MADAME ISAAC PEREIRE – deep pink historic Bourbon rose - Garçon
Step into the romance of a classic French garden with this richly scented Bourbon rose, ideal for creating a snug, storybook corner that still copes gracefully with blustery, rainy weather in exposed British plots. Its velvety deep-pink rosette blooms release an intense old-rose perfume that drifts across the garden during summer afternoons, while the upright yet arching habit forms a natural, shrub-like presence or can be eased onto a low arbour or wall. As an own-root plant, it offers reassuring longevity and the ability to regenerate from the base after hard pruning or winter damage, so the bush keeps its character and ornamental value for years with minimal fuss. Plantable from spring to autumn in a 2-litre container, it settles quickly into cottage-style borders and kitchen gardens, its heritage charm suiting both small town plots and more generous rural spaces, while high disease resistance means less spraying and simpler care for busy gardeners.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Cottage-style feature in a family flower bed |
Planted centrally in a mixed border, its tall, arching habit and very double, deep-pink rosettes create an instant focal point with a traditional feel, while own-root growth ensures the shrub remains full and attractive over many seasons for beginners. |
| Romantic pergola or low arbour for afternoon seating |
Trained onto a low pergola or arch, the flexible, slightly arching canes carry masses of highly scented blooms at head height, perfect for a seating area where the perfume can be enjoyed without demanding complex rose training by homeowners. |
| Fragrant wall or fence backdrop |
Along a sunny or lightly shaded wall, this upright historic rose forms a loose vertical curtain of foliage and flowers; its remontant habit means waves of bloom through summer with modest deadheading effort, suiting busy urbanites. |
| Low-maintenance, long-lived specimen shrub |
As a solitary specimen in lawn or near a terrace, it develops into a substantial, characterful shrub; the own-root form helps it recover from harder winter pruning and keeps it vigorous for decades, ideal for long-term planning gardeners. |
| Historic rose corner in a cottage or kitchen garden |
Combined with herbs and traditional perennials, its heritage Bourbon character and deep-pink colour give a “storybook” atmosphere, while robust disease resistance reduces spraying and fuss, appealing to romantically inclined but time-pressed families. |
| Cut-flower row for scented arrangements |
The large, very double blooms with exceptionally strong, room-filling fragrance are excellent for cutting; the shrub responds well to regular picking, encouraging fresh growth and repeat flowers, rewarding enthusiastic yet non-expert florists. |
| Raised bed or improved heavy clay border |
In raised beds or well-drained, improved clay, the vigorous root system anchors the plant securely and supports generous top growth, while its resilience suits gardens that regularly see wet, windy spells near the coast for practical-minded owners. |
| Large container on terrace or patio (40–50 litres+) |
In a substantial 40–50 litre or larger container with quality compost, it becomes a showpiece near seating or doors, where its intense perfume can be appreciated closely, yet care remains straightforward for space-limited balcony and patio residents. |
Styling ideas
- Kitchen-border classic – Underplant with chives, sage and lavender for a soft, edible-fragrant edge that echoes its old-rose perfume – perfect for cottage-kitchen gardeners.
- Blush-and-berry – Pair with pale foxgloves, white campanulas and burgundy heucheras to highlight the deep-pink blooms and historic character – ideal for romantic stylists.
- Arbour-retreat – Train over a small wooden arbour with a bench, flanked by soft grasses, to create an afternoon tea nook wrapped in scent – suited to relaxation seekers.
- Heritage-mix hedge – Combine at spacing with other historic shrub roses to form a loose, flowering screen that needs only light annual shaping – good for low-maintenance planners.
- Twilight-terrace – In a large pot near doors, add white nicotiana and dusky violas so the fragrance and colour read beautifully in evening light – ideal for small-plot hosts.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Historic Bourbon shrub rose, current trade name MADAME ISAAC PEREIRE – deep pink historic Bourbon rose - Garçon; unregistered cultivar with American Rose Society exhibition name Madame Isaac Pereire. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France by Armand Garçon around 1881; introduced by Margottin père & fils in 1880; parentage unknown, belonging to the Bourbon group and now classed as a heritage historic rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in the London Société botanique d’Angleterre rose competition in 1882, reflecting its long-standing ornamental value and fragrance reputation among historic rose enthusiasts and collectors. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub with strongly arching canes, 170–230 cm tall and 120–180 cm wide; moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage; moderately thorny stems, trainable as a low climber on supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms (40+ petals) borne mostly singly; flower size typically 7–10 cm; remontant with a particularly generous second flush; spent blooms hang on and benefit from regular deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep crimson-pink to rich fuchsia on opening, ARS DPk, RHS 60A–60B; velvety buds dark carmine; fades towards pale raspberry-pink with a lilac veil, especially in strong sun; repeat flowering in warm months. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Extremely strong, classic old-rose perfume with elegant character; fragrance-filling in still air and highly noticeable around seating areas; fully double flowers prioritise ornamental and sensory appeal over pollinator value. |
| Hip characteristics |
If blooms are not deadheaded the plant may form a modest crop of small, spherical hips about 12–18 mm diameter, coloured red-orange, adding a light autumn accent without heavy fruiting display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated RHS H7, tolerating approximately −26 to −23 °C and suitable for USDA 5b and Swedish Zone 4; good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; prefers consistent moisture and avoids prolonged drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Use as specimen, bed rose, cut-flower bush, or trained on pergolas and walls; tolerates partial shade; space 125–210 cm depending on use; plant in well-drained soil with regular watering and light formative pruning. |
MADAME ISAAC PEREIRE offers sumptuous fragrance, repeat flowering and reliable disease resistance in a long-lived own-root form, making it a thoughtful choice for those planning a romantic, enduring garden feature.
