THE EARLY FLORIBUNDAS
First Section: Floribundas
Proper
by
Brent C. Dickerson
Copyright © Brent C. Dickerson
To facilitate study of the history and
development of the Floribunda class, the following offers for a limited
time illustrative materials pertaining to the text The Early
Floribundas, by Brent C. Dickerson, published 2020. In most cases,
the illustrations come from materials at least somewhat contemporary
with the roses they depict. This collection of images was originally put
together as a private aid to my research, and are for study only, and
not to be reproduced for commercial purposes.
To make it easier
to get a sense of how the group developed, this collection of images is
in chronological order, determined by the year in which the particular
variety was introduced (released to commerce), which is not
necessarily the date of being first exhibited, and certainly not
the date of first being bred (for instance, the two varieties considered
the first "official" Floribundas, 'Else Poulsen' and 'Kirsten Poulsen',
appear below under 1924, even though they were bred circa 1911). To
find a specific variety quickly on this page, please use the
search function on your browser. Those wishing further details on these
roses will find them, often in baroqueeven
maddeningprofusion, in the book.
The images posted here
have been taken directly from the original publications (not from any
secondary sources), with minimal changes (clean-up, re-sizing, and the
like). As the reader will note, many of these images are not the usual
close-up glamour shots but rather showing plants "in habitat," which
with Floribundas (and their forebears) means "as bedding plants." In
compiling a collection such as this, one is struck by how often
competing companies used the very same image (or details from it)
in their catalogs, not to mention by the horticultural press as well;
the implication is that such images were originally supplied by the
breeder without restriction, as a come-on or publicity for the new
rose. I have not sought to compile here an exhaustive collection of
images of these roses, but rather to give the reader a quick notion of
salient characteristics that the breeder or grower might have found of
interest in their pursuits. Sadly, I have not been able to obtain
illustrations of some of the early Floribundas discussed in the book;
even images of some of the important early ones have remained
elusive.
I would like to warmly thank California State University, Long Beach,
for its generous support of making this research material available to
those interested in the study of horticultural history.
1909:
'Gruss an Aachen'
1911:
'Rødhætte'
1921:
'Joseph Guy' (syn. 'Lafayette')
1923:
'Mrs. R.M. Finch'
'Salmon Spray'
1924:
'Else Poulsen'
'Kirsten Poulsen'
1925:
'Pink Lafayette'
1928:
'Belvédère'
'Johanna Tantau'
1929:
'Pink Gruss an Aachen'
1930:
'Frau Astrid Späth'
1933:
'Bonnie Jean'
'Fortschritt'
'Goldenes Mainz'
1934:
'Mevrouw van Straaten van Nes' (syn. 'Permanent Wave')
'Rochester'
1935:
'Anne-Mette Poulsen'
'Betty Prior'
'Carillon'
'Fluffy Ruffles'
'Little Beauty'
'Springtime'
'Topaz'
1936:
'Baby Château'
'Pink Karen'
'Snowbank'
'Violinista Costa'
1937:
'Dainty Maid'
'Orange Triumph'
'Rosenelfe'
'Smiles'
1938:
'Donald Prior'
'Else's Rival'
'Erna Grootendorst'
'Freude'
'Holstein'
'Minna Kordes' (syn. 'World's Fair')
See also, under 1942, 'Magic Red', with a picture of a bouquet which includes 'Magic Red' and 'Minna Kordes'.
'Poulsen's Yellow'
'Stadt Essen'
1939:
'Adolf Grille'
'Poulsen's Pink'
1940:
'Bouquet'
'Cheerio' (Kordes/Dreer)
(See also image at top of page.)
'Eutin'
'Lipstick'
'Meisterstück'
'Pink Jewel'
'Pinocchio'
'Poulsen's Copper'
'Red Velvet'
(See image at top of
page.)
'Sunmist'
(See image at top of
page.)
1941:
'Cheer'
1942:
'Magic Red'
In the picture below, of an arrangement with 'Magic Red'(of 1942) and 'Minna Kordes' (of 1938), 'Minna Kordes' makes a large "C" curving from above to left then beneath, while 'Magic Red' is on the inside of the "C."
'Marionette'
'Niobe'
'Red Ripples'
1943:
'Floradora'
1944:
'August Seebauer'
'Pink Bountiful'
1945:
'Goldilocks'
'New World'
'Pink Satin'
By 1946:
'Kirsten Poulsen Improved' (red one, on right and lower)
Backyard of average Floribunda fancier.
Details on these roses and many others of the era will be found in the book The Early Floribundas, by Brent C. Dickerson, published 2020.
Click here to go to Section 2 on Non-Floribundas.