EMPEREUR DU MAROC – crimson historic perpetual hybrid rose - Guinoisseau-Flon
If You are dreaming of a richly scented, romantic historic rose that thrives in typical Irish conditions, EMPEREUR DU MAROC offers easy-care charm with a long life in mind. This Hybrid Perpetual forms a stately, upright, bushy shrub with dense foliage, ideal for front gardens and feature beds where You want colour and perfume rather than constant work. Its deeply spicy, very strong fragrance and velvety crimson rosette blooms create an atmospheric focal point that feels at home beside cottage-style planting and older stone or brick walls. The very double flowers repeat through the season, especially in cooler spells when the colour holds beautifully, giving You romantic flushes that suit our changeable summers and frequent rain. As an own-root, 2‑litre plant it settles gradually, forming its long-term shrub shape where You plant it, with reliable performance in borders and mixed beds once the soil offers reasonable drainage for Ireland’s heavier rainfall patterns. In year one it concentrates on rooting, in year two the framework fills out, and by year three it reaches its full ornamental presence, providing a stable, long-lived feature You can enjoy without complicated rose-growing skills in an average family garden.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden focal shrub by the entrance |
Dense, upright, bushy growth and matt mid‑green foliage give a defined, tidy shrub that reads well from the pavement and front door, delivering structure and colour for busy homeowners who prefer dependable planting over constant tweaking for beginners |
| Romantic cottage-style bed with historic character |
As an 1858 Hybrid Perpetual with richly velvety, dark crimson rosette blooms, it instantly brings a traditional, old-rose feeling that works beautifully with gravel paths, stone walls and informal perennials for cottage-garden |
| Perfumed seating area near patio or terrace |
The deeply spicy sweet, very strong fragrance easily fills a small seating space, so a single shrub near a bench, terrace or back door provides generous scent with minimal plants and routine care only for scent-lovers |
| Small specimen feature in mixed perennial border |
Medium–tall height, solitary, very double flowers and striking dark tones make it stand out as a feature among lighter herbaceous planting, offering a long-term anchor point that can stay in place for many years for planners |
| Cut-flower corner for home arrangements |
Large, very double, rosette blooms on upright stems are well suited to cutting; a dedicated spot allows You to take richly coloured, strongly perfumed stems indoors without leaving gaps in main focal areas for home-arrangers |
| Weather-resilient rose bed in cool, wet gardens |
Good disease resistance, hardy down to roughly -30 °C and a clear preference for cooler, moist conditions over heat make it naturally suited to Ireland’s cool summers and regular rain, especially where soil drains adequately after wet spells for Irish-gardeners |
| Long-term own-root planting in family garden |
Supplied as a 2‑litre own-root shrub, it establishes its permanent framework in situ and can regenerate from its own base over time, supporting a long lifespan and stable display without complex pruning plans for long-term |
| Decorative historic rose group of 3–5 plants |
Planted with recommended spacing, a small group creates a cohesive bank of dark crimson blooms and fragrance; by the third year You gain an impressive, unified historic feature that still remains easy to manage for collectors |
Decorating ideas
- Cottage Romance – Combine with lavender, catmint and hardy geraniums for a relaxed, old-world front border with scent and soft edges – ideal for cottage-garden fans and country homeowners
- Crimson Statement – Plant as a single specimen in a circular bed edged with low box or dwarf lavender to highlight its velvety dark blooms – suited to neat, formal-minded gardeners
- Heritage Mix – Weave among foxgloves, delphiniums and ornamental grasses to create a nostalgic, layered border that looks good from spring to autumn – perfect for lovers of historic planting
- Evening Fragrance Corner – Place near a seating area with white hydrangeas and silver foliage plants so the dark flowers and strong perfume stand out in low light – for people who relax outdoors after work
- Collector’s Row – Line a path with alternating EMPEREUR DU MAROC and other historic roses to build a small living collection with year-on-year character – great for enthusiasts and history-minded gardeners
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid Perpetual historic shrub rose, trade name EMPEREUR DU MAROC – Guinoisseau-Flon; American Rose Society exhibition name Empereur du Maroc; historic collection, unregistered cultivar. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France by Bertrand Guinoisseau-Flon, introduced by Eugène Verdier in 1858. Parentage is ‘Géant des Batailles’ × seedling, reflecting classic mid‑19th century Hybrid Perpetual breeding. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 110–160 cm high and 80–120 cm wide. Dense, matt, mid‑green foliage with heavy prickling; forms a substantial, leafy presence in beds and borders over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms, typically 40 or more petals, borne mainly solitary on stems. Flower size in the large range, approximately 7–10 cm across, with classic old-rose form. |
| Colour and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark crimson with black‑toned red shading, especially on outer petals. Colour appears richest in cool weather; may fade in strong sun or heat. Remontant, with a lighter second flush later in the season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling perfume with a deeply spicy sweet character. Best appreciated near paths, doors or seating areas where air movement helps carry the scent through the garden. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only sparsely due to very double flowers; when present they are ovoid, around 12–18 mm diameter, orange‑red, and of mainly ornamental interest late in the season. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with noted tolerance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust. Very hardy, approximately USDA zone 4b, suitable for exposed, colder Irish sites with adequate soil moisture. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well‑drained but moisture‑retentive soil; dislikes heat and drought, so regular watering is needed in dry spells. Space at 100–110 cm in beds; for containers use at least a 40–50 litre pot. |
EMPEREUR DU MAROC offers richly scented, velvety crimson blooms on a long-lived, disease-resistant own-root shrub that settles reliably into family gardens, so You can enjoy historic charm with manageable care whenever You are ready to plant.
