Portland Roses were thought to have all been bred from one original hybrid which was a cross between autumn damask and gallica originally called Rosa paestana or Scarlet Four Seasons Rose.
Today it is known as the Portland Rose, after the Duchess of Portland to whom it was first gifted.
Blooms are very fragrant, usually pink and are repeat- flowering – a rarity at that time (1780’s).
They are low growing with short flowering stalks.
Examples include ‘James Veitch’, ‘Rose du Roi’ – an outstanding red Portland and ‘Comte de Chambord’ a very fragrant pink rose.