The flower form and color do not look like my Rose du Roi at all. I have the Rose du Roi of commerce, but I understand that the original has pretty much the same flower form with slightly darker coloring than the RdR of Commerce.

Here is my RdR of Commerce:
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The leaves on my plant look less shiny and more pointy than your rose. To my eye the rose in your picture does not really look like a Portland.

I agree with Foodie. This rose looks modern to me, and I'd bet it was mis-labeled. But it is a pretty thing.

Jeri

I agree look at the foliage, it is much too glossy for a portland.

Lance

This little mystery gets even deeper. After the first two replies here, I hit the reference materials. My rose looks like the photo of Rose du Roi in Botanica's Roses. The photo on the web at Uncommon Rose wasn't much help since it's a half-open bloom. http://uncommonrose.biz/r/roseduroi.html
Paul Barden's site uses the same photo as Uncommon Rose. I found another photo on a German site that appears to be the same rose.
http://www.schmid-gartenpflanzen.de/rosen/sorten/rose.php/Portland%20Rosen/Rose%20du%20Roi/
Vintage Garden's catalog specifically mentions a button center -- no button here.

I wish I had a bloom right now. Just lots of growth. Here are some new photos -- maybe it'll help.

The whole thing (yes, the pot's too small.) Notice how it's throwing up tremendous long canes -- the one coming straight up is 4 feet long already.
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A couple photos of the foliage:
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and a hip. I saved a couple of hips on the bush to try to germinate seeds over the winter.
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Connie

Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia GW Fall Rose/Plant Swap Details

Connie--RdR is supposed to be a small rose, no more than 3 feet. Mine is currently 2 feet tall and it has been in the ground for about 2 years (it is 2 1/2 years old). 4 foot canes do not sound like RdR. I purchased mine from Vintage and they are the very best regarding rose identification in my book. As far as I know, RdR is not a true red as in your photo. It is more of a rose red, mauve, purple-red color. Did your bloom have any fragrance? The link to the German site was of the Duchess of Portland. That rose does look a bit like your photo. It is only supposed to have moderate fragrance.

Connie, my RdR is as jbfoodie describes. The blooms are very double, very fragrant and a rose red. The foliage is the same as the one she posted as well. Mine came from Pickering and even as a grafted plant it remains a small rounded bush that is 2-3 feet with no long canes. Roses are nearly always bigger here than they are advertised to be but this one isn't.

Carol

maybe it's Rose du Roi au Fleures Pourpes...mine seems to look like this...only my newer leaves are much more purply.

RL

It looks like a Canadian Explorer, Cuthbert Grant to me. Leaves look similar, and then there's those touches of white in the center.

I hate to say it, but that rose looks like Cl. Blaze to me. It is definitely not a portland rose. Still, I've always loved Blaze, and had a truly spectacular one in Fresno.

--Ron

Maybe one day I will be able to identify this rose. I was satisfied with the Rose du Roi tag that it came with until it threw out those long canes earlier this summer. Definitely not typical. I know it's not Blaze, because I have that one on an arbor by our front door. The blooms on the mystery rose are larger, and a bit darker than Blaze. I think I'll just change the tag to read: "Sold to me as Rose du Roi".

Thanks all.
Connie

Your roses are in terrific condition, whatever they are! And not, that is definitely, 100% positively neither Rose du Roi in commerce. Leaves, bloom, hips and growth habit are all different. Rose du Roi leaves a distinct resinous scent on your hands if you rub the canes, buds and leaves.

It looks like the blaze (or Blaze Improved) flowers I typically see, and the color is right as well. You might see differences in flowers based on the conditions the roses are in. What made me think of Blaze was not so much the flower, but the foliage, which is pretty distinctive and looks just like your photograph. Plus, the growth habit is right, too.

--Ron

Hi, all. I thought I had totally put this issue behind me for now. I had accepted the fact that this rose is currently unidentified, and I was fine with that . . . until a little earlier this morning.

While searching for something completely unrelated, I happened upon a photo of Souvenir du Dr. Jamain. Reading the description, I realized that I can (with some degree of certainty) at least place my mystery rose into the hybrid perpetual category -- whether it's actually SdDJ, I can't tell you. The foliage and growth pattern are exactly what my other HPs are out there doing. Nice soft, fat leaves, and canes that are shooting up to the sky.

I've searched these forums to see if anyone has posted photos of SdDJ, but I can't find much. Lots of discussions about him and the other HPs, but not a photo -- rats! If you grow SdDJ, can you tell me about him? If you have some good photos that show him and his characteristics well, that would be super?

Thanks,
Connie

Here is a picture of my SdDJ:
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I do not think your picture looks like my SdDJ. Your flower is a true, true red and SdDJ is more of a red black. SdDJ foliage is a light green, while yours is a darker green. Also, SdDJ is slow to grow and does not throw off that many long canes at once while still young. Hope this helps.
Joanne