Souvenir de la Malmaison Rose

What a beautiful country rose Souvenir de la Malmaison is - when seen from a distance. This rose spreads and arches her fat pink flowers, and looks drop dead gorgeous. But don't get too close!

My Souvenir de la Malmaison roses live on an archway in the middle of an Orchard paddock. I offer good soil suitable for horticultural pursuits, sunshine, and clean, fresh, unpolluted air. Drippers can supply water sensibly to the base of the shrubs if summer gets a bit 'droughty'. I don't offer excessive rain.

The pity is that Souvenir de la Malmaison doesn't appreciate this fine living. She's an imperfect rose close-up - one of those roses that has 'tendencies', according to the reference books.

She's known particularly for her flowers balling and not opening properly. I've even found some bloggers who peel off the outer petals and open the flowers by hand - what dedication!

More Tendencies...

A tendency to powdery mildew... A tendency to black spot... A tendency to have tendencies... And susceptibilities... It's best not to be wearing ones spectacles when viewing my Souvenir de la Malmaison rose. Squint, if you have to, and enjoy the illusion! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all. And Souvenir de la Malmaison is a true beauty.

Footnote

Souvenir de la Malmaison is considered one of the very best of the surviving Bourbon roses. Her flowers are powdery pink, and she was originally known as 'Queen of Beauty and Fragrance'. She produces vast numbers of blooms, too. Enjoy - from a distance!