Living History : Roseraie DUCHER
A family heritage in bloom
In 1845, Claude Ducher organized the first world exhibition ever dedicated to the Queen of Flowers in Lyon at the Palais Saint-Pierre, now the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The same year, he set up his rose garden in the 7th district of the city. Indeed, he was the first horticulturist to devote himself solely to the cultivation of the rose.International Recognition
Claude was the first to take an interest in the manual hybridization of roses and achieved specific recognition with varieties such as Gloire de Lyon, Notre Dame de Fourvière, and Le Mont d'Or. However, he would wait 20 years before his first international success with the rose dedicated to the President of the United States of America, the Abraham Lincoln variety, in 1865.
A Family Business
In 1857, Claude's son, Antoine, joined the family business, and together they expanded the nursery and began to develop new rose varieties. They experimented with hybridizing different species of roses, and their efforts resulted in some of the most beautiful and fragrant roses of their time.
The Evolution of Ducher
In 1866, the creation of the "Ville de Lyon" and "Antoine Ducher" roses proved to be very important in the evolution of the flowers and developing more than 16,000 descendants. Quickly following this, in 1869 the "Ducher," the only white colored China rose ever, was created.
In 1867, Antoine Ducher established the Roseraie Ducher in Lyon Monplaisir, just outside of Lyon. The garden was developed as a showcase for the family's roses, and it quickly became a popular destination for rose enthusiasts worldwide.
With much sadness came the passing of Claude Ducher in 1874. His wife Marie continued the creations with famous godfathers and godmothers such as George Sand, Alphonse de Lamartine, and the small rose Mademoiselle Cécile Brunner carried in the buttonhole of the English Lords of the Victorian era. Anglo-Saxons nicknamed this delicate flower "the Sweetheart's rose" (the rose of the lovers). This rose was also the favorite of William Hearst, the character who inspired Orson Wells for his film Citizen Kane and his famous "Rosebud."
Roseraie DUCHER
Email: roseraie.ducher@gmail.com
Instagram: @roseraieducher
Website: www.roseraie-ducher.com
The Ducher Motto
"All our roses have a story; your garden has its own."
Shipping of plants available in Europe, Singapore, & Reunion Island.
Rose skincare products shipped internationally.
Please visit www.HeirloomRoses.com to order in the United States.
The French Connection
In the United States, Portland, Oregon has had a longstanding love affair with roses. In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden, which established the Portland Rose Society.
Madame Testout
Madame Caroline Testout was a late 19th- century French dressmaker from Grenoble, the proprietor of fashionable salons in London and Paris. She regularly purchased silks from Lyon, an important center for rose breeding. The nurseryman Joseph Pernet-Ducher was called 'The Wizard of Lyon' due to his success in developing hybrid tea roses.
The birth of the City of Roses
Madame Testout was an astute businesswoman and understood the value of good publicity. She asked Pernet-Ducher to name one of her new roses after her. He agreed but considered her choice of seedling to be mediocre. The 'Madame Caroline Testout' rose debuted at the salon's 1890 spring fashion show. It was not strong on scent but became an immediate success with Madame Testout's well-to-do customers as well as the gardening public for its abundant silky, rose-pink flowers.
The new variety's popularity spread to America, and in Portland, nearly half a million bushes of 'Caroline Testout' were planted along the sidewalks. By 1905, Portland had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets, which helped attract visitors to the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. Portland came to be known as the 'City of Roses.'
Protection of the Rose
In 1915, Jesse A. Currey, rose hobbyist and Sunday editor of the Oregon Journal, convinced city officials to institute a rose test garden to serve as a safe haven during World War I for hybrid roses grown in Europe. Rose lovers feared that these unique plants would be destroyed in the bombings. The Park Bureau approved the idea in 1917, and by early 1918, hybridists from England began to send roses.
The Emblem of Portland, Oregon
In 1921 Florence Holmes Gerke, the landscape architect for the city of Portland, was charged with designing the International Rose Test Garden and the amphitheater. The garden was dedicated in June 1924. Currey was appointed as the garden's first rose curator and served in that capacity until her death in 1927.
Part of the original design, the Royal Rosarian Garden is home to the namesake roses of all past Prime Ministers of the Royal Rosarians. This civic group serves as the official greeters and goodwill ambassadors for the City of Portland. Founded in 1912, the Order of Royal Rosarians modeled their mythical 'Realm of Rosaria' after the government of England's King Henry VII, whose rise to the throne in 1485 ended the War of the Roses. Members are 'knighted' into the organization under their chosen variety of rose, which is then their 'namesake' rose.
Still, to this day, it is a Pernet-Ducher rose that is the emblem of the city of Portland, Oregon. Among Joseph's creations: Souvenir du Président Carnot, Madame Edmond Rostand, Madame Edouard Herriot, Lyon Rose, Château de Clos Vougeot, Ville de Paris, and hundreds of others.
Origin of the Yellow Rose
In 1898, Joseph Pernet-Ducher, son-in-law of Claude and Marie Ducher, created "Soleil d'Or," the first yellow rose in the world. All known yellow and orange roses are descended from this rose.
Over the years, the Roseraie Ducher grew in size and popularity. The Ducher family continues developing new rose varieties, earning numerous awards and accolades for their work.
Lyon, France
The World Capital of Roses
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Lyon was considered the world capital of roses. Joseph was nicknamed the "Magician of Lyon" or "the Prince of rose growers" because his creations revolutionized the rose.Global Destination
Personalities from all over the world visited his rose garden, and he was the first French rose grower to have a catalog in English. He won the Paris Bagatelle rose competition 21 years in a row, but he left the competition every other year out of modesty. In the early 20th century, the family began to focus on producing roses resistant to disease, and they became pioneers in developing disease-resistant roses.
The Impact of War
In 1914, La Roseraie Ducher had the world's largest production, but the Great War stopped the momentum - the Pernet-Ducher sons died in combat. Fabien's great-grandfather Charles was still too young to take over the business. He will continue later the cultivation of roses as well as his son Charles-Antoine and grandson Maurice.
Rose Designer, Rose Grower
In 1921, Joseph Pernet Ducher (Fabien's great uncle) offered the bouquet of white roses to accompany the coffin of the unknown American soldier in the U.S.A.
During World War II, the Roseraie Ducher was severely damaged, and many of the family's rose varieties were lost. "The two world wars had a devastating effect on the activity of the rose garden. Indeed, all the boys of fighting age, between fourteen and eighteen years old, died in combat. And the family home, located in Vénissieux near Lyon, was bombed and destroyed in 1944. There were all the family archives inside," explains Florence Ducher.
"The Ducher roses have crossed the centuries: 'Marie Van Houtte,' 'Rêve d'Or,' 'Gloire de Ducher,' 'Ducher,' 'Mademoiselle Cécile Brunner.' It is incredible."
The Ducher family was determined to rebuild the garden and continue their work.
They relocated the roseraie to its current location in Lyon, and over the years, they restored and expanded the gardens to their former glory.
In 1999, Fabien, the sixth generation of rose growers in the family, decided to recreate the family collection of old roses and quickly established an international network that allowed him to reintroduce ancient varieties to the territory.
Professor Fineschi, personal physician of Pope John Paul II and a great collector of roses, allowed Fabien to find a large part of the Ducher varieties that were thought to have disappeared. In 2004, Fabien received the First National Prize for Agricultural Dynamics in the "technical know-how" category. He is a knight of agricultural merit.
Sixth generation growers.
Today, the Roseraie Ducher is home to over 600 varieties of roses, including many rare and historical ones. The garden is divided into different sections, each of which is dedicated to a different type of rose.By appointment, visitors can explore the garden and admire the beauty of the roses, and they can also learn about the history of the Ducher family and their contribution to the world of roses.
"We arrived on this property in 2016. We have our growing fields, four greenhouses, and a building (being expanded). We have planted demonstration roses at the entrance to the nursery, as well as Damask rose lines for distillation. We welcome groups by appointment and offer lectures (outside the nursery) and rose pruning classes. And we offer consulting for the establishment of private rose gardens."
A day in the life of a rose grower
"The days are busy: We have to juggle the maintenance of the production field, the maintenance of the potted roses, preparing orders that come in via our website, preparing for plant fairs, and hosting groups on set dates. We are not permanently open to the public, but we receive guests by appointment," explains Madame Ducher. "And in parallel, our daily work includes the administrative and commercial management of the business - less glamorous but so important too. We have just started to enlarge our building, the current structure has become too small," says Florence.
Florence shares her tips and explains, "Every buyer should find out what rootstock the rose was grafted on - this is one of the basics to know when purchasing. At the Ducher rose garden, we graft on Rosa Laxa; our roses are more robust and adapt to all soils, even the most chalky.
And do not forget that roses are greedy plants. Regular fertilization is very effective to enhance flowering. We also offer an organic fertilizer to our customers."
The Future of Roses
LOOKING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
In addition to the garden, the Roseraie Ducher also includes a museum that tells the story of the Ducher family and their work. The museum exhibits the family's history, their breeding techniques, and the many roses they have developed over the years.
Mr. Ducher shares, "I also have another distributor which is the Lovingston Winery in Virginia. Their winery is magnificent! Lovingston Winery is creating an open-air garden with our Never Forget rose."
In 2024, Fabien Ducher will publish a book dedicated to Bourbon Roses, the unknown beauties of Reunion Island, of which the Ducher Rose Garden has an extensive collection.
Events
Visitors can enjoy guided tours, workshops, and other activities throughout the year, and the garden is a must-visit destination for anyone with an interest in roses.
You can find the Ducher family at these events in 2023:
Rare plant fair in Saint-Priest (69) on March 25 and 26, 2023
La Ferté Fair (71) April 15 and 16
Schoppenwihr Fair (68) April 29 and 30
Fair of Menthon st Bernard (74) May 7
Fair of Bezouotte (21) May 13 and 14
Fair of Chavaniac (43) June 3 and 4
Connect Here
Explore the world of Roseraie Ducher online. The Ducher team posts in both English and French.
Facebook
Click here to join their Facebook group and enjoy frequent posts of stunning roses and daily farming updates.
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Heirloom Roses - St. Paul, Oregon
YouTube
Heirloom Roses offers a beautiful YouTube channel full of incredible, high-quality videos, tours, gardening tips, and more.
Instagram & Facebook
Connect with Heirloom Roses on Instagram and Facebook to receive the latest news about their Ducher family collaboration & other special releases.
French Rose Associations
Roses Anciennes
This non-profit's goal is to preserve heritage roses.
Since 1995, their association works to defend this fragile plant heritage thanks to a group of 250 enthusiasts who exchange and dialogue worldwide.
Société Française
Created in 1896 by the world's most renowned Rose Breeders from Lyon, under the name Société Française des Rosiéristes, it took its current and definitive name in 1946.
S.H.O.L.
Created in 1839, SHOL has had an important historical role in the development of rose growing in the Loiret, especially through the regular organization of exhibitions and rose competitions which have been the showcase for Loire production.
Additional info
For additional resources, links, and information about French and international rose associations, click on the link to view online.
