Book  (2012)  Page(s) 42.  
 
Rosier Portland...
(R. du Roi Sèvres
(R. Perpetuelle Lelieur Lelieur
(R. Portlandica maxima Pronville

[Brackets denote synonymity]

Website/Catalog  (27 Jul 2011)  
 
Rosa ‘Rose du Roi’
Catherine Gore places it among her Portland roses and Rivers considers it to be a perpetual Damask rose, and casts doubt on its origin from the Portland rose.  ‘Rose du Roi’ is a small shrub with bright red, highly-scented flowers, according to Gore often more vividly coloured later in the season.  [Gore, Rivers (1854, 1857, 1863), Paul (1848, 1863, 1903), Amat].
 
Horticultural & Botanical History
A very important rose, thought to be the first Hybrid Perpetual and hence a parent of most modern roses.  Raised in the Palace of St Cloud by Souchet in 1819.  Rivers was a great admirer of ‘Rose du Roi’: ‘Every gentleman’s garden ought to have a large bed of Crimson Perpetual Roses, to furnish bouquets during August, September, and October: their fragrance is so delightful, their colour so rich, and their form so perfect.’
 
 History at Camden Park
Arrived from Veitch’s Nursery, Chelsea on Dec, 31st, 1859 on board the ‘Hollinside’ but dead on arrival.  For more detail see Rosa ‘Ducher’.

Article (magazine)  (2009)  Page(s) 31.  
 
'Rose du Roi'   Source RJBM [Réal Jardin Botanico Madrid] Chromosome Number 28

Book  (2003)  Page(s) 270.  
 
Rose du Roi Whether it was M. Souchet or his gardener M. Écoffay who grew his rose from seed is not clear, but in 1819 both were delight to see it in flower...M. Souchet's employer, in charge of the royal palace of St. Cloud, decided that the rose should bear his name of Comte Lelieur, but after Louis XVIII admire it, the name was changed to Rose du Roi...

Website/Catalog  (4 Jan 1999)  Page(s) 18.  Includes photo(s).

Book  (1997)  Page(s) 178.  Includes photo(s).
 
Rose du Roi ('Lee's Crimson Perpetual') Portland. Lelieur (France) 1815. 'Portland Rose' x R. gallica officinalis?. Description and cultivation... An important rose... sometimes classified as a Hybrid Perpetual... flowers: red mottled purple...

Book  (Nov 1994)  Page(s) 139.  
 
Rose du Roi (1819) breeders looking back on this rose dubbed it the first Hybrid Perpetual.

Book  (Apr 1993)  Page(s) 517.  
 
Portland (OGR), medium red, 1815, ('Lee's Crimson Perpetual'); Lelieur; Souchet. Flowers bright red shaded violet, semi-double, large; very fragrant; foliage clear green, slightly fluted; vigorous growth; remontant bloom. A parent of the first Hybrid Perpetual.

Book  (Feb 1993)  Page(s) 80.  Includes photo(s).
 
Rose du Roi Portland. Parentage: Reputedly 'Portland Rose' x R. gallica officinalis although the Gallica involvement has been questioned. Description and cultivation... Under its former named of 'Rose Lelieur' it was released in 1812, and in England it was released as 'Lee's Crimson Perpetual' in 1819... On seeing this rose King Louis XVIII asked for its name to be changed from 'Rose Lelieur' to 'Rose du Roi'... flowers: a rich bright red... important as a forerunner for the magnificent 19th century rose group Hybrid Perpetuals.

Book  (1993)  Page(s) 82.  
 
Portland ('Lee's Crimson Perpetual') Description. A great influence on our Modern Roses, being the channel through which we obtained the clear red colouring, first of all in the Hybrid Perpetuals, and from them in the Hybrid Teas of the present day. Flowers: crimson mottled with purple. Strong fragrance. Lelieur (France), introduced by Souchet, 1815.