Gallica, Provins Rose, Hybrid China Rose 'Cardinal de Richelieu'

I am CHOMPING at the bit for this thing to bloom! I am not sure if it will though. See, I live in S. Florida; the land of perpetual Summe...Read Morer. I have had the Cardinal now for a little over a year... when I first got it, it was merely a rooted cutting. Now though it is getting some size to it, lots of new growth; it's really starting to take off! Since our "winter" this year is more like other people's early Fall, it may not know when to bloom. Guess I have to wait and see!

It is doing quite well so far... not a sign of disease (black spot is a real problem down here), hasn't been plagued with any bugs (which is something because there is an endless parade of them down here all year round), and it is very low maintenance. I do have it in a bit of shade under a palm tree to sheild it from the brutal mid-day sun and scorching heat. It seems to like it... I just hope it likes it well enough to reward me with some blooms. July is fast approaching so I will update!

This was one of my first old garden roses, and it sold my on them completely!! Anyone who thinks they wouldn't like a rose that only bloo...Read Morems once should at least try growing one of these roses for a couple years, then see if their opinion changes! It may only bloom once, but it is literally covered in blooms when at its peak. It has a wonderful fragrance, and when in peak bloom fillsthe garden with its perfume. The blooms go thru many very beautiful shades as they age, and they do last a L-O-N-G time(at least 6 weeks in my garden)! After the bloom this plant is still a nice shrub, with nice, healthy, medium green foliage that fully clothes each cane and goes to the ground on my 3 plants. It is a great backdrop for other plants that bloom later, and are small when this is putting on its main show earlier in the season. I will always have this rose in my rose garden - once blooming is still quite a show with this Cardinal.... :)

The first time I saw this rose, it stopped me dead in my tracks. I HAD to have it. The deep plum flowers age to the most amazing smoke ...Read Morecolor. It's gorgeous. Even though it only blooms for about six weeks, it is still a good member of the garden the rest of the year. The plant is attractive and healthy. I don't know if it does this in every climate, but here in 8b the leaves turn red, orange, and gold in late November (they match my liquidambar) and they hang on until I strip them off in late January. This rose is one of my very favorites.

like most gallicas, this rose tolerates poorer soil and a bit of shade. The flower colour is best in some sun, but lasts better with a b...Read Moreit of shade. I have found the ideal situation is where it gets lots of early and late sun but is spared the mid day heat.

The flower is a most amazing mix of the entire spectrum form crimson to a mauve which is near blue. People talk about old roses fading, but never with enough emphasis on what a beautiful thing this is to observe, as the intense rosy flowers fade to rich deep mauve and french grey.

More prosaically, once established, especially on its own roots, this rose is healthy, hardy and a fine shrub even out of bloom