Article (newspaper)  (May 2009)  Includes photo(s).
 
Patricia Routley: In late summer in a rose garden there should be rose hips in all shades of yellows, apricots and reds and browns. But in gardens where the wildlife abounds, there is only a brief sighting of the abundance of these Autumn colours before the birds flock in and feast on them. The rugosa roses should be decorated with their tomato-like bounty and the climbers should be laden down with vast sprays of tiny orange hips. I wait all year for the hips of R. moyesii ‘Geranium’ but no sooner do I see them, the next week they lie in waste on the ground. It is frustrating, for hips are another dimension of roses. I think the best rose for hips is Zigeunerknabe as every flower produces a large and rounded orange-red fruit. ‘Zigeunerknabe’ was bred by the Bohemian breeder Rudolf Geschwind in 1909 and introduced in Germany by Peter Lambert. The books, and even Geschwind himself called it a Hybrid Bourbon, but it is probably closer to a hybrid multiflora of the early type. ‘Russelliana’ is in its blood and there there was said to be some rugosa blood (sap!) in the background as well, which certainly would explain those hips. The flowers are medium sized, but fully double rich plum-crimson, more purple to my thinking, with a shy showing of yellow stamens. They can fade and even take on dusty tones in hot sun, so some afternoon shade is preferable. There is no repeat flowering throughout the year – apart from that hip show, of course. This is a great bush smothered in clusters of flowers in early summer. It doesn’t seem to have much perfume, has coarse leaves and thorns. It blooms on old wood, so only ever wade in and cut out any dead wood. New canes appear from the base of the plant and it is strongly disease resistant. Mine, on its own roots, is 10’ x 10’ after nine years and I think it is so spectacular, I struck some more and planted another bush of it. It is a good rose for Northcliffe. Once Jenny Macdonald came to visit and saw ‘Zigeunerknabe’ at the very peak of its purple flowering and it must have made an impression. I told her its name and that English speaking people had adopted the easier name of ‘Gypsy Boy’ for the rose. A couple of years later, she returned with some people and was eager to see Cowboy again. “Cowboy? I don’t have a rose named Cowboy”, I said. “Yes, you do,” she said as we drew nearer. “There it is.” She said, pointing to ‘Zigeunerknabe’. Oh dear. Cowboy, indeed! From my German-English Dictionary: Zigeuner means Gipsy. Knabe means Boy. ‘Zigeurnerknabe’ is a wonderful name which, once you get your tongue around it, simply rolls off the tongue. I understand there is a musical work (of which I know nothing), called Der Zigeurnerknabe, and that is as it should be for this rose bush does call for a fast-moving violin and piano, to play homage to its rich purple floraison.

Book  (Feb 2009)  Page(s) 89.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Zigeunerknabe’/’Gipsy Boy’: Les Bourbon. Parents: origines non connues. Obtenteur: Lambert 1919. Description...

Article (magazine)  (2006)  Page(s) 9.  
 
Some roses were sold to Peter Lambert (Zigeunerknabe and Parkzierde) and to J. C. Schmidt (Himmelsauge, Schneelicht and Theano) and are still attributed to them.

Book  (Aug 2002)  Page(s) 43.  
 
Gipsy Boy
Bourbon 1909
Not rated

Book  (2000)  Page(s) 269.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Gipsy Boy’/’Zigeunerknabe’ = Ancien – Bourbon – rouge foncé. …Certains voient en lui un rosier de Chine, d’autres un rosier thé, et il combine les qualités des deux. Ses fleurs semi-doubles, pourpre violacé, s’ouvrent à plat, révélant des étamines d’or à anthères citron… Un feuillage à nervures profondes habille ce rosier à tiges arquées qui peut se faire, au choix, arbuste ou petit grimpant. Ses forts aiguillons font de lui un bon sujet pour haies défensives, et ses fruits vermillon prolongent sa saison de beauté. D’une santé à toute épreuve et plein de vitalité, il ne cesse de former de jeunes pousses à la base… Geschwind, Hongrie, 1909. Hybride de ‘Russeliana’.

Article (magazine)  (Jun 1999)  Page(s) 26.  Includes photo(s).

Website/Catalog  (Jun 1998)  Page(s) 46.  Includes photo(s).

Book  (1996)  Page(s) 60.  
 
'Zigeunerknabe' (Geschwind (?) / Lambert 1909) Seedling of 'Russeliana'. Dark crimson to violet-purple, well double, once-blooming, floriferous, in clusters. Upright.

Book  (Nov 1994)  Page(s) 132.  
 
Bourbon. ('Ziguenerknabe') 1909. This is a great bush bearing hundreds of rich purple roses at midsummer, and is a useful and showy shrub for general planting...

Book  (Apr 1993)  Page(s) 207.  
 
Bourbon (OGR), dark red, 1909, ('Zigeunerknabe'); Lambert, P. Flowers dark crimson-red, medium; vigorous (3-5 ft.) growth.