AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE.
“Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)” originated from The Europa-Rosarium, Sangerhausen in the late 1970s, early 1980s and is now in many public and private rose gardens, and widely available in heritage rose nurseries, world-wide. Nurseries either imported budwood directly from Sangerhausen, or from Peter Beales, who propagated the Sangerhausen rose and distributed it internationally. eg Heather Rumsey imported budwood into Australia from Sangerhausen in 1981 and Bob Edberg imported it into the USA from Peter Beales’ nursery. “Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)” has deep crimson blooms with an intense, sweet damask rose fragrance and this feature alone sets it apart from the original ‘Francis Dubreuil’ which was said to have either no fragrance or a Tea rose fragrance. The original ‘Francis Dubreuil’ was a Tea rose that grew to a large size in temperate climates while “Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)” is of more modest size with a growth habit more typical of a Hybrid Tea, Hybrid China or Hybrid Perpetual. Peter Beales classified it as a Hybrid Perpetual in his 2007 catalogue. There has been considerable discussion regarding the true identity of “Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)” (see comments under ‘Francis Dubreuil’, ‘Barcelona’ and “Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)”, and those with information or interest in this rose/ these roses are encouraged to join the discussion.To date, no correctly named surviving plant of the original ‘Francis Dubreuil’ has been found.
“Francis Dubreuil (in commerce as)” Distinguishing Features
Inflorescence and Pedicel: Solitary, simple cymes, compound cymes; pedicel slightly curved, glandular.
Bud Shape and Colour: Short, pointed; bright dark red, blackish flush.
Sepals: Textured outer surface.
Flower Size and Shape: Medium (7–9 cm); double (30–40 petals); often opens to circular cup, then loose arrangement, outer petals reflex.
Flower Colour: Deep crimson, shaded black, outside of petals paler, base pink with white nub, occasional white streak.
Petal Shape and Texture: Rounded wedge, notched, often with crinkled top; firm, velvety.
Stamens and Carpels: Visible when fully open.
Stamens: filaments pink, anthers gold.
Carpels: deep pink styles, gold stigmas.
Receptacle and Hip: Small, slender cup, looks smooth but has bands of stalked glands at base and top; hip globular or pyriform, orange.
Fragrance: Strong; sweet, Damask-like.
Leaves: New growth red, young leaves flushed red underneath, older dark green; 3–7 leaflets, rounded elliptical, pointed tip, thick, glands at base; margins undulate, serrations finer towards tip.
Bush: Moderately vigorous; medium height, sturdy, vase-shaped, many new basal shoots; foliage dense; prickles numerous, varying shapes from fine and needle-like to sturdy and triangular.
A UNITED STATES PERSPECTIVE
This same rose has been sold as ‘Barcelona’ in the United States.
From Kim Rupert:
The origin of the FD/Barcelona confusion is identical to that for Irene Watts and Pink Gruss an Aachen. Bob Edberg imported Francis Dubreuil from Peter Beales. He rooted a plant for The Huntington, which he gave me to take to Clair Martin when I went out to volunteer. I did. That plant should still be in the Tea and China bed at The Huntington. I gave cuttings to Carolyn at Sequoia from this FD. I rooted them for the Huntington Plant Sales, and the one which still grows in what's left of my garden. The FD at Ashdown came from this plant, also.
Barcelona had grown in the gardens at The Huntington for decades. My plant, and that given to Ashdown and Sequoia, came from that plant, also. I still grow that plant, too. Both varieties are own root, and have been kept separate so as to prevent confusion. In my climate, there is no difference. I can also tell you when grown under plastic, at Sequoia, budded on a tree stock, the FD blooms are VERY much like those of Oklahoma. Try it, it's very interesting.
