';'Russelliana'

'Russelliana'

(Pronounced: rus-sul-ee-ANN-a)

ALSO KNOWN AS:

'Old Spanish Rose' , 'Russell's Cottage Rose' , 'Russelliana' , 'Scarlet Grevillei' , 'Souvenir del la Bataille de Marengo'

[Enlarged Image]
'Russelliana' is a very old rose dating from before 1837. During its long history, it has acquired a number of names.

[Enlarged Image]
'Russelliana' has very double, medium-sized flowers that open crimson-mauve and fade to lilac.

[Enlarged Image]
'Russelliana' makes a large mounding shrub that is simply covered with blooms in the spring.

[Enlarged Image]
'Russelliana' blooms are incredibly beautiful, very double, and have highly ornamented sepals covering the buds.

[Enlarged Image]
The only problem with the blooms is that they do not last all season.

[Enlarged Image]
However, 'Russelliana' compensates for the spring bloom, at least in part, by setting lovely hips in the fall.

GENERAL
INFORMATION:
'Russelliana' is a vigorous once-blooming rose that is in a class by itself. Although its origins are not known, it was noted before 1837. Its medium-sized flowers are very double and crimson-mauve.

They fade to lilac. The stems are very thorny, and the large, deeply-veined, blue-green foliage is very distinctive and unmistakable.

It is a hybrid of R. multiflora and a Damask rose. Some think that it is a hybird of R. multiflora and R. setigera .

BOTANICAL
GROUP:
Synstylae

GROUP:

CLASS:
H Mult

SEED
PARENT:
R. multiflora

POLLEN
PARENT:
R. setigera

BREEDER:
Unknown

INTRODUCED:
The origins of 'Russelliana' are not clear but it has been known since before 1837. It was probably introduced in Spain.

DATE:
Before 1837 [ Spain ]

PLANT SIZE
AND FORM:
Height:    6 '     to    20 '           Width:    3 '     to    5 '

'Russelliana' forms a very large mounding shrub with long arching canes. The stems are very thorny. It will grow to heights from 6' - 12', and be equally wide. Occasionally it will grow to 20' and may be trained into trees.

FOLIAGE
DESCRIPTION:
The foliage has five oval pointed leaflets with well-marked serrated edges. The leaflets are large and deeply veined. Its blue-green color, tinged with red at the edges, is unmistakable.

FOLIAGE
FRAGRANCE:
The foliage has a resinous 'pine-like' fragrance and there are glandular bristles on the pedicels and other stem parts

BLOOM
FREQUENCY:
O - Once blooming. 'Russelliana' starts blooming in early April in the Texas Hill Country and continues in bloom for about 6 weeks.

BLOOM
DESCRIPTION: Flower Size:    3.00"      to      3.50"           Cluster Size:    1      to      3           Petal Count:    50 to 60

'Russelliana' flowers are mediuim-sized (2-1/2" to 3-1/2"), very double, and quartered, with green button eyes. They occur in clusters of 5-7.

BLOOM
COLOR:

COLOR VARIATION:
None.

FRAGRANCE:
VF - Very Fragrant. 'Russelliana' has a distinctly Damask 'old rose' scent.

HIPS:
Globose; Orange; "1/2". 'Russelliana' hips are orange and fairly large, with a nearly round shape.

CLIMATE:
Zones 5 - 9

CULTURE:
'Russelliana' is somewhat succeptible to mildew and may drop some leaves in hot weather, but it is a very hardy rose. It is fast growing and will thrive against colder walls and when growing into trees.

PROPAGATION:
'Russelliana' is readily propagated from cuttings. There are reports of 'Russelliana' rooting reliably when simply stuck in the ground and ignored.

OTHER
CHARACTERISTICS:

    ** Tolerant of shade
    ** Tolerant of poorer soils
    ** Suitable for growing into trees
    ** Availability is limited
'Russelliana' may be grown as a large moiunding shrub, or a moderate climber, or a pillar rose.

ANECDOTAL
INFORMATION:
'Russelliana' was once used as a rootstock for other roses, which explains why specimens may be found at abandoned home sites and cemetaries.

'Russelliana' may keep its leaves throughout mild winters.

REFERENCES:
American Rose Society. Modern Roses 10. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 1993, p. 528.

American Rose Society. Modern Roses XI. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 2000, p. 519.

Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 68.

Beales, Peter. Classic Roses. New York: Henry Holt & Company. 1997, p. 268.

Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, pp. 101, 103, 170-171.

Welch, William C.. Antique Roses for the South. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1990, pp. 121, 128-129.

Welch, William C.. Perennial Garden Color. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1989, pp. 230, 238-239.

GENERAL INFORMATION:	'Russelliana' is a vigorous once-blooming rose that is in a class by itself. Although its origins are not known, it was noted before 1837. Its medium-sized flowers are very double and crimson-mauve. They fade to lilac. The stems are very thorny, and the large, deeply-veined, blue-green foliage is very distinctive and unmistakable. It is a hybrid of R. multiflora and a Damask rose. Some think that it is a hybird of R. multiflora and R. setigera .
BOTANICAL GROUP:	Synstylae
GROUP:
CLASS:	H Mult
SEED PARENT:	R. multiflora
POLLEN PARENT:	R. setigera
BREEDER:	Unknown
INTRODUCED:	The origins of 'Russelliana' are not clear but it has been known since before 1837. It was probably introduced in Spain.
DATE:	Before 1837 [ Spain ]
PLANT SIZE AND FORM:	Height: 6 ' to 20 ' Width: 3 ' to 5 ' 'Russelliana' forms a very large mounding shrub with long arching canes. The stems are very thorny. It will grow to heights from 6' - 12', and be equally wide. Occasionally it will grow to 20' and may be trained into trees.
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION:	The foliage has five oval pointed leaflets with well-marked serrated edges. The leaflets are large and deeply veined. Its blue-green color, tinged with red at the edges, is unmistakable.
FOLIAGE FRAGRANCE:	The foliage has a resinous 'pine-like' fragrance and there are glandular bristles on the pedicels and other stem parts
BLOOM FREQUENCY:	O - Once blooming. 'Russelliana' starts blooming in early April in the Texas Hill Country and continues in bloom for about 6 weeks.
BLOOM DESCRIPTION:	Flower Size: 3.00" to 3.50" Cluster Size: 1 to 3 Petal Count: 50 to 60 'Russelliana' flowers are mediuim-sized (2-1/2" to 3-1/2"), very double, and quartered, with green button eyes. They occur in clusters of 5-7.
BLOOM COLOR:
COLOR VARIATION:	None.
FRAGRANCE:	VF - Very Fragrant. 'Russelliana' has a distinctly Damask 'old rose' scent.
HIPS:	Globose; Orange; "1/2". 'Russelliana' hips are orange and fairly large, with a nearly round shape.
CLIMATE:	Zones 5 - 9
CULTURE:	'Russelliana' is somewhat succeptible to mildew and may drop some leaves in hot weather, but it is a very hardy rose. It is fast growing and will thrive against colder walls and when growing into trees.
PROPAGATION:	'Russelliana' is readily propagated from cuttings. There are reports of 'Russelliana' rooting reliably when simply stuck in the ground and ignored.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:	Tolerant of shade Tolerant of poorer soils Suitable for growing into trees Availability is limited 'Russelliana' may be grown as a large moiunding shrub, or a moderate climber, or a pillar rose.
ANECDOTAL INFORMATION:	'Russelliana' was once used as a rootstock for other roses, which explains why specimens may be found at abandoned home sites and cemetaries. 'Russelliana' may keep its leaves throughout mild winters.
REFERENCES:	American Rose Society. Modern Roses 10. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 1993, p. 528. American Rose Society. Modern Roses XI. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 2000, p. 519. Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 68. Beales, Peter. Classic Roses. New York: Henry Holt & Company. 1997, p. 268. Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, pp. 101, 103, 170-171. Welch, William C.. Antique Roses for the South. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1990, pp. 121, 128-129. Welch, William C.. Perennial Garden Color. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1989, pp. 230, 238-239.