Book  (26 Dec 2009)  
 
Princesse de Parme. M, mp, Morley, Dr B. [William Lobb × unknown]
Introductions: 1988

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 77.  
 
Princesse de Parme. Morley, Australia. 1987. Climber. Pink. [Available from:] Cottage.

Book  (1996)  Page(s) 114.  
 
Princesse de Parme. Morley, Australia. 1987. Climber. Pink. [Available from:] Cottage.

Magazine  (Feb 1989)  Page(s) 105, Vol 8, No. 3.  Includes photo(s).
 
New Cultivars Selected from Seedlings of Old-fashioned Roses. by June and Brian Morley.
Abstract. Six cultivars of seedling rose selections are described: R. cvs. "Princesse de Parme", "Duchesse de La Tremoille", "Duchesse de Guermantes", "Madame de Villeparisis", "Marie Nordlinger" and "Beauty of Glenhurst".
Introduction. In autumn 1983 seed was collected from open pollinated garden plants of R. cvs. "William Lobb", "Henri Martin" and "De la Grifferae". After potting in compost these were left outside during the winter with germination in spring 1983 (Morley, 1988). Seedlings were pricked out into rows and given adequate watering during the summer of 1984; considerable mortality was experienced. The first flowers of seedlings were seen in spring 1984 and repeat assessments of promising selections were made in 1985, 1986 and 1987 Colour photographs of flowers of the selections were taken during these years for comparative purposes. In 1987 it had become apparent that particular selections were phenotypically stable and in the opinion of the authors worthy of description and release to interested growers.

Selections from R. cv. "William Lobb`
"William Lobb" is a well known moss rose with a robust 2.5 metre arching habit and mid-green somewhat bullate leaves which was raised in 1855 by Laffay in France; the parents are unknown. The moss is copious but short and greenish-purple on the receptacle and calyx, the flower being informal with a muddled centre, the petals not densely packed, and rich crimson-purple with a parma violet reverse, fading pale violet-grey. Flowering time is usually, but not invariably, late in the season at the time of rambler rose flowering.
R. cv. "Princesse de Parme'
This selection has an erect habit with robust shoots bearing a fresh pale green foliage with the leaf undersides more mossy than "William Lobb". The flower moss is more copious than in "William Lobb" and green, the sepals being longer and often with expanded leafy appendages. The initially cupped flower opens flat and is much paler mid-pink than the red magenta of "William Lobb" in bud and on first opening. The flowers of "Princesse de Parme" have a paler pink reverse and fade to pale purple-pink, not the slate purple pf "William Lobb". Flowering time is a little earlier, the shrub at present 1.3 metres tall, the numerous long mossy flower buds having a graceful appearance and providing an attractive setting for the pale pink double corollas.
Origin of name: Princesse de Parme — an endearing character of Marcel Proust in "A la Recherche..." based on Princesse Mathilde, the niece of Napoleon.

Magazine  (1986)  
 
1986. Heritage Roses in Australia - 2nd Int Conf., Adelaide, 1986. Conference Proceedings.
p47 June Morley. Making New Old Roses. The seeds were gathered in late autumn 1983.... the slides shown were taken in spring 1985.....
Slide 4 shows seedling no. 49A = 'Princesse de Parme'. 49A has the robust growth of 'William Lobb', heavy green moss, and similar semi-double blooms, which are, however, much paler than those of the parent at first opening stage....