Rose Baron Girod de L’Ain

The unique Old Rose "Baron Girod de L'Ain" is instantly recognizable for its dramatic, lace-like flowers edged with a fine white picotee. The thin white margins on the dark red to deep purple-crimson petals create a striking effect of torn, ruffled edges, giving the blooms a highly decorative, almost sculptural appearance. This distinctive coloration, combined with repeat flowering and a strong fragrance, has secured the rose a lasting place among the most admired historic remontant hybrids.

The flowering is abundant and recurrent. The large, very double, cup-shaped flowers appear on a well armed, prickly shoots, unfolding impressively as the outer petals reflex and recurve slightly. Blooms are about 7 - 10 cm in diameter, sometimes reaching about 12 - 14 cm in diameter, and are very double, with about 26 - 40 petals per flower. Initially cup-shaped, the flowers later open wide, revealing their characteristic ruffled form with pointed, sharply serrated petals. Flowers are borne singly or in dense clusters of 3 - 9 blooms together on very short peduncles, causing the tightly packed flowers to overlap and press against one another.

The colour of the flowers is rich and variable. The dominant tone ranges from deep carmine-red to dark crimson or cherry-red, accented by a thin white edging along the serrated petal margins and faint white veins. Weather conditions strongly influence coloration: in cooler conditions, flowers appear darker and richer, while in heat they may fade toward purplish or lilac tones. The fragrance is strong, pleasant, and complex, with noticeable fruity notes.

The first flush of bloom is very abundant, followed by a less profuse but reliable second flowering in August - September.

The plants of the rose variety "Baron Girod de L'Ain" are upright, wide, and rounded, with long, drooping shoots typical of Hybrid Perpetuals. It reaches the height of about 100 - 150 cm (3.3 - 5 ft) and the width of about 90 - 120 cm (3 - 4 ft) in width. The growth is vigorous, though the plant can appear slightly untidy without pruning. The stems are heavily armed with sharp prickles, making it advisable to plant the rose away from paths and high-traffic areas.

Foliage is medium green and attractive but susceptible to disease, particularly black spot, powdery mildew, and rust, and therefore requires preventative spray with fungicides. Winter hardiness is good, suitable for growing in climates similar to USDA Zone 6b and warmer.

"Baron Girod de L'Ain" grows well in full sun or partial shade, though it prefers cooler locations, as the dark flowers can scorch or fade in intense sun. It is shade tolerant and adapts to poor soils. Heavy pruning in midsummer is recommended to control growth and encourage reblooming. The variety is suitable both for garden planting and for cut flowers, where its dramatic blooms are particularly striking.

The rose is dedicated to André-Marie-Édouard Giraud de L'Ain, 5th Baron Giraud de L'Ain (1819 - 1906), a French politician and member of the Council of State (Maître des requêtes), as well as deputy for the department of Ain from 1865 to 1870. He was the son of Baron Louis Gaspard Amédée Giraud de L'Ain.

Winner of numerous competitions organized by the American Rose Society (USA), 1998 - 2012

Sport (natural mutation) of ‘Eugène Fürst’ (Soupert & Notting, Luxembourg, 1875)

Parentage of ‘Eugène Fürst’: ’Baron de Bonstetten’ × unnamed seedling

USDA 6