Souvenir du Dr Jamain Rose Bushes

Souvenir du Docteur Jamain Climbing & Shrub Roses

Souvenir du Docteur Jamain is a heritage hybrid perpetual shrub rose, often grown as a low climber rather than a shrub. Sumptuous crimson semi-double blooms are held above dark green foliage on almost thornless arching stems, repeating in flushes of varying strength from June to October: the earliest and the latest tend to be the best.
Its classic fragrance is about as strong as they come, making it rightly popular with serious rose lovers, despite its drawbacks when compared to modern roses with their brilliant health and vigour.

It is considered something of a rose collector's rose, and really isn't for you if you want a reliable, low maintenance variety. The downsides are its relatively poor disease resistance, and its need for attentive pruning both to keep diseases down and to stop it from getting leggy. If giving it a little extra attention doesn't daunt you, then it's worth growing for the scent alone, in our opinion, with lovely flowers as a bonus.

See our full range of climbing roses.

Features:

• Colour: Crimson
• Flower size: Medium, semi-double
• Type: Hybrid perpetual climbing
• Height/spread: 180cm x 90cm
• Flowering: Repeat flowering, June-October
• Looks best in partial shade, suitable for North facing walls
• Poor disease resistance
• Fragrance: Strong, rich scent

Growing Souvenir du Dr Jamain Roses

A fairly versatile rose, it can be grown in a border as a shrub with a little support or over an arbour where its rich scent can be enjoyed from the seating below. Thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil.

The best flower colour is achieved in a partially shady location, and it is a decent choice for growing up a north-facing wall facing the open sky, with lots of indirect light. Getting the balance right is worthwhile: too much sun, especially at mid-day, and the flowers will fade fast in hot weather. Too little sun, and diseases will be more of an issue. One good spot would be where it gets early morning and late afternoon sun, with a tree blocking the light for several hours around noon.

In early winter, cut off all the remaining leaves, which helps reduce disease and encourages bushier growth the following Spring.

Planting Companions for Souvenir du Dr Jamain

With its glorious crimson flowers summer and early autumn, Souvenir du Dr Jamian makes a great backdrop for shrub roses and herbaceous perennials like salvia, lavender and catmint. On a large north-facing wall it pairs well with other shade-tolerant roses such as Madame Alfred Carriere and Climbing Iceberg, or climbers like honeysuckle and star jasmine in smaller spaces.

Choose a spot in the border or beside a wall in full sun/partial shade. Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft union to finish at soil level with plenty of room for the roots. Take roots, weeds, large stones out of the soil and mix in a good measure of well-rotted compost or manure. Spread Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi over the bottom of the hole so it will make contact with the roots. Gently tease a few larger roots loose before planting pot-grown roses.

Place your rose so its roots are spread out and the union is at the right height. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly.

Did You Know?

This beautiful old rose was bred by Francois Lacharme in 1865. It is a cross between Charles Lefebvre and General Jacqueminot, two more deep red hybrid perpetual roses. It was introduced to Australia in 1868 by Charles Wyatt of Frogmore Nursery, and we have to assume in the UK around the same time.

Hybrid perpetual roses have the old flower shapes in the colour palette of reds, pinks, purples and some, like Ferdinand Pichard, are striped. They were extremely popular in the Victorian period and many are still loved for their upright growth, large blooms and fabulous fragrance.