The Ultimate in Roses (Apparently)

I found a rose that would seem to meet all the requirements of the ultimate rose. Her name is Madame Isaac Periere. 

When looking through rose catalogs over the years, this one intrigued me. I don’t normally like rose coloured roses. But the descriptions of Mme Periere kept me thinking about her. 

I usually like more delicate colours. I especially love the David Austin English roses. I will show you some of my other roses on another post.

The description of this rose is what sold her to me. She has a high Rose Society rating. She gets quite tall with a natural ‘V’ shape and is very hardy. She can survive most Canadian winters (very important) and the final quality “perhaps the most fragrant of all roses“.

Well, I said to myself, we will have one of those. We need to know this rose. I went on a hunt, found a supplier and bought one. This week, I got my first bloom. Long story could go here as to why, but let’s leave it that it is my first summer with the bush.

Is it the most fragrant? I am not sure, as all my roses have a slighter scent that normal this year. It could be due to all the rain and lack of sunshine. But Mme Periere didn’t disappoint. She has a complex, deep, warm rose smell that is intriguing and very pleasing. I suppose if I had several blooms at once it could be very heady. If you compare with the overpowering of a room freshener, no Mme Periere is not that fragrant. At least my first one is not.

I have heard that planting garlic very near roses intensifies their scent. I just might add some garlic to the garden next spring and see what happens.

But there are large blooms that will fill your hand, and a lush bush that promises to be full of blooms before frost. Enjoy looking at how pretty she is.