An Heirloom 'Button-Hole' Rose .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

Safrano - The Button-Hole Rose

The Tea rose, Safrano, (Beauregard, France, 1839) is ‘one of the most enduring of the Teas’, growing ‘well in warm and cold conditions’ (Tea roses old roses for warm gardens/authors, Chapman, L., Drage, N., Durston, D., et al, , 2008).  This description is borne out AT MY ROSE GARDEN, with Safrano continuing to flower through several frosts this winter; some of the coldest temperatures recorded in just over 100 years in the S. E. Queensland region. 

Unfortunately, Safrano’s flowers are not so sought after as cut flowers nowadays.  Her perfume is faint, and the fragile, porcelain like petals are no longer appreciated in comparison with more robust roses now grown as cut flowers under glass. 

Yet, in the early 20^th Century, Safrano’s buds were highly sought after throughout Europe, and a main-stay of the winter floristry trade (Chapman et al).  Indeed, her toughness and ability to flower mid-winter when most roses are dormant explains Safrano’s popularity throughout the 19^th Century and early 20^th Century. 

It would be easy to dismiss Safrano as just another tough-as-boots old fashioned rose, until you see her winter buds bursting forth.  The sight of Safrano’s elegant buds, pale apricot and prettily blushed, is one of the glories of the winter rose garden, here AT MY ROSE GARDEN.  And the sight of her frosted buds is a special delight on a freezing, cold morning.   

Add a sprig of rosemary, and a Safrano bud is gorgeously suited to enhance any lapel, offering a cheery glimpse of Spring.  Traditionally used as a gentleman’s button-hole rose, Safrano looks sufficiently elegant to adorn more formal nuptial lapels.   Given the current popularity of coral tones for weddings, I can think of no better excuse for reviving this lovely old custom.