Cabbage roses, scientifically known as Rosa centifolia, are cherished Old Garden Roses with a rich history. Cultivated since at least the 16th century, they were prominent in France, England, and during the Victorian era. Often called Provence Roses or May Roses, reflecting their regional ties and typical blooming season, they are popular for their classic charm, strong fragrance, and distinctive, full bloom form. They offer timeless elegance, making them a beloved choice for traditional and romantic garden settings.
Defining Characteristics of Cabbage Roses
Cabbage roses are renowned for their distinct bloom structure, which gives them their common name. Their flowers are large, densely packed, and rounded, often resembling a head of cabbage. These blooms typically feature a high petal count, often exceeding 100 petals, creating a lush, voluminous appearance. Many varieties also exhibit a “quartered” bloom form, where the petals are arranged into four distinct sections.
Most cabbage roses have an intense, sweet fragrance. This potent aroma, often described as a classic “old rose” scent with honeyed undertones, has made them highly valued in the perfume industry. Plants grow as bushy, rounded shrubs, reaching 1 to 1.8 meters (3 to 6 feet) tall and spreading up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Cabbage roses are typically once-blooming, producing a spectacular flush of flowers in late spring to early summer, usually from May to June. Foliage is dark green, sometimes with a matte or velvety texture, providing a suitable backdrop for blooms.
Notable Cabbage Rose Varieties
Several varieties stand out for their unique attributes and garden performance.
‘Fantin Latour’ is an admired cabbage rose with delicate light pink flowers and creamy undertones. Its large, cupped blooms are filled with gracefully arranged petals, creating a classic old-world appearance. It has an intense, sweet fragrance, sometimes with a fruity scent. This vigorous shrub can reach 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6 feet) in height and spread, often with an arching habit. It is noted for its good cold tolerance and moderate disease resistance.
‘Petite de Hollande’ is a charming and compact cabbage rose, ideal for smaller garden spaces or containers. It produces small to medium-sized, clear to bright pink flowers that are fully double and cup-shaped, often opening flat with a button eye. Blooms are highly fragrant, with notes of hops and old rose. It forms a low, compact, well-branched bush, typically growing 45 to 120 cm (1.5 to 4 feet) tall, providing a long-lasting display in early to mid-summer.
‘Rose de Meaux’ is another miniature-sized cabbage rose that offers a profusion of small, light pink flowers. Blooms are very double, ruffled, and often appear in clusters, with a mild to sweet fragrance. Its compact, bushy habit makes it suitable for hedges or containers, typically reaching 60 to 100 cm (2 to 3.3 feet) tall. It is known for high disease resistance. Flowers are globular and can fade to a paler pink as they mature.
‘Chapeau de Napoléon’, also known as ‘Crested Moss’, is a unique cabbage rose distinguished by its unusual, crested sepals. These sepals feature prominent, moss-like growths that resemble Napoleon’s bicorne hat, particularly when the buds are still closed. Flowers are medium to deep pink, very double, and intensely fragrant. It grows as a tall shrub, typically reaching 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5 to 6 feet) tall. It is a sport of Rosa centifolia ‘Communis’ and was discovered in Switzerland in 1827.
‘Bullata’, often referred to as the ‘Lettuce-leaved Rose’, is a distinctive sport of the classic Centifolia. Its most notable characteristic is its very large, deeply crinkled leaves, which resemble the texture of lettuce leaves. Flowers are clear to rose pink, cupped, and richly fragrant. It grows as a bushy, spreading shrub, reaching 1 to 2 meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet) tall and 1.2 to 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet) wide.
‘Unique Blanche’ produces creamy white to pure white flowers, departing from the typical pink hues. Blooms are large, very double, and often exhibit a button eye, with outer petals sometimes showing a deep pink tint. This variety is highly fragrant, carrying a strong “old rose” scent. It grows as a bushy, somewhat lax shrub, reaching up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide, providing a display of white flowers in spring or summer.
‘Centifolia Variegata’, also known as ‘Village Maid’, is cherished for its uniquely striped blooms. The flowers are creamy white with streaks and stripes of pale to deep pink, creating a charming variegated effect. These double, delicate flowers are highly fragrant and appear in summer. It forms a robust, often prickly shrub, growing up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall, and can sometimes sucker.