Froufroutante Jackie

Where to plant. Warm southern borders, showy groups of 2–3 bushes, against a wall as a vertical accent, paired with purple perennials for contrast; a 'bouquet on a branch' looks good by places to sit — for the fragrance.

Climate. To −23 °C — in northern and central Ukraine with winter protection; southern Ukraine — with moderate cover.

Care. A tall shrub — formative pruning in spring by ⅓; good air circulation is needed (which is why it needs room); removing spent flowers encourages new flushes. Massad-varieties are generally undemanding when it comes to chemical treatments.

Name. 'Froufroutante' — from French froufrou ('frills, the rustle of lace'). The name alludes to the full lace skirts of French cancan dancers, which rustle as they move. It conveys the character of a double, quartered flower in which the petals fold into multi-tiered 'boxes'. 'Jackie' is a dedication to Jacqueline Landry-Ortique, the breeder's personal friend.

Breeding. Bred by Dominique Massad, France, 2007; code MASfrou. Belongs to the Provencelles® series (also known as Les Provencelles) — a line of nostalgic Massad shrubs inspired by the style of Mediterranean Provence. This line also includes André Turcat (MASantur, 2007) — a warm peach shrub from our catalogue. Parentage not published (standard practice of private breeders).

Significance. Massad is one of the best-known modern French breeders, whose varieties are distinguished by nostalgic form and strong fruity fragrance (his signature note is rose + ripe fruit). Our catalogue already has his Émilien Guillot, Chantal Mérieux, Belle de Segosa and André Turcat — Froufroutante Jackie is the fifth variety from this French line. The variety is especially prized by collectors of nostalgic roses for its combination of dramatic quartered form, warm gradient colour and rich fruity fragrance.