The Peace Rose is one of the most famous and beloved roses of all time. I had this rose once upon a time, in fact … it is one of the first roses my son gave to me– which made it very special. However, during one of our particularly harsh Indiana winters, we lost it.
SUMMER SALE…
Last summer I saw an extremely healthy Peace Rose on the Lowes sale table. I thought it was time I had a Peace Rose again.
THE DETAILS…
- Yellow blend Hybrid Tea
- Bred by Francis Meilland (France, 1935)
- Introduced in US by Conard-Pyle (Star Roses) on April 29, 1945 as ‘Peace’
- Strong fragrance
- Very large, full (26-40 petals), cupped, high-centered bloom form
- Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
- Height of 4′ to 6½’ (120 to 200 cm)
- Width of up to 3′ (up to 90 cm)
- USDA zone 5b and warmer
- Prune lightly or not at all
AN ALL AMERICAN..
The Peace rose was awarded the prestigious All-American Rose Selections Award (AARS) for 1946, the only rose to receive this honor that year.
HISTORY FROM WIKIPEDIA…
It was developed by French horticulturist Francis Meilland in the years 1935 to 1939. When Meilland foresaw the German invasion of France he sent cuttings to friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United States to protect the new rose. It is said, that it was sent to the US on the last plane available before the German invasion, where it was safely propagated by the Conard Pyle Co. during the war.
The adoption of the trade name “Peace” was publicly announced in the United States on 29 April 1945 by the introducers, Messrs Conard Pyle Co. This was the very day that Berlin fell, officially considered the end of the Second World War in Europe. Later that year Peace roses were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco, each with a note which read:
“We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace”. -Wikepedia
What a beautiful history!
If you are looking for this rose, check with these suppliers.
Dear Teresa–your lovely blog continues to bring back happy memories of my childhood. My mother loved roses and gardenias and the rose I remember most was her Peace Rose. She must have had a greener thumb than I, as I wring my hands over my single specimen of the Knock Out Sunny!
As for that Sunny, it was planted early last summer and did well and grew/bloomed a lot with no additional food. Winter winds whipped it around, making it wobbly, yet it is putting out buds and I added Jobe’s stakes to its drip line. I also staked it–is this OK? Did not prune any of the dead tips off–should I? Anyway this is where Diane goes into the weeds caring for any rose. Suggestions, oh mistress Rose Guru???
Yes, prune off dead tips … I just pruned my Sunny by 1/3 of it’s height. I removed weak looking canes and shaped it a bit.
Done! Thanks Teresa!
A long time favorite of mine 🙂 Thanks for the beautiful post Teresa!
Yes, the Peace rose gets into our hearts!
Your beautiful post revive memories of my long time favorite . Thanks.
The Peace rose is one that evokes memories in most of us. A lovely rose and a lovely story of how we came to have it.