Description
Photo copyright Paul Barden 2009.
Discovered in 1834.
This is what Paul Barden has to say about this rose,
“Félicité Parmentier‘ is not typical of the Alba roses, in that it will usually remain under 5 feet in height, and is more densely upright than most. It is likely a hybrid with another class, possibly the Damasks. The blooms of ‘Félicité Parmentier‘ are smaller than some others (2.5″) and borne in clusters of 3 to 7. In form they are immaculate, quartered blooms, as double as you could want a rose to be. The bloom shown here is fully opened, at which point it reflexes somewhat, forming more of a pompon. The scent is as fine as any of the Albas….sweet and pure and light….unlike any other class. As the Alba class is thought to be descended from the Damasks, it seems likely that they have inherited their fragrance from those roses in combination with R. canina genes. This rose has one of the longest blooming periods of the once blooming roses. I have the impression that last year, ‘Félicité Parmentier‘ was in flower for at least 6 weeks! There aren’t many of the old French roses that remain in flower for that long. (I have the impression that R. alba maxima was in bloom for almost as long last season)