Book  (1988)  Page(s) 175.  Includes photo(s).
 
Mrs. John Laing. A strong shrub growing up to 1.5 metres high, with many upright stems. it is practically thornless. Foliage: dark green long oval leaflets pointed at both ends. The surfaces are smooth and shiny above, velvety below, and the edges are separated and glandular. The sturdy stalks have small hooks on the underside and the stipules are narrow with glandular edges. Flowers: The large deep-pink globular buds with long foliated sepals open into very full cup-shaped flowers of about 8 cm in diameter. The firm oval petals are clear pink, paler towards the shanks. Stamens of unequal length are haphazardly arranged around the short clump of white pistils. The narrow calyx is cone-shaped, glandular and has short bristles, sepals are large, much foliated, glandular above and velvety below. The main flush is in early spring. but the plant has blooms for most of the year. The flowers are very fragrant. Inflorescence: Usually one per head on a sturdy glandular stalk

Website/Catalog  (1986)  Page(s) 28.  
 

Mrs. John Laing.....P.

Website/Catalog  (1985)  Page(s) 33.  
 

Mrs. John Laing..... 4 x 3’.

Book  (1985)  Page(s) 32.  
 
Mrs. John Laing [was] the best rose Henry Bennett raised; it won the [NRS's] second Gold Medal [in 1885]... It was not introduced immediately, but in 1887... a seedling of 'François Michelon'... was awarded a Gold Medal in New York in 1885...

Website/Catalog  (1984)  Page(s) 20.  
 
Mrs JOHN LAING (1887). Fleurs parfumées, très pleines, rose carmin satiné Hauteur : 100/120 cm

Website/Catalog  (1982)  Page(s) 27.  
 
Mrs.John Laing (Hybrid Perpetual) Very double and shapely soft pink blooms.  Fragrant. An erect bush reputed to do well on poor soil. 1887. (R) 5 x 3’.

Book  (1981)  Page(s) 175.  
 
Mrs. John Laing. HP 1887. Upright habit, shoots carrying short bristles, but lacking prickles; foliage light green; blooms soft pink, fragrant.

Book  (1980)  Page(s) 48.  Includes photo(s).
 
p80 Colour picture

p48. Symposium. Bourbon and Hybrid Perpetual Roses. Mrs John Laing (Hybrid Perpetual) 13 points. Bennett, 1887. 'Francois Michelon' seedling. Soft, warm pink. Mr Thomas observes that hundreds of pink roses have been raised and named since the appearance of this one, but none has that bland, old world uniform tone of pink with its faint lilac flush. The flowers are large and full, low centred by modern standards, globular in shape and borne freely and recurrently on stiff necked stems. Mr Allen refers to it as a good doer and Mr Brooke notes that it repeats well. Mr Gibson estimates the blooms as 4 to 5 inches across, and considers that it is probably the most free flowering of all the Hybrid Perpetuals from late June, and one of the few that can be called really perpetual, though there are two main flushes. Despite the multitude of petals he has found rain not much of a problem unless it is really prolonged. Brig. Lucas Phillips observes that it holds its own well with the modern Hybrid Teas, except for the modern conception of form. Mr Hillier and RNRS find that the blooms stand up reasonably well to rain. Mr Thomas points out that the large, fully double flowers have high outer petals, rather shorter within, opening from an exquisite bud to a well filled, cupped flower. He commends the good recurrence and notes that the blooms open well. Mr Wyatt praises its freedom and persistence of flowering and describes the shape as deeply globular. Richly fragrant. Several of our contributors rate it as glorious or lovely, and there is general agreement that the fragrance is indeed strong and sweet. Vigorous, stiff and upright growth, the canes having very few thorns and being amply clothed with matt, light green foliage. Lady Haddington considers it the best of her Hybrid Perpetuals, for it grows into a strong, much admired plant. Mrs Allen finds that it makes an almost thornless bush which can be kept in a neat shape and will grow on comparatively poor soil. Mr Beales refers to its short upright growth lending itself for use in smaller gardens, especially when one considers its long flowering season. He rates it an easy rose to grow. Mr Gault remarks that it grows well on most soils, and is excellent in a large pot for indoor decoration. Mr Gibson finds it not nearly as lanky as most Hybrid Perpetuals and, though basically a stiff, upright grower to 4 ft or so, new canes break freely from the base more in the manner of the best Hybrid Teas. RNRS assesses it as very vigorous, while Mr Thomas praises its excellent constitution which enables it to thrive in poor, sandy soils and to excel in good soils, in which he estimates the height as 6 ft. Mr Wyatt also commends its splendid constitution, with stiff, upright growth to about 4 ft. He observes that it lends itself more to conventional bedding than most other Hybrid Perpetuals. There is a tendency to mildew later in the season. Lady Haddington's experience is that it remains extremely healthy, while Mr Gibson observes that the small leaves are generally healthy. RNRS regards it as very clean, although I noticed some mildew on their plants late in September. Mr Thomas refers to the pedicel as mildewy, while Mr Wyatt mentions that the rather small foliage may mildew later in the season, although he has not found it to be highly susceptible. Miss Barrett looks on it as a typical Victorian rose, while Mr Beales rates it as a superb rose, with many of the qualities sought after in modern Hybrid Teas. Mr Thomas deems it to be one of the most satisfying roses to grow and cut. I have memories myself of it flourishing in my father's garden over sixty years ago, and it does not seem to have deteriorated noticeably over this period. Reliability, freedom of flowering and strong fragrance appeal to me as its outstanding qualities.

Website/Catalog  (1970)  Page(s) 14.  
 
Mrs JOHN LAING. — Grosse fleur double, bien parfumée, rose satiné pur

[no longer listed in 1971, but again in 1984]

Website/Catalog  (1960)  Page(s) 18.  
 
Rosiers Hybrides Remontants formant hauts buissons ....
MISTRESS JOHN LAING (Bennett 1887). Rose satiné très frais, grande, pleine. O[dorante].