| Fraser Pacific Rose Society
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The Hybrid Musks
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The so-called Hybrid Musk roses are classified as such for their typical habit of growth. However, most varieties have only a distant relationship to the musk species 'Rosa Moschata'. All of the Musk roses are notably free of disease, and are suitable for specimen bushes, the shrub border, and for hedging. No pruning is necessary other than to shape them up a keep them to a designated space. To encourage later flowering, the spent trusses should be cut back to the second set of leaflets after the first flush of bloom. If the plants become leggy over the course of time, one or more of their main shoots may be cut back fairly hard to induce fresh growth from the base. Initial work on the Hybrid Musk was carried out by Peter Lambert of Germany in 1904. He introduced 'Trier' named after his home town, however, it was a man from Havering-atte-Bower in Essex, England that came up with a complete breakthrough in rose development. This was the retired clergyman, the Rev. Joseph Pemberton. It was obvious from the start that his roses were different (although they were first introduced as hybrid teas). His first introductions to the market in 1913 were 'Moonlight' with semi-double white flowers, and 'Danae' with smallish flowers of soft primrose yellow. Both had flowers borne in clusters on long branches from shrubby plants. They also flowered all summer, and were scented faintly musk. To create these and many of his future roses, Mr. Pemberton used 'Trier.' Many of the roses that he raised between 1913 and his death in 1926 still adorn our gardens today. In order of introduction, the best are white 'Pax' and yellow 'Daybreak' (1918), creamy white 'Prosperity" (1919, almost single pink 'Vanity' (1920) apricot 'Francesca' and almost single light pink 'Kathleen" (1922), red 'Nur Mahal' (1923), near white 'Penelope' (1924) and the versatile pink "Cornelia' (1925). His red 'Robin Hood' and silvery pink 'Felicia' were marketed posthumously by his sister, Florence, in 1927 and 1928. After Joseph Pemberton's death, his gardeners, John and Ann Bentall, continued growing and breeding roses. Mrs. Bentall was an expert budder, and she was very successful with the 1932 introduction of the much loved polyantha 'The Fairy'. Five years later, in 1937, they introduced the best known hybrid musk, 'Ballerina' (light Pink) which is perhaps the most admired of all the hybrid musks. Others their credit are 'Pink Prosperity' (1931), 'Autumn Delight' (1933, buff yellow), 'Belinda" (1936, pink), and the greatly prized 'Buff Beauty" (1939, apricot). Further work on hybrid musks was done by Wilhelm Kordes in Germany who also used 'Trier.' You could say that the musk had gone full circle from Germany back to Germany. Some of his introductions were 'Bonn' (1950, orange red), 'Nymphenburg' (1954, orange pink), and 'Lavender Lassie' (1960, medium pink. Some other hybrid musks to consider are : 'Mozart' (1937, a vigorous pink blend by Lambert). 'Francis E. Lester' (1946, white, by Lester) which is good for growing into trees, and 'Sally Homes' (1976, a single white with apricot buds, by Holmes) which has become very popular. The most recent introduction is probably 'Majorie Fair' (1978, a red version of 'Ballerina', by Jack Harkness). The Hybrid Musks are easy to grow, quite trouble free and some bloom prolifically throughout the season, including into fall.
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