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ID old moss rose

9 years ago

Twenty five years ago, my son and I found an old moss rose growing in an alley behind a deserted house. We pulled up some of it and took it home and planted it. It did really well and I took it with me when I moved to two other houses. But when I moved to the property where I live now, I lost it all due to rabbits and voles. I am hoping that someone can help me figure out what it was so that I can get another. The rose was a moss rose, green moss on the buds and brown bristles on the canes. Grew about 2 and a half to 3 feet tall, and suckered like crazy. The blooms were double, some with button eye, and medium pink, on the lilac side of pink. Fragrant of course. The foliage was distinctive, dark green, matt rather than shiny, small leaves that were pointed on the ends and rather narrow. I have seen blooms that look like it in books but the leaves are wrong, or it is to tall. And I don't see anything about suckering - this rose spread all over. Does anyone have any ideas?

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Comments (5)

ffff
9 years ago
The very first of all mosses would fit that description well, if winter dieback were taken into account. (So would most of its descendants, but your description of the foliage narrows it down a bit.)

How close does this look?

Also, did it ever rebloom?

Here is a link that might be useful: Old Moss

This post was edited by ffff on Thu, Nov 20, 14 at 18:49
olive60
Original Author
9 years ago
My rose had no winter die back in zone 5 or 6 , even the winter we went to -24. The foliage in the picture of the old moss look like the correct shape but my rose had darker green foliage. The bloom was more double but that can vary from one bloom to the next. I have seen photos of the common Old Moss where the bloom looked right but the foliage was wrong. My son was 4 when we found this rose and he still remembers - I hate to tell him it is all gone....Thanks for your interest.
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Show me the front of the leaf. Are the leaf margins and even the mid-ribs mossed? I think so. I may have that moss and still want an ID. It's called "The Mayor's Super Moss." The foliage and mossing are spot on to the moss called Zoe. The bloom form is different, however. Someone said Common moss is not one rose but rather a type, so this may be Common Moss. Anyway, here are some shots. Do they look familiar? The bud, with the mossed leaf margins showing in the background: The big picture: This is mossing. Any of this look like your moss, Gerry? Cass
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@Dilly: You're welcome. The rose is not one you can mistake for anything else, once you take a close look at its distinct features. The "acorn-shaped" receptacle is a giveaway. As you point out, its a VERY tough rose that will grow and thrive almost anywhere, especially cold winter regions. On the downside, if you live in a climate where the spring flush weather tends to be cold and wet, it will ball badly and often aborts up to 2/3 of its blooms before they even show color. Otherwise, its a perfectly care free rose that works beautifully in less formal cottage-style settings.
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WOW what a stunner of a rose! - We stumbled on your post after searching for the Lauré Davoust rose and agree with the possibility that the ID is the best match for you. Bearing in mind that if this rose is the result of a seedling it will be unique, the only one on the planet! Only a gene test from a sample would truly give you the best and most accurate ID for sure. You could also take some cuttings which would produce an exact replica of your truly wonderful find. Inspired to delve further we are trying to ID a much deeper pink type rose that we have seen in many a Scottish cottage garden.
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Does this rose repeat bloom, or is it a once-bloomer? I am wondering if it might be one of the Chinas since the leaves are rather narrow, but it is hard to tell.
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olive60
Original Author
9 years ago
Actually, you may be right, ffff. I remember reading a description of Old Pink Moss and thinking the only thing wrong was the rounded foliage in the picture. I'll have to try and find one this spring and see if it is the same. Thanks, again.
olive60
Original Author
9 years ago
Actually, you may be right, ffff. I remember reading a description of Old Pink Moss and thinking the only thing wrong was the rounded foliage in the picture. I'll have to try and find one this spring and see if it is the same. Thanks, again.
damask55linen
9 years ago
I have written to Rogue Valley by email with rose questions , it took a few days for a reply.
I know they carry Old Pink Moss as Communis, I would LOVE to order it someday.
Hope you find an answer to your search, memories of old roses are so meaningful when they involve people we love.

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