Also known as the ‘Great Holland Rose’,Provence Rose’ ,‘Cabbage Rose’ and the ‘Rose des Peintres’, they have a history of intrigue and mystery. Initially R.centifolia (which botanically should be centipetala)was classified as a species rose and thought to date back to around 300BC because of references from that era to a ‘hundred petalled rose’. It has never been found growing in the wild and recent examination of the chromosomes show it to be a complex hybrid of four species. These species are- R.gallica,R.phoenicia,R.moschata and R.canina. It is thought that this combination probably took place in a garden situation. The Centifolia originated in Holland and was cultivated there from the 16th century.

An amazing phenomena in the evolution of this rose is Centifolias have double blooms and these extra petals came at the expense of stamens so all the initial ones were sterile. These sterile roses developed the propensity to sport and did so frequently. All the early Centifolias were sports and it wasn’t until a semi-double sport arrived that deliberate breeding began.

Centifolias are generally graceful arching shrubs bearing large initially cupped flowers of perfect shape and intoxicating perfume. The outer rows of petals are usually large and ‘guard’ the inner petals which are smaller and may be quartered or imbricated. That this most beautiful of roses was dubbed ‘the Cabbage Rose’ seems incongruous even if the flowers did remind someone of the shape of them.

The early forms are...
R. x centifolia - pre 1600
Grows to around 2 metres and bears deep pink,very double,cupped flowers.
Perfume is intense and heady.

R. x centifolia ‘Major’ aka ‘Centfeuilles des Peintres’
Larger and more refined flower than R.centifolia.
Fully double pink bloom with a delicate petal texture,
opening to show a button eye.
Very fragrant and grows to around 2 metres.

R. x centifolia alba - 1775 - found in Britain
Also known as ‘White Provence’ and ‘Unique Blanche’
Perfectly formed white,silky,very perfumed blooms.
Grows to around 1.5 metres.

R. x centifolia variegata =‘Village Maid’, ‘La Rubanee’.
Released by Vibert,France in 1845.
Vigorous grower to around 1.5 metres.
Bears soft white blooms streaked with pink.
Occasionally throws a bloom or two in Autumn.

Some dark ‘Gallica’ type blooms come from
‘Robert le Diable’, ‘The Bishop’ and ‘Tour de Malakoff ’.

Some miniature versions are...
R.burgundica=‘Pompon de Bourgogne’, ‘Parvifolia’.
Grows to 60cm with purple flowers.
Also ‘Petite Lisette’ (90cm) and ‘Rose de Meaux’ (60cm) both
with pink flowers.