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Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ (Hybrid Perpetual Rose)

Rose 'Jacques Cartier', Rose 'Marchesa Boccella', Rose 'Marquise Boccella', Rose 'Marquise Virginie Boccella', Hybrid Perpetual Roses, Shrub Roses

AGM Award
Rosa Jacques Cartier, Rose Jacques Cartier, Pink Rose, Heirloom Rose, Old Garden Rose

Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ is a charming and highly fragrant heirloom rose admired for its compact growth, fully double blooms, and rich history. Introduced around 1868 by Moreau-Robert, this hybrid perpetual rose has remained a favorite among gardeners and rose enthusiasts for its classic beauty and reliable performance. Named after the French explorer Jacques Cartier, this rose embodies elegance and resilience.

Renowned for its perfectly formed, soft pink flowers and delightful Damask fragrance, Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ is a standout choice for gardens of all sizes. Its repeat-blooming habit, coupled with disease resistance, makes it a practical and stunning addition to any landscape.

Roses belong to the Rosaceae family, which includes other plants such as Apples (Malus domestica), Peaches (Prunus persica), and Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa).


Description

Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ is a deciduous shrub rose celebrated for its perfectly shaped, fully double blooms. The flowers are a soft pink color, densely packed with petals arranged in a neat rosette form. Known for its strong and sweet fragrance, it evokes the classic scent of old garden roses.

This repeat-blooming rose provides multiple flushes of flowers from late spring through autumn, creating a long-lasting display of beauty and scent. Its compact size and tidy habit make it an ideal choice for both small and large gardens.


Native Habitat

Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ originated in France during the mid-19th century, bred by Moreau-Robert, who was renowned for developing hybrid perpetual roses. This variety combines the elegance and fragrance of old garden roses with the repeat-blooming characteristic of hybrid perpetuals, making it a versatile and resilient addition to gardens worldwide.


Plant Type and Habit

This rose is a compact deciduous shrub with a neat, bushy habit. Its symmetrical growth and upright stems make it an excellent choice for formal and informal gardens alike. The flowers are borne in clusters, creating a full and lush appearance.


Plant Size

  • Height: 3-5 feet (90-150 cm)
  • Width: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)

Its compact and manageable size makes Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ suitable for small gardens, mixed borders, or even large containers.


Flowers

The flowers of Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ are its most celebrated feature:

  • Color: Light pink with a slightly deeper tone at the center, fading to pale pink at the ruffled edges as the blooms age.
    Size: Medium to large blooms, measuring up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) in diameter.
    Shape: Fully double, very full blooms with a classic rosette and quartered form, featuring up to 70 neatly arranged petals.
    Fragrance: Strong and sweet, exuding a quintessential Damask rose scent.
    Blooming Season: Almost continuously in flower from summer to autumn, with multiple flushes ensuring a long-lasting display.

Foliage

The foliage is composed of leathery, dark green, glossy. The slightly serrated edges and dense coverage provide a lush backdrop to the soft pink blooms, enhancing their visual appeal.


Hardiness

Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ thrives in USDA Zones 4–10, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates. It is known for its cold hardiness and ability to perform well in temperate regions.


Uses

This versatile rose is valued for a variety of garden applications:

  • Ornamental Gardening: A classic choice for cottage gardens, formal beds, mixed borders, and containers.
  • Hedging and Screens: Creates a beautiful flowering hedge or screen for added privacy and structure.
  • Cut Flowers: The fragrant blooms make excellent additions to bouquets and floral arrangements.
  • Historical Gardens: Perfect for recreating period landscapes or cultivating heirloom varieties.
  • Fragrance Gardens: Fills outdoor spaces with its enchanting Damask scent.

Award

Rosa ‘Jacques Cartier’ has been recognized with the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, a testament to its exceptional qualities and performance in gardens.


Deer and Rabbit Resistance

Deer and rabbits can cause damage.


Toxicity

This heirloom rose is non-toxic to humans and pets, making it a safe choice for family-friendly gardens. Its petals are even edible and widely used in culinary and cosmetic applications.


Invasiveness

This rose is not invasive. While it may produce occasional suckers, it does not spread aggressively in gardens.


Rose Bush Care: How to Grow Healthy, Beautiful Heirloom Roses

Light Requirement

This rose thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and blooming. It can tolerate partial shade, but the flower production may be reduced.


Soil

This heirloom rose prefers well-drained, loamy soil enriched with organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0) provides ideal growing conditions. Tolerant of poor soil.


Water

Regular watering is essential, particularly during hot, dry periods. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and water at the base to avoid wetting the foliage.


Fertilizer

Feed with a balanced rose fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season. Supplement with compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil.


Pruning

Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead, damaged, or weak wood. During the growing season, deadhead spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering. Annual pruning helps maintain the plant’s shape and vigor.


Propagation

Propagate using several methods:

  • Softwood Cuttings: Take cuttings in early to mid-spring when new growth is tender.
  • Hardwood Cuttings: Collect mature, dormant stems for propagation in late summer to autumn.
  • Chip Budding: Perform chip budding in summer to graft a bud onto a rootstock for successful reproduction.

Disease and Pest Resistance

Although this heirloom rose is loved for its beauty, it can be prone to:

Pest Resistance

This rose may attract common pests such as aphids, spider mites, scale insects, or caterpillars. These pests can damage foliage, flowers, and stems, reducing the plant’s vigor.

Disease Resistance

Roses are susceptible to several fungal diseases, including rose black spot, rust, and powdery mildew. These diseases often thrive in humid conditions, causing leaf discoloration, defoliation, or stem dieback. Disorders like rose blindness (failure to bloom) and flower balling (petals failing to open) may also occur under certain conditions. In severe cases, honey fungus, a soil-borne pathogen, can damage the plant’s root system.

Prevention and Care

Regular monitoring, proper pruning, and ensuring good air circulation can minimize risks. Applying organic pest control measures and treating fungal infections early with fungicides are essential to maintaining healthy roses.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Roses, Shrubs
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa
Common names Rose
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Rosa rubiginosa (Sweet Briar)
Rosa ‘Hermosa’ (China Rose)
Rosa ‘Cramoisi Superieur’ (China Rose)
Rosa ‘Belvedere’ (Rambling Rose)
Rosa ‘Queen of Denmark’ (Damask Rose)
Rosa ‘Viridiflora’ (Green Rose)
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Recommended Companion Plants

Nepeta racemosa (Catmint)
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Delphinium
Digitalis (Foxglove)
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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Roses, Shrubs
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa
Common names Rose
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Rosa (Shrub Roses) Rosa (Rose)
Not sure which Rosa (Shrub Roses) to pick?
Compare Now

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