Commercially available

• Marchesa Boccella
• Marquise Boccella
• Marquise Virginie Boccella

193 favorite votes.  
Average rating: EXCELLENT-.  

Light pink Hybrid Perpetual.
Registration name: Marchesa Boccella
Exhibition name: Marchesa Boccella

Bred by Jean Desprez (France, before 1842). Bred by Moreau-Robert (France, 1868).
Introduced in France by Pierre Cochet (père) in 1842 as 'Marquise Boccella'.
Introduced in Australia by Exotic Nursery (Australia) in 1851 as 'Marquise Boccella'.
Introduced in France by Charles-Félix Verdier in 1869 as 'Jacques Cartier'.

Damask Perpetual, Hybrid Perpetual, Portland.  

Light pink.  Strong fragrance.  up to 70 petals.  Average diameter 3.5".  Very full (41+ petals), rosette bloom form.  Occasional repeat later in the season.  

Height: 3' to 5' (90 to 150cm).  Width: up to 3' (up to 90cm).

USDA zone 4b and warmer.  Shade tolerant.  Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant.  

Jacques Cartier (December 23, 1491 St. Malo - September 1, 1557 St. Malo), French mariner, who in 1534-1542 first explored and described the Gulf and river of Saint Lawrence. Canada issued a postage stamp in 1855 in his honour.

Virginie Maria Ignatia Plaideux (1812-1893) was an illegitimate daughter of Nicolaus II Prince Esterhazy, who in 1827 had bought the island of Mainau in the Lake of Constance and transferred it to his illegitimate son Nicolaus Paulus Plaideux (1814-1834). Nicolaus was elevated to Freiherr [Baron] of Mainau in 1827. His mother Marie Louise Plaideux (July 7, 1786 Paris - March 5, 1835) and his sisters Nathalie Leopoldine Ignatia and Virginie became Baronesses [Freiin] in 1828. Virginie married on May 13, 1830 César Gabriel Marchese Boccella (March 24, 1810 Lucca - October 12, 1877 Lucca), chamberlain of the Duke of Lucca, poet and composer. She lived in a Villa at Monte San Quirico in Lucca, which used to belong to Paulina Borghese. Marchesa Boccella also owned the dominions of Erlach in Upper Austria, as well as Pfannberg and Weyer in Steiermark.


Some say the rose sold as 'Jacques Cartier' is really 'Marchesa Boccella' . There is also some difference of opinion about raiser. [See References]

Due to confused labeling, the rose now grown as 'Jacques Cartier' must be exhibited as 'Marchesa Boccella' in American Rose Society rose shows in order to be eligible for the Dowager Queen award (roses pre 1867).

Please see References for more information.

Ludwig Taschner reports that 'Jacques Cartier' blooms continuously from October to April in South Africa.