Reine des Violettes

Reine des Violettes (Queen of the Violets) is one of the old-fashioned roses I grow. She has been shifted around a fair bit, and at the moment lives near the woodshed underneath a variegated elm. This rose has a beautiful fragrance.

Reine des Violettes is not a neatly manicured rose, but her old-fashioned charm, plus the interesting muddled mauve flowers (my photograph hasn't quite captured her colour properly) make her very desirable. My big rose book describes her as 'nicely scented' - which seems a bit casual. I think her perfume is really beautiful. And most of all I love her title!

My big rose book also says she is classified as a Hybrid Perpetual, looks like a Bourbon, and has flowers like a Gallica. Is she confused?