';"Natchitoches Noisette"

"Natchitoches Noisette"

(Pronounced: Nak-a-tish noi-ZAA)

ALSO KNOWN AS:

"Natchitoches Noisette"

[Enlarged Image]
"Natchitoches Noisette produces open clusters of light pink semi-double flowers in great profusion. "

[Enlarged Image]
"Natchitoches Noisette" produces ssmall clusters of ovate, orange 3/8" diameter hips in the fall.

GENERAL
INFORMATION:
"Natchitoches Noisette" is a found rose that was collected from a cemetery in Natchitoches, LA where it had been growing form more than 100 years with no care, fertilizer, or attention of any kind. The blooms are double, cupped, and light pink.

The myrrh fragrance is very strong when the buds first open, but it diminishes rapidly. The growth habit us upright and bushy, and the flowers repeat from April until December.

BOTANICAL
GROUP:
Chinensis

GROUP:
Found

CLASS:
N

SEED
PARENT:
Unknown

POLLEN
PARENT:
Unknown

BREEDER:
Unknown

INTRODUCED:
"Natchitoches Noisette" was introduced by the Antique Rose Emporium in 1992.

DATE:
Before 1870 [ United States ]

PLANT SIZE
AND FORM:
Height:    3 '     to    5 '           Width:    3 '     to    4 '

"Natchitoches Noisette" forms a moderate-sized compact bush, 3' to 5' in height.

FOLIAGE
DESCRIPTION:
The foliage is dark green and healthy.

FOLIAGE
FRAGRANCE:
None.

BLOOM
FREQUENCY:
C - Continuous. "Natchitoches Noisette" starts blooming in mid-spring (April in the Texas Hill Country) and continues blooming throughout the growing season.

BLOOM
DESCRIPTION: Flower Size:    2.00"      to      2.50"           Cluster Size:    5      to      9           Petal Count:    15 to 20

"Natchitoches Noisette" flowers are medium-sized (2" to 2-1/2"), loosely semi-double, and slightly swirled. They occur in abundant open clusters.

BLOOM
COLOR:
PB - Pink Blend. "Natchitoches Noisette' blooms are a light pink, and the reverse sides of the petals are a darker shade of pink.

COLOR VARIATION:
Reverse sides of petals are a darker shade of pink than the front sides.

FRAGRANCE:
MF - Moderately Fragrant. "Natchitoches Noisette" has a light, pleasant fragrance of myrrh.

HIPS:
Ovate; Orange-Red; 3/8" Diameter. "Natchitoches Noisette" produces a profusion of orange hips in the fall that gradually darken to medium red.

CLIMATE:
Zones 7 - 9

CULTURE:
"Natchitoches Noisette" is very healthy and disease resistant. It prefers a sunny location, but will tolerate poor soils. It responds well to pruning.

PROPAGATION:
"Natchitoches Noisette" is easily propagated from cuttings.

OTHER
CHARACTERISTICS:

    ** Tolerant of poorer soils
    ** Good for bedding or mass plantings
    ** Worth growing for ornimental value of hips
    ** Suitable for hedging and fence rows
    ** Suitable for growing in pots
    ** Availability is limited
The blooms of "Natchitoches Noisette" resemble those of 'Champneys' Pink Cluster', but they are slightly larger and have less fragrance.

ANECDOTAL
INFORMATION:
There is some doubt as to whether the "Natchitoches Noisette" should actually be classified as a Noisette or China rose, but it seems to fit the Noisette classification better than any other.

It was found marking a grave site at an old 1714 fort in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where it had grown and bloomed without fertilizer, watering, spraying or any other attention or care for more than 100 years. That's my kind of rose!

At first I was a little disappointed with "Natchitoches Noisette" because I thought that it had no fragrance. However, that disappointment quickly changed to delight. It is true that the mature flowers have little fragrance.

However, the buds, and the flowers immediately after opening, have an intense fragrance of myrrh. The fragrance in the buds dissipates almost immediately after they open. Thus, the mature blooms seem to have no scent.

I have taken to occasionally picking an opening bud and crushing it between my thumb and finger as I walk t hrough the garden in the morning. That is a great treat for my nose, but it makes one less flower for my eyes to enjoy.

Fortunately, "Natchitoches Noisette" is a prolific bloomer, and the abundance of buds and flowers produced by this rose throughout the season is usually enough to keep both my nose and my eyes happy.

REFERENCES:
Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 7.

Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, pp. 99, 158.

Welch, William C.. Antique Roses for the South. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1990, pp. 22, 25, 121, 145.

GENERAL INFORMATION:	"Natchitoches Noisette" is a found rose that was collected from a cemetery in Natchitoches, LA where it had been growing form more than 100 years with no care, fertilizer, or attention of any kind. The blooms are double, cupped, and light pink. The myrrh fragrance is very strong when the buds first open, but it diminishes rapidly. The growth habit us upright and bushy, and the flowers repeat from April until December.
BOTANICAL GROUP:	Chinensis
GROUP:	Found
CLASS:	N
SEED PARENT:	Unknown
POLLEN PARENT:	Unknown
BREEDER:	Unknown
INTRODUCED:	"Natchitoches Noisette" was introduced by the Antique Rose Emporium in 1992.
DATE:	Before 1870 [ United States ]
PLANT SIZE AND FORM:	Height: 3 ' to 5 ' Width: 3 ' to 4 ' "Natchitoches Noisette" forms a moderate-sized compact bush, 3' to 5' in height.
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION:	The foliage is dark green and healthy.
FOLIAGE FRAGRANCE:	None.
BLOOM FREQUENCY:	C - Continuous. "Natchitoches Noisette" starts blooming in mid-spring (April in the Texas Hill Country) and continues blooming throughout the growing season.
BLOOM DESCRIPTION:	Flower Size: 2.00" to 2.50" Cluster Size: 5 to 9 Petal Count: 15 to 20 "Natchitoches Noisette" flowers are medium-sized (2" to 2-1/2"), loosely semi-double, and slightly swirled. They occur in abundant open clusters.
BLOOM COLOR:	PB - Pink Blend. "Natchitoches Noisette' blooms are a light pink, and the reverse sides of the petals are a darker shade of pink.
COLOR VARIATION:	Reverse sides of petals are a darker shade of pink than the front sides.
FRAGRANCE:	MF - Moderately Fragrant. "Natchitoches Noisette" has a light, pleasant fragrance of myrrh.
HIPS:	Ovate; Orange-Red; 3/8" Diameter. "Natchitoches Noisette" produces a profusion of orange hips in the fall that gradually darken to medium red.
CLIMATE:	Zones 7 - 9
CULTURE:	"Natchitoches Noisette" is very healthy and disease resistant. It prefers a sunny location, but will tolerate poor soils. It responds well to pruning.
PROPAGATION:	"Natchitoches Noisette" is easily propagated from cuttings.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:	Tolerant of poorer soils Good for bedding or mass plantings Worth growing for ornimental value of hips Suitable for hedging and fence rows Suitable for growing in pots Availability is limited The blooms of "Natchitoches Noisette" resemble those of 'Champneys' Pink Cluster', but they are slightly larger and have less fragrance.
ANECDOTAL INFORMATION:	There is some doubt as to whether the "Natchitoches Noisette" should actually be classified as a Noisette or China rose, but it seems to fit the Noisette classification better than any other. It was found marking a grave site at an old 1714 fort in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where it had grown and bloomed without fertilizer, watering, spraying or any other attention or care for more than 100 years. That's my kind of rose! At first I was a little disappointed with "Natchitoches Noisette" because I thought that it had no fragrance. However, that disappointment quickly changed to delight. It is true that the mature flowers have little fragrance. However, the buds, and the flowers immediately after opening, have an intense fragrance of myrrh. The fragrance in the buds dissipates almost immediately after they open. Thus, the mature blooms seem to have no scent. I have taken to occasionally picking an opening bud and crushing it between my thumb and finger as I walk t hrough the garden in the morning. That is a great treat for my nose, but it makes one less flower for my eyes to enjoy. Fortunately, "Natchitoches Noisette" is a prolific bloomer, and the abundance of buds and flowers produced by this rose throughout the season is usually enough to keep both my nose and my eyes happy.
REFERENCES:	Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 7. Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, pp. 99, 158. Welch, William C.. Antique Roses for the South. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1990, pp. 22, 25, 121, 145.