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Chances are if you ask a gardener to name a cultivar of rose that they adore, ‘Peace’ would come up many times. This beloved rose is so renowned that it even has its own holiday. National Peace Rose Day is celebrated on April 29th.
This beauty is the quintessential example of a hybrid tea rose at its best. Large perfumed blossoms are made up of creamy yellow petals that are edged with pink. The foliage is a rich glossy dark green that contrasts nicely and the long stems make them a good choice for floral arrangements.
How Did the ‘Peace’ Rose Come to Be?
Image by hartjeff12 under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
The name ‘Peace’ is apt. Francis Meilland, a plant hybridizer from France, created this cultivar during World War II. He called it Mme A. Meilland in honor of his mother. Instant success ensued when it was introduced to France, Germany, and Italy.
A few years later, the Conard-Pyle Company was able to introduce it to the United States, dubbing it the ‘Peace’ rose. Interestingly enough, the day that it was released was also the end of the war since Berlin fell. It has been one of the most popular roses ever created since.
Why not plant a ‘Peace’ rose or one of the other rose cultivars that claim it as a parent this year to celebrate?
Image by digiteyes under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives License
Chicago Peace
If you are a fan of pink roses, choose ‘Chicago Peace’. This kind is much pinker than its parent, with a little bit of cream at the base of each petal.
Image by audreyjm529 under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
Climbing Peace
As you might imagine, this version is very similar to the original ‘Peace’, with the distinction of being one of the climbing roses. Train it up on a trellis or pergola for a gorgeous display.
Desert Peace
Richer hues of pink and gold dance through the blossom of a ‘Desert Peace’ rose, adding pops of color to your landscape. The long stems make it perfect for a vase display.
Image by chipmunk_1 under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Love and Peace
This cultivar holds the honor of being one of my favorite flowers. I had the opportunity to work in the rose breeding department at Bailey Nursery with Ping Lim, the man who created this ‘Peace’ descendent. The blossoms are big enough that it fills both hands as you bring it closer to inhale the sweet heady fragrance, and the outer petals feature a heavier outline of pink than its parent.
Which of these roses with ‘Peace’ rose parentage is your favorite? Plant one for National Peace Rose Day!
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