Helga Brichet told me in May 2009 that the 'Helga Brichet' that John Nieuwesteeg named for her was a seedling of 'Complicata', not a sport. We were looking at a plant in full flower in her garden in Italy at the time.
Who are you? I mean who edits and runs this amazing database? There is a lot I could add if you would like more input from Europe.
Charles Quest-Ritson La Percillerie 12 rue de la Pesquerie 50480 Amfreville [France]
See the note at the bottom of the rose description. This note confirms 'Helga Brichet' as a 'Complicata' seedling. (John Nieuwesteeg confirmed this to me).
It's good to see you here. Thank you for sharing your research in your article 'The mystery of 'Fantin Latour' - just read in the Autumn 09 Historic Rose Journal. Most interesting. Let us hope that, among the readers of this article, there are some who can add a few more pieces to the jigsaw puzzle.
The note posted by "JJ" is it, raises a couple of questions. At the time Helga expressed admiration for the aberrant bloom apparently on a plant of 'Complicata', it became common knowledge that 'Complicata' had sported the bloom.
In view of JJ's note however, perhaps that was wrong, and a self-sown seedling was pushing its head up to bloom. Whatever the case, 'Complicata is clearly the seed parent if 'Helga Brichet' is not a sport. Actually Helga is a sport, of sorts.
