‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’
Bourbon roses are a group of hybrids originating from a chance cross between a form of ‘Autumn Damask’ and the ‘Old Blush’ China rose which occurred in about 1817 on the Île de Bourbon (now Réunion) in the Indian Ocean. When it was introduced to France two years later it was used to produce further hybrids.
Bourbons inherit fragrance from their Damask parent and free flowering from their China parent. Among the most popular are ‘Louise Odier’ and ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, which has also produced a climbing ‘sport’.