SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON – pale pink historic Bourbon rose - Béluze
Bring seaside elegance to a small Cornish or Devon garden with this famous historic Bourbon rose, whose porcelain-pink blooms and strong tea scent feel like tea on the veranda after collecting seashells. Bred in 1843, it remains valued for fragrance, reliable rebloom and low day‑to‑day maintenance, thriving in a sheltered spot that gently tempers coastal wind and rain. Its compact, upright habit suits beds, borders and large containers, while own‑root resilience supports long life and steady performance. Over a few seasons the root system strengthens, the framework fills out and then the plant reaches full ornamental impact, giving you enduring historic charm with modern disease resistance.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Coastal veranda in a large container |
Ideal for a sheltered Cornish or Devon veranda in a 40–60 litre container, where its compact height and upright habit frame seating without overwhelming space, offering scented, remontant flowers for relaxed outdoor afternoons – perfect for the busy coastal homeowner. |
| Fragrant seating area rose |
Planted near a bench or patio, its strong, long‑lasting tea‑rose perfume creates a classic atmosphere for quiet evening tea, while repeat flowering keeps the display going from early summer into autumn – a delight for the scent‑loving beginner. |
| Low‑maintenance family border |
Good disease resistance and modest maintenance needs make it suitable for mixed borders where time is short; light deadheading and occasional tidying of spent blooms are usually enough to keep it presentable – reassuring for the busy family‑garden gardener. |
| Historic feature in a small garden |
Its compact yet notable stature allows you to enjoy a true Old Rose Hall of Fame cultivar without requiring a large plot, adding living history and romantic character as a focal point in limited space – ideal for the heritage‑minded small‑garden owner. |
| Own‑root long‑term planting |
Supplied on its own roots, it builds strength steadily, with underground growth in the first year, fuller top growth in the second and mature display by the third, offering reliable recovery after harsh winters – appealing to the long‑view, investment‑oriented gardener. |
| Sheltered coastal bed or shingle strip |
Performs well where coastal influence is softened by a wall or fence, coping with breezy, damp weather when given free‑draining soil and regular watering through dry spells, fitting naturally into coastal‑style layouts – suited to relaxed seaside‑garden enthusiasts. |
| Romantic specimen near paths |
As a single specimen at generous spacing, its large, very double rosette blooms can be appreciated up close, with pale pink petals fading to almost white for a soft, nostalgic look along paths and entrances – perfect for lovers of classic cottage‑style planting. |
| Part‑shade planting by walls or pergolas |
Tolerant of partial shade, it can brighten a lightly shaded wall, arch or pergola base, where protection from harsh midday sun helps maintain flower quality and colour, and its upright habit integrates easily – useful for space‑conscious urban gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Coastal-veranda trio – Combine this rose in a 50–60 litre tub with sea kale and blue Festuca for a breezy coastal look beside outdoor seating – for lovers of relaxed Cornish or Devon balcony style.
- Romantic-border ribbon – Thread it through a narrow border with lavender and low grasses, using its repeat pale blooms as soft highlights along paths – for homeowners wanting gentle, fragrant structure without fuss.
- Historic-centrepiece pot – Use one plant in a generous terracotta container as a focal point near the front door, underplanted with silvery foliage – for those who enjoy a statement rose in a small space.
- Part-shade nook – Plant by a north‑east facing wall with ivy or honeysuckle, where its fragrance drifts towards a small bench – for readers and tea‑drinkers seeking a quiet retreat.
- Family-scent corner – Group it with child‑friendly, tactile plants around a seating area so everyone can enjoy fragrance and soft colours – for busy families wanting maximum effect from minimal care.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Souvenir de la Malmaison is a historic Bourbon rose from the Heritage rose collection; an unregistered cultivar also traded as a heritage rose and Béluze, with ARS exhibition name Souvenir de la Malmaison. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Jean Béluze in France and introduced in 1843, from the cross ‘Madame Desprez’ × ‘Devoniensis’; a classic Bourbon shrub distributed widely as a historic garden and exhibition rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Honoured by the World Federation of Rose Societies Old Rose Hall of Fame in 1988 and holder of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, granted 1993 and confirmed after review in 2012. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub reaching around 110–160 cm in height and 100–150 cm spread, with moderately dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms may persist and benefit from occasional manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL rosette blooms, typically solitary on stems, with over 40 petals and a full, cupped form; remontant habit with particularly abundant second flush, providing a long season of display in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pale pastel pink flowers, ARS LP, RHS 65C outer and 65D inner, opening softly pink then fading quickly in sun to near white with a faint cream tinge, creating porcelain‑like tones that change attractively as the bloom ages. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, enduring scent with a sweet, tea‑like, classic tea‑rose character; well suited to seating areas, entrances and cut‑flower use where fragrance is a priority, adding a traditional Old Rose perfume to the garden. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of spherical orange‑red hips, around 14–22 mm in diameter, adding discreet seasonal interest after flowering where spent blooms are not fully removed, and offering a soft autumn accent. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 and hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C, with good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; tolerates summer heat reasonably but appreciates regular watering during extended dry periods. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to beds, borders, specimens and containers; allow 110–200 cm spacing depending on use, with around 0.7–0.8 plants/m² for massing; prefers sheltered sites, fertile, well‑drained soil and light pruning to maintain shape. |
SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON offers strong fragrance, repeat pale blooms and reliable disease resistance in a long‑lived own‑root form, making it a thoughtful choice if you enjoy historic roses with enduring presence.
