Book  (Jun 1992)  Page(s) 326.  
 
William Francis Bennett Hybrid Tea. Henry Bennett 1886

Book  (1985)  Page(s) 31.  
 
In 1884, [Bennett sold] a red Hybrid Tea to Mr. Evans, a grower of cut flowers in Philadelphia, for the sensational sum of five thousand pounds... The rose was named William Francis Bennett; after his elder brother...
[Parentage: 'Adam' x 'Xavier Olibo']

Book  (1938)  Page(s) 81.  
 
Harry H. Hazlewood.  Some Stories Behind Rose Names. 
The interesting story, however, centres round William Francis Bennett (H.T.), sent out in 1885. It was described as beautiful glowing crimson, similar to General Jacqueminot, with a bud similar to Niphetos; very fragrant and a very free bloomer, but only a moderate grower. The excellence of the bloom apparently took the public fancy, and a demand immediately sprang up for blooms for social functions. Every hostess of consequence had to decorate with this new red Rose, while young gentlemen paying court to the fair young ladies of the time dared not offer floral gifts of any less value than William Francis Bennett blooms. Apparently, the variety was still retained in the raiser's hands, for queues of clients waited for their orders at the nursery where the plants were growing. Jealous competitors sent their lady friends for generous bunches, hoping that buds for propagation might be cut from the stems, but, alas for their hopes, each eye was treated by a hot needle, and any chance of propagating young stock was lost. Eventually young plants were distributed after the raiser had skimmed the cream off the floral jug, but it was never disclosed what profit this new Rose returned its producer.

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 68.  
 
Bennett, William Francis (HT) Bennett 1884; Adam (President) X X. Olibo; velvety carmine to crimson, large, 3/4-full, ovoid form, fragrance 9/10, floriferous, continuous bloom, autumn-bloomer, growth 5/10. Good under glass; 5000 Dollar-Rose. Sangerhausen

Magazine  (Nov 1910)  Page(s) 171.  
 
W. F. Bennett. — Magnifique rose rouge cramoisi, à floraison continuelle, grande, double, s'ouvrant bien, odorante, bouton allongé sur pédoncule long et ferme, belle floraison d'autonme en Tunisie. Rose célèbre aux Etats-Unis, sous le nom de rose au 5,000 dollars, prix payé par un riche américain pour l'obtenir le premier (1886).

(1908)  Page(s) 61.  
 
Hybrid Tea-scented Roses.
W. F. Bennett... vigorous, crimson, large and double; fine for bedding and massing.

Website/Catalog  (1897)  Page(s) 66.  
 
Tea-Scented Roses and Their Hybrids
W. F. Bennett  colour bright crimson; a fine rose in the bud state, very fragrant. 

Magazine  (7 Nov 1896)  Page(s) 366.  
 
Rose W. F. Bennett.— We have but few good red Tea Roses, the one bearing this name being one of them. It is a kind I think highly of as to colour, but as a grower with me it is poor in the extreme. Some years ago I obtained a strong plant of it and grew it in a pot for several years, trying in every conceivable way to induce it to make a good growth. It would make a few inches of growth and bloom. After several years I resolved to plant it out at the foot of a south wall, and although it has been here two years it is not much larger than when planted out. During this summer it has borne a good number of blooms, and to-day (October 20) I cut two lovely buds. This plant is worked on the Manetti, and this may account for its slow growth. Have other growers found it as slow in growth, and can anyone say how it does on the seedling Brier?— Dorset.

Book  (1895)  Page(s) 111.  
 
William Francis Bennett, crimson

Book  (1895)  Page(s) 111.  
 
William Francis Bennett, crimson.