The Blossoming of Varieties of Roses

The rose came into its own and gained significant popularity during the Napoleon period. They considered it as a decorative flower during this period. The rose filled gardens with its wonderful scent and covering fabrics and porcelain with its beauty. The rose had been a favorite for a long time in every type of garden but towards the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century the rose was introduced to newcomers in China which led to hybrid roses being bred. The importance of all the new varieties of the rose is that it could flower through the summer. The number of varieties grew tremendously. There were about twenty one varieties available in 1660 and by 1836 there were 24 moss roses, 25 Provence or cabbage roses, 50 perpetual roses, 89 hybrid China roses, 25 alba roses, 19 damask roses, 99 gallica roses, 53 climbing roses, 70 China roses, 16 Miniatures, 66 noisette roses, 38 bourbon, 10 musk, 54 others that have not been classified.

Much of the interest in roses came from the Empress Josephine who was Napoleon's wife. She collected large numbers of different varieties of all roses in France. She had the largest number of different types all in one place. She also encouraged the breeding of other types so there would be new and different rose varieties. She even had Pierre-Joseph Redoute paint a collection of roses and it was published as Les Roses.