Riverbanks Botanical Garden, South Carolina
ARE Antique Rose Emporium
HiCo High Country Roses
Tamplin Rozanna Tamplin's Garden, Texas
Cham Chamblee's Rose Nursery
SEQ Sequoia Nursery, Visalia, California