Boule de Neige or Ball of Snow, is my favourite Bourbon rose. Ir is a very double white flushed pale pink with rose pink buds which makes for an attractive bush. It doesn't have a strong fragrance. Don't forget that roses often have a personal meaning or memory for some people. Perhaps she planted it when she was younger and it evokes past times. It grows upright and depending where you grow it, can get very tall. In my garden no disease problems but the thin petals don't like too much rain. IMO it is a rose worth growing.

We all think immediately of Lacharme's Bourbon 'Boule de Neige'; but there were several other such Boules, and--in Sweden?--I think it's possible or even likely that the Boule in question is either Vibert's Gallica of 1826, or perhaps the Pimpinellifolia of the same name of 1820. The Gallica 'Globe White Hip' (Lee, -1826) also had a synonym of 'Boule de Neige'.

You know, it seems very likely that it was one of those.

Thank you all for the lovely posts and photos. Roses have been mentioned in literature and lore for time, and this one came to me from an unexpected moment. There was just one on this tall bush, small, balled up with tight petals and fragrant. The woman mentioned that it had a significance with the early 1800s and she was so proud of it that I had to take note. Small, tiny, and dainty it felt loved as the rose from the Little Prince.

I think it's altogether likely that the rose Lisamiefevre saw in Sweden is Lacharme's 'Boule de Neige'. As Bourbons go, BdN is actually quite hardy -- thanks, no doubt, to its Damask Perpetual pollen parent.

Maybe Mariannese will see this and give her opinion.

Note the original poster's reference to the rose's grower's stating that the Boule in question "had a significance with the early 1800s." Lacharme's rose was from 1867. The other Boules mentioned were circa 1820s.

It would be worth knowing in what part of Sweden the rose was growing. Sweden has mild districts as well as severe ones.

Thank you all for more ideas. I cannot remember if it was early or later 1800s as the woman was talking to us from her house window and down to the street. When I asked questions, she couldn't hear. However, the rose is growing in the south of Sweden at the moment. I can tell you that it smelled so powerful yet was so small. Lovely flower. It had rained that morning, so it was a little balled up too.

I grew 'Boule de Neige' the Bourbon of that name, It is one of my favorite white Roses, and I love how the red buds contrast against the fully open white blooms. I adore its' scent which although I would rate as light in strength ,a 4 out of 10, but wonderful in quality, a rose I will sniff every time I see it, it has several scent notes to me, mixed floral, a touch of Damask type rose scent, and a note of cold cream, that is often found in much older white roses.

I'm from the North originally, and snow has endearing qualities to me, which is why I've chosen to take most of my vacations in the North; Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Finland, Denmark, Alaska and Canada, far more often than India and Mexico, I like temperatures in the 60's and 70's F. best. I find the rose name "snow ball" or "ball of snow" to be quite charming in itself, especially as it blooms in summer when there is no snow on the ground; a white rose that stirs up memories of sledding, caroling, and seeing miles upon miles of pristine snow on a winter night, and falling down on forests of fir and spruce. The chill of snowflakes against my cheek, being indoors on a cold winter night with a wood fire burning and all the world in black of night, contrasting with silver- white sheen of snow, mirrored in stars above. The winter nights are silent, surrounded by snow, and that is a blessing for contemplation.

It is an evocative name; 'Boule de Neige'

One rose can mean the world to a person, whichever rose it was, the lady was in love with it, that seems for sure.

Lux

I guess the deciding factor as to which 'Boule de Neige' it was would be the time of year in which you saw it. If it was blooming in the late Summer, or into Autumn, that would prevent it from being one of the others, being as they are once-blooming....right?

:-)

~Christopher

Oh thank you for starting this thread, otherwise, I would likely have never heard of this rose. I want to grow bourbons so bad but can't, and one that has some noisette genes might just be the one that makes it. Bought and paid for at RVR. Ohmahgodohmahgodohmahgod I can't wait.

Evenie

Evenie, You can't grow Bourbons in New Orleans? Why not?

I think it's just way too wet, but it could be the high pH of the soil or the fact that it doesn't cool off at night. I'm not entirely sure.

Evenie

Evenie, If you're not already in touch with the New Orleans Old Garden Rose Society, please consider contacting them. I think they might give you an alternate perspective on growing Bourbons in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Orleans Old Garden Rose Society

Jaxondel, I have worked with them at NOBG preparing for rose sales, before grad school ate my life. I bought two SdlM, a Mme. Isaac Pereire and a Zephirine Drouhin back when I had a lot more space than I do now. The SdlM both died slowly. Mme. Isaac Pereire and Zephirine Drouhin both got huge but were incredibly stingy with blooms. The ladies who did the propagation at the garden agreed that they are tough here if you don't have the right spot. I couldn't bring myself to fill my yard with river silt after Katrina like most people did, so I'm on native clay and good garden soil, similar to what they have at the gardens. The Chinas, Noisettes and Teas really seem to love it, but the others don't ever really look great. I just keep throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. I ordered Boule de Neige and Eugene de Beauharnais last week from RVR. I expect Boule de Neige will be Ball de Neige, but I'll give her a try anyway. If she hates it, I'll send her to my mom's house. (I suddenly feel like Paris Hilton banishing her puppies to her parents' house.) As for Eugene, I doubt there exists a China I can't grow, so even if he's only got a little bourbon, I'm more than happy with that.

Evenie

I've grown the bourbon Boule de Neige, to my knowledge the only rose of that name sold in Sweden. It is not very common so the woman may have been proud to have it because of its comparative rarity and not only because of its beauty.

It's considered hardy to Swedish zone 3, my zone, roughly comparable to USDA zone 5. But of course it does much better in the south of the country.

Evenie, Thanks for the explanation re. growing Bourbons in New Orleans. I assumed that Bourbons would thrive in that environment. Once again, I'm confronted with the fact that it's sheer foolhardiness to embrace sweeping assumptions where rose-growing is concerned.

I hope BdN does well for you. Perhaps, as you said, its purported Noisette heritage will be a key to its success in your garden. Now that I think about it, though, it surely isn't the possible presence of Noisette genes that enable BdN to withstand fairly exteme winter conditions. Obviously, it's a very adaptable Bourbon. Let's hope its adaptation to your New Oreans garden will be brilliant!