The Peace Rose: History and Appearance of the Most Popular Garden Rose
Jan 1, 2005 -
© Connie Krochmal
The most popular, best selling garden rose of all time is the ‘Peace’ rose.
It was first pollinated on June 15, 1935, by Francis Meilland and his father. In the summer of 1936, they used some of its eyes for grafting. On October 10, 1936 they saw the first buds were opening.
History and Naming of The Peace Rose
In June of 1939, an international conference of rose hybridizers was held in Lyon. When it visited the Meilland firm, this was the rose that everyone noticed. Several months later when the Nazi invasion of France seemed imminent, Francis Meilland sent eyes of the plant to rose growers that he knew in Turkey, Germany, Italy, and the U.S.
When Robert Pyle of Conard-Pyle received the eyes, he propagated plants, and sent them to the American Rose Society for testing. In 1944 after France was liberated, Pyle wrote to Meilland, explaining that he planned to release the plants once the war ended.
He chose the name ‘Peace’ for the name-giving ceremony at the Pacific Rose Society Annual Exhibition on April 29, 1945, the very day that Berlin fell. That same year, Dr. Ray Allen, secretary of the American Rose Society, sent each of the 49 delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco a single, long-stemmed ‘Peace’ rose with the following note, “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
Appearance and Varieties of Peace Roses
This disease resistant rose breathed new life into the hybrid tea rose group. ‘Peace’ is noted for its robustness and vigor. Blooming most heavily during the early summer, it is a repeat bloomer, producing flowers throughout the growing season. This branching, stiff, upright, tall shrub can reach five to six feet in height with a spread of four feet.
‘Peace’ is also available as a standard or tree rose. It produced a sport, the ‘Climbing Peace,’ which has been described as “one of the finest and most beautiful of hybrid tea climbers.” Though ‘Peace’ does best in full sun, it will grow in partial shade. The long stems make it ideal for a cut flower.
The 'Peace’ has remarkable flowers. These can be six to seven inches wide, fully double with over fifty petals. Depending on the climate, the flowers can vary somewhat in color. In 1945, Robert Pyle described it to Francis Meilland as, “a glorious rose, its pale gold, cream and ivory petals blending to a lightly ruffled edge of delicate carmine. I am convinced this will be the greatest rose of the century.”
‘Peace’ has moderate thorniness, and shiny, leathery foliage. Though the leaves may get black spot, this does no lasting harm. Suitable for USDA zones 5-9, it has above average winter hardiness, and is considered one of the fifty best roses by the Taylor’s Guides. Several outstanding heirloom varieties are represented in the family tree of ‘Peace.’ These include ‘Antoine Ducher’ dating from 1866, ‘Persian Yellow’ from 1837, and ‘Mme Melanie Soupert’ from 1881. ‘Peace’ has produced nineteen outstanding sports, and became parent for 157 other cultivars as well.
This rose has won more awards than any other. It was chosen as an All-American Rose Selection in 1946. The American Rose Society awarded it a National Gold Medal Certificate in 1947.
It was first pollinated on June 15, 1935, by Francis Meilland and his father. In the summer of 1936, they used some of its eyes for grafting. On October 10, 1936 they saw the first buds were opening.
History and Naming of The Peace Rose
In June of 1939, an international conference of rose hybridizers was held in Lyon. When it visited the Meilland firm, this was the rose that everyone noticed. Several months later when the Nazi invasion of France seemed imminent, Francis Meilland sent eyes of the plant to rose growers that he knew in Turkey, Germany, Italy, and the U.S.
When Robert Pyle of Conard-Pyle received the eyes, he propagated plants, and sent them to the American Rose Society for testing. In 1944 after France was liberated, Pyle wrote to Meilland, explaining that he planned to release the plants once the war ended.
He chose the name ‘Peace’ for the name-giving ceremony at the Pacific Rose Society Annual Exhibition on April 29, 1945, the very day that Berlin fell. That same year, Dr. Ray Allen, secretary of the American Rose Society, sent each of the 49 delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco a single, long-stemmed ‘Peace’ rose with the following note, “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
Appearance and Varieties of Peace Roses
This disease resistant rose breathed new life into the hybrid tea rose group. ‘Peace’ is noted for its robustness and vigor. Blooming most heavily during the early summer, it is a repeat bloomer, producing flowers throughout the growing season. This branching, stiff, upright, tall shrub can reach five to six feet in height with a spread of four feet.
‘Peace’ is also available as a standard or tree rose. It produced a sport, the ‘Climbing Peace,’ which has been described as “one of the finest and most beautiful of hybrid tea climbers.” Though ‘Peace’ does best in full sun, it will grow in partial shade. The long stems make it ideal for a cut flower.
The 'Peace’ has remarkable flowers. These can be six to seven inches wide, fully double with over fifty petals. Depending on the climate, the flowers can vary somewhat in color. In 1945, Robert Pyle described it to Francis Meilland as, “a glorious rose, its pale gold, cream and ivory petals blending to a lightly ruffled edge of delicate carmine. I am convinced this will be the greatest rose of the century.”
‘Peace’ has moderate thorniness, and shiny, leathery foliage. Though the leaves may get black spot, this does no lasting harm. Suitable for USDA zones 5-9, it has above average winter hardiness, and is considered one of the fifty best roses by the Taylor’s Guides. Several outstanding heirloom varieties are represented in the family tree of ‘Peace.’ These include ‘Antoine Ducher’ dating from 1866, ‘Persian Yellow’ from 1837, and ‘Mme Melanie Soupert’ from 1881. ‘Peace’ has produced nineteen outstanding sports, and became parent for 157 other cultivars as well.
This rose has won more awards than any other. It was chosen as an All-American Rose Selection in 1946. The American Rose Society awarded it a National Gold Medal Certificate in 1947.
The copyright of the article The Peace Rose: History and Appearance of the Most Popular Garden Rose in Fruit Gardens is owned by Connie Krochmal. Permission to republish The Peace Rose: History and Appearance of the Most Popular Garden Rose in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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