06/01/2026
Meet Rosa ‘Mrs. John Laing’: one of the great heritage roses of the Victorian era, now officially established as one of our first healthy potted mother plants.
First introduced in 1887, Mrs. John Laing became famous for its exceptionally fragrant, soft pink blooms, strong repeat flowering habit, and elegant hybrid perpetual form. Even today, it remains highly regarded by rose enthusiasts for its rich old rose scent, large double flowers, and reliable garden performance.
This particular plant began as tissue collected from a struggling specimen at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. Initiated into tissue culture over the winter, it quickly proved to be one of the more difficult varieties to establish, making this milestone especially meaningful for our team.
Now, nearly one year later, we have successfully produced a strong, healthy potted plant to help restore the living collection, along with a secure back-up population maintained safely in tissue culture for future preservation and propagation needs.
Every successful plant like this represents preservation of historic genetics, protection against loss, and a pathway to make these remarkable roses available once again to gardeners and collectors.
Watch for Mrs. John Laing coming to market in the coming year.
