Rose Boule de Neige

Medium sized pink-tinged buds open into fragrant, camellia-like, snow bowl white flowers of exquisite form and silky texture; each about 5cm in diameter, held in small clusters of 3 to 5. Forms very neat, upright and slightly rounded bush.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
‘Boule de Neige’ is classified as Bourbon rose mainly due to its seed parent ‘Blanche Lafitte’, from which it inherited its main features. This vigorous Bourbon rose was introduced in 1867 and has been a popular rose ever since. When the plant is young it has moderate growth strength, it will need a few years to establish and start to grow more vigorously. Mature plant forms upright, quite neat, and slightly rounded shrub, the height of the average mature plant is about 120 – 150 cm, and the width is about 90 – 120 cm.

It’s dark green, glossy foliage creates beautiful contrast for its flowers, making it one of the most charming white Old Roses.

Blooms in flushes throughout the season.

The flower buds are small to medium sized, the most outer petals are tingled with magenta-red when the sepals just start to divide.

Flowers of ‘Boule de Neige’ are medium sized, the average diameter of the open flower is about 5 cm (2.5") and full, with petals count of 40 on average. When the flowers first open, they have cupped, slightly globular shape. As the flower fully opens, it becomes less of the cupped, more rosette shaped with outer the petals gradually turning back on themselves almost forming a ball. They appear in a small clusters of 3 to 5 or singly.

The colour of the flowers are white with green shading when the flowers open, later turning to pure white or cream white. Sometimes the red tint on the edges of the petals remains, but more often fades to white.

The fragrance is strong, has classic old rose character with milky undertones.

Shows good resistance to powdery mildew, botrytis, and rust.

Recommended for climate zones USDA 6 and warmer.

In the USA was introduced first in 1887 as 'Ball of Snow' by “Peter Henderson & Co.”.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
‘Boule de Niege’ was bred by François Lacharme by crossing Bourbon rose variety ‘Blanche Lafitte’ by Henri and Giraud Pradel, 1851 with an Tea rose ‘Sappho’.

USDA zone 6 and warmer