The First Floribunda Rose - Gruss an Aachen

Floribunda Rose
Rosa 'Gruss an Aachen'
Synonyms: Salut d'Aix la Chapelle, White Willow Glen #1

This rose was photographed at the All-America Selections Garden at Eisenhower Park on Long Island (East Meadow). The garden is right next to the Dahlia Society’s Trial Garden. Here is a link to the history of the AAS. They have a noble mission that started in 1932.
History of the All-America Selection Organization

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Nassau County maintains the garden in East Meadow and it certainly meets the criteria of a AAS garden, which is “a AAS Display Garden provides the public an opportunity to view the new AAS winners in an attractive well-maintained setting.”

Now about the rose. 'Gruss an Aachen' is considered to be the first ever of the Floribunda class of roses. This was the first time I had seen it and it was blooming profusely. It had a wonderful fragrance and the color undertones and shading was really beautiful. It supposedly changes flower color with the outdoor temperature. This must be its hot color as it was blazing on the day I was taking its picture (90+ deg. F). Any rose that was bred in 1909 and can still compete with all the modern cultivars must be special.

David Austin actually categorizes this as an English Rose because it has a lot a lot of the traits of what he thinks of as the ideal English Rose. Other people classify it as a China type and still others as a Floribunda. It is also known as a Polyantha and Hybrid Tea. I am going to leave the classification to the experts and just enjoy the rose.

It certainly could grow in my garden anytime. It is hardy to USDA Zone 6 and has the added benefit of being able to grow in part shade conditions.

Parentage: Frau Karl Druschki × Franz Deegen
Breeder: Philipp Geduldig, Germany, 1909
Average Diameter of the flower: 4 inches
Petal Count: 40 to 50