Crested Damask, damask

The pursuit of roses with Crested (deeply frilled) seedlings is one of the Holy Grails of rose breeding for a few brave hybridizers, and is a difficult goal to achieve. The Crested characteristic is derived from the magnificent R. centifolia cristata ('Chapeau de Napoleon'), a Centifolia variety of considerable antiquity. This new variety, named simply 'Crested Damask' was bred by Paul Barden in 2003. This is a compact, relaxed shrub growing about 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall, with dark green foliage. The blooms are borne in clusters of 3 to 5 in great profusion for about 5 weeks in early Summer. Each bloom is pure OGR: 3.5 inch shallow cups of over 100 petals each, in a rich raspberry-pink hue with a button eye at the center. The sepals on the buds show off the frilly cresting beautifully, adding to this rose' beauty. There is naturally a very good Old Rose fragrance.