Souvenir de la Malmaison
(Bourbon, 1843) – pale pink. The title "Queen of Beauty and Fragrance" aptly describes this classic rose. The soft yet
spicy fragrance is said to set the standard for Old Garden Roses. The flowers are PERFECTLY quartered and drenched
with perfume. Sadly, the blooms are prone to spotting/rotting in rainy weather but that is the price for perfection. Growth
habit is short and bushy. SdlM does wonderfully as a container rose. Her repeat bloom is also superb. Winter hardy to
zone 5. Recommended by practically everyone.
Here is what Cynthia in Texas has to say about it: "My SDLM, started
showing new growth as soon as a week after being planted, no pouting, and that was during a summer. I have never seen
a twiggy one. It is a bloom machine, with a fragrance I always stick my nose into, just can't help it! That rose has helped
me in showing non-rose people just how beautiful and easy OGR's can be. One of my best enabling tools! I would have a
hedge of SDLM if I can find a place for it! As it stands now, I am hoping at the N. Texas swap to get the climbing form."
And what Bluesibe in NoCa says about it: "I purchased SDLM last year because of the raves on this forum. I saw it at a
local nursery covered with PM. Against my better judgement, I got it anyhow. And I have never looked back. I put her in a
container, gave her good loving care, the PM has disappeared. She is a bloom machine and the beautiful full blooms coupled
with the lovely aroma is wonderful. She now has three big buds on her and I'm waiting. Oh yes, SDLM Rouge is on my short
list."
Lets not forget Trospero's words: "This is one of the most consistent roses you might ever choose to grow. When it is good, it is
consistently good, and whan it is bad, it is consistently a true wretch. If it happens to like your climate (generally hot and dry)
then you will be bowled over by its beauty. If you live in a climate it does NOT like (coastal areas and places where summers
are cool and often damp) then you will find it disease prone and rarely producing a bloom worthy of mention. This is a prime
example of choosing the right rose for the right climate."
Listen to what Thorny in VA says: "I live in Coastal Virginia, warm,
constant humidity, mist and dew, right on a tidal marshland, ducks and geese swimming less than 100 feet from my roses. I
have nothing but kind words for SDLM. She has lovely flowers and perfume. Yes sometimes SDLM balls up tight. Seems to
happen more when the Spring has been cool and rainy. I think mine do better when I spray for thrips which also seems to reduce
the balling. I wouldn't say SDLM is leggy or twiggy. Mine are more compact. But it did seem to need a year to get comfortable and
really started producing in the second year.
And lastly what AndreaRose in CA says: "My #1 favorite also. Reasons to buy it: the
fragrance - it puts so many roses to shame, and even the stronger ones like Mme Isaac, because it's heady yet subtle. The color -
I'm just in love with how pale a shade of pink it can be. The form - big, round, full, quartered. The name: In memory of Malmaison -
Josephine's garden. Napoleon would hit the roof when he got her gardening invoices. She was importing roses from England while
France was at war with England. French sailors were under orders to give English ships safe passage if they were carrying her roses!
Now there's a rose-aholic! Though probably not grown by her, I believe one of her gardeners bred it and named it for her garden. Yes it
balls in the rain - but if I only got one bloom a year, I would grow it. Sooooo, whatca gonna do?"
Image courtesy of Roseyone.
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