Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée, close-up of the flower

Photo: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0

Repeat-flowering (Hybrid Perpetual)Charles Verdier, 1884Red

Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée

Rich dark-red old-fashioned velvet; garnet-raspberry, almost black-purple in cool weather; an intoxicating scent of an old garden rose; long flexible shoots — can be trained as a low climber.

Old garden rose · RHS also registers a climbing ClHP form (rather a growth habit)

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering: main flush June–July, plus a weaker autumn repeat. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Winter hardiness

−15 °C

USDA zone 6b–9b. Overwinters well; light protection in the north.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

180–250 × 120–180 cm

Habit: A spreading bush with long, flexible shoots; can be trained as a low climber
Dimensions: Data varies: bush 80–160 cm OR 1.8–2.5 × 1.2–1.8 m as a small climber
Support: Recommended — the long flexible shoots can be trained as a low climber on a support
Shoots: Long, flexible, almost thornless — this is why the RHS also registers a climbing form, ClHP (this is more a feature of the habit than a separate variety)
Branching: Long flexible shoots, suitable for tying to a support

Flower

≈ 8 cm

41+ petals.

Bud shape: A dense dark bud of old-fashioned type
Open flower: Cupped, wavy, quartered — the classic form of an old garden rose; ~8 cm; singly or in small clusters
Centre: Filled with numerous petals, often quartered, with a swirl at the centre
Fullness: Very double — 41+ petals
Flower carriage: Solitary flowers or small clusters

Fragrance

Strong; warm, sweet-honeyed, velvety-deep

Strong, intoxicating — a generous, dense scent of an old garden rose: warm, sweet and honeyed, with velvety depth.

Sun

Changes shade

In heat and as flowers fade, the dark red takes on purple-violet, mauve-crimson tones.

Thorns

Thornless

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Shoots almost thornless — easy to train along a support.

Foliage

No data.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Repeat-flowering (Hybrid Perpetual)
Breeder: Charles Verdier, France, 1884
Bud shape: A dense dark bud of old-fashioned type
Open flower: Cupped, wavy, quartered — the classic form of an old garden rose; ~8 cm; singly or in small clusters
Centre: Filled with numerous petals, often quartered, with a swirl at the centre
Colour: Deep dark red, garnet-raspberry velvet with dark shadows; almost black-purple in cool weather. The colour changes: as the flower fades and in the heat it takes on purple-violet, mauve-crimson tones, so the bush shows velvety dark fresh flowers and flowers already 'faded to violet' at the same time
Fullness: Very double — 41+ petals
Flower carriage: Solitary flowers or small clusters
Flowering: Repeat-flowering: main flush June–July, plus a weaker autumn repeat
Fragrance: Strong, intoxicating — a generous, dense scent of an old garden rose: warm, sweet and honeyed, with velvety depth
Hips: No data
Habit: A spreading bush with long, flexible shoots; can be trained as a low climber
Branching: Long flexible shoots, suitable for tying to a support
Shoots: Long, flexible, almost thornless — this is why the RHS also registers a climbing form, ClHP (this is more a feature of the habit than a separate variety)
Thorns: Shoots almost thornless — easy to train along a support.
Dimensions: Data varies: bush 80–160 cm OR 1.8–2.5 × 1.2–1.8 m as a small climber
Support: Recommended — the long flexible shoots can be trained as a low climber on a support
Foliage: No data
Resistance: No data; as an old HP it may be affected by powdery mildew and black spot in damp weather
Variations of the variety: Not to be confused with 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain' — both are very dark repeat-flowering roses, and on the market they are often sold under each other's name. The variety has no code name

Colour scheme

Deep dark red, garnet-raspberry velvet with dark shadows; almost black-purple in cool weather. The colour changes: as the flower fades and in the heat it takes on purple-violet, mauve-crimson tones, so the bush shows velvety dark fresh flowers and flowers already 'faded to violet' at the same time

Rose neighbours

Guinéealmost black-red

Cardinal de Richelieupurple-violet

Tuscany Superbdeep raspberry velvet

Keriosunny yellow · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlilac-blue

Perovskiasmoky light blue

Stachyssilver foliage

Catmint (Nepeta)lavender-blue

Neighbouring roses

Dark old-fashioned and purple roses — a velvety family:

Guinée Cardinal de Richelieu Tuscany Superb Kerio

Perennial companions

Lilac-blue and silver perennials highlight the dark velvet of the flowers:

lavenderperovskiaStachyscatmint (Nepeta)

Availability worldwide

An old repeat-flowering variety, kept in historic rose collections:

🇫🇷 France: collector nurseries of old roses
🇬🇧 Britain: RHS also registers a ClHP form
🌍 Europe: specialist nurseries for heritage roses
⚠️ often confused on the market with Souvenir du Docteur Jamain

More about the variety

Hips: No data
Variations of the variety: Not to be confused with 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain' — both are very dark repeat-flowering roses, and on the market they are often sold under each other's name. The variety has no code name

How to grow

Where to plant. An old-fashioned repeat-flowering rose for a romantic garden. Thanks to its long, flexible shoots with almost no prickles, it is easy to train as a low climber — on a support, obelisk or low arch; a support is recommended. The dark red velvet of the flowers reads best against a light background and beside lilac-blue and silvery perennials.

Climate. Hardy to ~−15 °C, USDA 6b–9b. It overwinters well; in the north, light protection is advisable.

Care. Repeat-flowering — the main flush is June–July, followed by a weaker autumn repeat. There is no data on disease resistance; like many old Hybrid Perpetuals, in damp weather it may be affected by powdery mildew and black spot — make sure there is good air circulation and a sunny spot.

About the name

Name. The variety is named after Alphonse Lavallée (1814–1884), the French dendrologist who founded the arboretum at Segrez and was president of the Horticultural Society of France. 'Souvenir' means 'memory': Charles Verdier released the variety in 1884, the year Lavallée died, as a memorial tribute.

Breeding. Bred by Charles Verdier (France, 1884). Class: repeat-flowering (Hybrid Perpetual). The variety has no code name. The RHS also registers a climbing form (ClHP), but this is more a description of the growth habit — long, flexible shoots — than a separate variety. An interesting point: not to be confused with 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain'. Both are very dark repeat-flowering roses with velvety dark red flowers, and on the market one is often sold under the other's name. So when buying, check the source and description carefully.

Frequently asked questions about Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée

Does Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −15 °C (USDA zone 6b–9b). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Overwinters well; light protection in the north.

How many times a season does Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée flower?

Repeat-flowering: main flush June–July, plus a weaker autumn repeat.

How big does Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée grow?

180–250 cm tall, 120–180 cm wide.

How much sun does Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée need?

Changes shade; in heat and as flowers fade, the dark red takes on purple-violet, mauve-crimson tones.

What does Souvenir d'Alphonse Lavallée smell like?