• Chantal’s Kolam

Bred by M.S. Viraraghavan (India, 2016).

Grandiflora, Hybrid Clinophylla.  

Pink, white edges.  Mild fragrance.  40 petals.  Average diameter 4".  Medium, very full (41+ petals), borne mostly solitary bloom form.  

Medium, bushy.  Medium, semi-glossy, medium green foliage.  

Height: up to 3' (up to 90cm).  

Prickles: Few, small, straight, pointing slightly downwards, Light brown in color.

‘CHANTAL’S KOLAM’ is named for Chantal Jumel. Chantal is a French creative artist with a long association with India. She has been researching and documenting ( in books, articles and videos) the art of ‘kolam’ (rangoli) in our State of Tamil Nadu, in the adjoining state of Kerala, and in Rajasthan ( western India) and West Bengal in eastern India. ‘ Kolams’ are ephemeral geometric drawings, drawn on the floor – the floor to the entry to a home, in the home’s prayer room ( puja room) , on the floors of temples, and on special occasions, even on the roads leading to temples. ‘Kolams’ are made with rice flour powder or with a paste made by mixing rice flour and water. They are sometimes enhanced with colored powders, but the traditional kolams are usually only with white rice flour. These kolams, drawn usually by women and young girls, are drawn every morning, and are considered auspicious and welcoming, and a form of worship, and each kolam design in its geometrical pattern and detail has special significance --Man’s geometric salutation to the divine geometry of God. The kolams may be ephemeral on the ground (they don’t last beyond a day, especially the rice flour powder ones) but they are permanent in the consciousness. And the women who draw them are really skilful, making this into an art form.

Chantal has researched deeply into the meaning and significance of kolams, and this is our way of saying thank you to someone from another culture who has immersed herself in Indian culture and traditions.

And the wonderful thing is that Chantal loves roses too and grows quite a few in her garden in France.

The rose being named ‘Chantal’s Kolam’ reminds you of one with its geometrical pattern, the edging of each pink petal with white, and the manner in which the petals overlay each other.

This is a ’hand’painted’ rose with a Rosa clinophylla lineage, being a cross between Silver Dawn (clinophylla) and another hand painted seedling of ours.

The pollen parent is a hand painted seedling