I see this as an important rose, too. I think my attention was drawn to it first by being impressed when I saw it in a local rose garden.

After reading your comment I decided that I wanted to know how influential Orleans Rose was. I had noticed from some earlier work that Mme Norbert Levavasseur appeared in a lot of rose lineages. I learned that HMF finds 10,738 descendents of Orleans Rose in its database. It finds 10,941 descendants of Mme Norbert Levavasseur, the parent of Orleans Rose. So most of the parent's influence passed through Orleans Rose. Some other roses that might have at one time been considered important to rose breeding:

- Constance Spry 326
- Old Blush 610
- Mrs John Laing 2,992
- Reve d'Or 3,973
- Spartan 2,792
- Peace 6,113
- Independence 5,776
- Crimson Glory 9,624
- Robin Hood 10,276
- Soleil d'Or 12,269

So I think it is correct to consider Orleans Rose to be one of the most important and influential roses in the recorded history of rose breeding. I find it reassuring to know that it remains in commerce.

In considering these rankings, it seems to me that efforts over the last century have placed as top priority the effort to wring more blossoms out of the rose plant. Making them a pleasing red and/or yellow has been pretty important, too. Making the flowers large and well formed has been important, but perhaps a little less so. Remontance appears to be taken for granted. It's impossible to determine from this tiny scrap of work whether fragrance was also taken for granted or if it was simply neglected.