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Hybridizing to make roses more beautiful,
more fragrant

La France



The rose that was brought into Europe from Asia quickly spread throughout the continent as a symbol of luxury. Then in 1810, when the Chinese Tea Rose was shipped into England by the East Indian Company, revolutionary changes took place. Europeans were now able to enjoy a perpetual blooming of roses. People enthusiastically welcomed the four-season blooming of the Tea Rose. Tea roses were named so because they had a tea-like scent. Hybrid tea roses (HT) were produced by crossing pre-existent hybrids with tea roses. The first pink hybrid tea rose named "La France" was bred by Guillot and his son Pierre who were horticulturists of Lyon. Having witnessed the success of HTs, the breeders went on to realize their next dream that was to produce a yellow rose.
In the year 1900, another French breeder Pernet-Ducher finally came up with the "Soleil d'Or", whose deep yellow color, gracious form, pleasant scent, many buds and long-lasting bloom were highly acclaimed as the Queen of Roses.


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