Ernest Levavasseur, nurseryman, became involved in roses with the acquisition of the nursery of Baron-Veillard of Orléans in 1892. After World War I rose breeding stopped and Levavasseur et Fils in Ussy, Calvados and Levavasseur & Cie in Orléans separated. The latter was succeeded by Léon Lambert's Grandes Pépinières d'Orléans after World War II. The former nursery still exists, but has practically only modern roses in its selection. According to Daniel Lemonnier, the polyanthas were bred in Ussy, Normandie by Ernest's brother Norbert Levavasseur, but the Orléans-related names speak against this.
[From Memoires de la Société d'agriculture, d'industrie, des sciences, et des arts de l'arrondissement de la Falaise, Séance de 22 February 1891:] ...Etaient présents ...Norbert et Ernest Levavasseur
[From The National Nurseryman, May 1907, No. 5, p. 121-122:] Turgot.... prime minister of Louis XVI., was forced from his position by a difference of policy with Queen Marie Antoinette. He retired to his castle at Bons-Tassilly, near Ussy, where he owned a large estate.....To secure the supply he procured seed, gathered young plants and began to grow his own stock. Thus it was that the Ussy nurseries were originated. The great-grandfather of the members of the present firm [of Levavasseur & Fils] was one of the first nurserymen of Ussy.....The real growth of this important firm began in 1866, when the father of the present senior member, having learned the business at Versailles, took the management into his own hands. He began to push the seedling and stock business vigorously. His first American catalogue, consisting of a single sheet quoting prices, brought him an order of $240 from a Rochester, N. Y. firm. ....Ground was added, packing houses and offices increased, and growth steadily continued until 1888. At this time Messrs. Norbert and Ernest Levavasseur returned from a tour of England and Germany, where they worked and studied languages as well as horticulture. They were given a share in the business. America has since been visited by both of these gentlemen, who have established wide business connections. The company was incorporated for a ten-year period in 1892, with Mr. Th. Levavasseur as head. At the end of this time the senior member retired. About this time also M. E. Levavasseur bought the old and renowned establishment of Mr. Baron Veillard, at Orleans, and undertook the management. The business was reincorporated, with Norbert Levavasseur as managing director of the establishment at Ussy, and Ernest Levavasseur as managing director of the establishment at Orleans.
[From The American Florist, 1915, p. 90:] Wapato, Wash. — The Ornamental & Fruit Nursery Co. has been Incorporated by John Ryken and Norbert Levavasseur; capital $50,000.
[From The American Florist, 1919, p. 636:] Ussy, FRANCE—It is reported that the firm of Levavasseur & Sons has been dissolved and that effective September 1, the establishment here will be in charge of Norbert while Ernest Levavasseur will manage the one at Orleans.
[From Lyon horticole, January 1938, p. 16:] LEVAVASSEUR, administrateur-propriétaire des pépinières Louis LEROY, Angers.
[From The Old Rose Advisor, by Brent Dickerson, Vol. 2, 2001, p. 142:] ...Ernest Levavasseur ... released 'Mme. Norbert Levavasseur', 'Maman Levavasseur', 'Triomphe Orléanais', and 'Orléans-Rose'...
[From Roses et Rosiéristes de l'Orléanais, by François Joyaux, 2006, pp.52ff:] À Orléans, les Levavasseur, en matière de roses, sont essentiellement connus pour les polyantha qu'ils mirent au commerce avant la Guerre de 1914. Mais, en fait, il s'agissait d'une Maison fort ancienne, d'origine normande, et surtout spécialisée en plants forestiers. ...Ce fut en effet Turgot, qui, en 1773, avait crée une pépinière à Ussy, en Normandie, de façon à boiser le vaste domaine qu'il y possédait autour de son château. ..En 1888, Norbert est Ernest Levavasseur s'associèrent pour développer leurs activités. Peu après, en 1892, ils s'adjoignerent l'établissement de Baron-Veillard, à Orléans, acquis par Ernest Levavasseur, qui en prit la direction; puis ils constituèrent une nouvelle société, Sous la Raison socilae de "Levavasseur et Fils". ...l'acquisition des pépinières Baron-Veillard avait ajouté à ces spécialités, celle des rosiers....Vers 1912, la Société Levavasseur et Fils produisait 800.000 rosiers en buissons et hautes tiges et entretenait une collection de 1500 variétés....La Maison Levavasseur, qui ne mettra plus jamais de roses nouvelles au commerce après cette date [1918], se repliera sur la seule multiplication et la pépinière générale. Devenue "Grandes Pépinières d'Orléans" aprés la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, elle disparaîtra au cours de la crise des années 1970.
[From Le Livre des Roses, by Daniel Lemonnier, 2014, p.. 265-266:] ...'Madame Norbert Levavasseur' de Norbert Levavasseur en Normanie (1903, Ussy). La maison mère des Levavasseur se trouve toujours à Ussy dans les Calvados où se faisaient les semis et hybridations, elle reste la propriété des pépinières Levavasseur. Par la Suite, l'acquisition, dans l'Orléanais, de la maison Baron-Veillard Permit d'accroître la multiplication. ...Norbert Levavasseur, en 1913, créera une succursale grossiste aux Etats-unis, l'Ornemental & Fruit Company, dirigée par John Ryken, un Hollandais de Boskoop, et située à Wapato dans l'État de Washington...[Ornamental & Fruit Nursery Co., Wapato, Wa.]
