I believe the name is simply to say that this is the true musk rose, which was re-discovered by Graham Thomas after another rose had replace it in commerce.

Jackie

The Sacramento City Cemetery Historic Rose Garden has it. And yes. It is the single musk re-discovered by GST.

Oh good ! I am looking forward to getting it then.

Anyone have photos ?

for lots of photos see
helpmefind.com/roses
under plants
and then go to "search"
and type in Rosa moschata

I especially like the photos taken at s.j.h.r.g..

In the San Francisco, bay area, california R.moschata can be kept to 5- 6 feet tall as a self supporting bush, it can also be grown as a climber and grow to 12' or more. Locally, it is quite shade tolerant. The fragrance is amazing. I planted mine by my front porch so the scent can greet visitors. I bought my plant from vintagegardens.com a few years at the Old Rose Celebration, it was nearly noon and they had sold out of most of their old roses, then I saw R.moschata in the Rambler section and I snapped it up gleefully and gratefully. It's not remontant, but blooms steadily for 4+ months here. Lux.

That was me! Yes, it's very fragrant. Mine is still young, and it will probably be another year at least before it comes into its own. I have it in a less-than-ideal spot, so it's taking its time to mature. Plus, last Winter cut it back hard. I'll have to be sure to hit it with extra water and fertilizer this year to push it along faster. It truly smells like a jar of cloves, and when there's a cluster open at once, you'll probably smell it before you see it.

From what little I've experienced and what others have written, 'R. moschata' seems to bloom on current-year's growth and once the heat of Summer has set in. For me, that meant July -- continuing in flushes until frost. Further south, it'll start sooner and continue longer. Though it may technically be a "once-bloomer", if you don't get much Winter at all, it just may bloom for most of the year.

One thing to be aware of with this rose is that the scent comes more from the stamens than from the petals. Since extra petals are modified stamens, you'll get a stronger scent from the five-petaled form than the "double" or "temple" forms -- at least that's what Malcolm Manners says (he grows all three forms). So when you're shopping for 'R. moschata', look at the nursery's pictures to be sure of which form they carry.

The pictures on HelpMeFind (see link below) will give you a better idea of hot it grows than any of mine, since mine isn't mature.

'R. moschata' at HelpMeFind

:-)

~Christopher

Last year was hard with the very late multiple freezes. But the real test will be this weeks below zero F temps for two nights. So I won't comment on their survival in our zone 6b until sometime next week. If I can't find this thread,,,, please ask again.

Yes, zone 9b in Southern CA. It’s a great rose!