Deep, rich carmine-red shade with a slight purplish tinge. - historical, gallica rose - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - richly spicy sweet character
– Intense carmine-red blooms with historic charm.
– Very strong, richly spicy sweet fragrance.
– Bushy, dense foliage for lush planting.
– Hardy to around –34 °C, reliable in cold.
– Good heat and moderate drought tolerance.
– Special feature: Decorative orange-red hips add autumn interest.
Illustrated with real photographs – Refined garden style
eleanorROSE® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
21,00 £
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom; we only deliver to countries within the European Union. For more information, please contact us!
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GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose
Step outside after rain and let GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' bring a sense of balance to your front garden: a compact, bushy shrub rose with fragrance that fills the air and semi-double blooms that invite pollinators. This historic Gallica settles comfortably into typical British conditions, coping well with wind and periodic wet spells while still appreciating good drainage. Its moderate size suits narrow London terraces and small family plots, and its steady, once-a-year summer show feels wonderfully timeless. As an own-root rose, it offers dependable longevity and neat regeneration, building roots in year one, expressive shoots in year two, and full ornamental value by year three for low-effort, sustainable gardening.
Gallica 'Officinalis' shown in different opening stages.
Freshly opened bloom of Gallica 'Officinalis' with intense carmine-red petals.
Gallica 'Officinalis' with cupped, semi-double blooms.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Front garden feature shrub
Planted as a standalone shrub near your entrance, its compact, bushy habit and dense grey-green foliage create a refined focal point without dominating a small space, offering a reliable, carmine-red summer display for time-pressed homeowners.
Informal flowering hedge
At 90–100 cm spacing, it forms a low, informal hedge with characterful thorns and scented summer flowers, then orange-red hips for autumn structure, giving long-season interest with only moderate shaping needed for relaxed beginners.
Rainwater-conscious clay border
Well suited to typical UK clay once drainage is improved with organic matter, this own-root shrub copes with periods of wet followed by drier spells, matching rainwater-harvesting borders where downpipe overflows are carefully channelled by urban gardeners.
Pollinator-friendly cottage strip
Its semi-double, cupped flowers open wide, exposing stamens that attract bees during the main summer flush; pairing with long-flowering perennials keeps forage going, supporting nature-friendly families.
Scented seating-area backdrop
Placed behind a bench or along a narrow path, the intensely spicy-sweet fragrance creates a rich atmosphere on still evenings, turning even a tiny terrace corner into a sensory retreat sought by busy urban professionals.
Historic or heritage-style planting
As a traditional Gallica known since medieval times, it suits period townhouses and heritage-style schemes, combining authentic form and colour with modern own-root reliability appreciated by culture-minded collectors.
Low-input park and urban green strip
Its hardy, bushy framework and moderate disease tolerance make it a good fit for public or shared spaces where regular spraying is avoided and maintenance is periodic, supporting eco-conscious communities.
Ornamental hip and winter-interest corner
After flowering, clusters of orange-red, egg-shaped hips add colour into winter, useful in wildlife-friendly beds or for cutting into seasonal arrangements valued by creative home florists.
Styling ideas
TERRACE-EDGE BOWER – Line a narrow front path with GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' underplanted with low Irish moss to frame the route in scent and texture – ideal for terrace-house owners who want romance in a tight space.
HERITAGE RIBBON – Create a loose hedge along railings, weaving in dwarf iris and creeping bugle for contrasting blues and foliage – suited to those recreating a period, story-rich frontage.
SCENTED SEAT – Position two or three shrubs behind a small bench, with lavender and nepeta in front to extend flowering and pollinator appeal – perfect for urban dwellers seeking an aromatic evening retreat.
RAINWATER BORDER – Plant in a slightly raised, mulched strip near a downpipe, with sage and ornamental grasses to handle occasional wet, focusing on robust texture – good for sustainability-minded householders using stored rainwater.
HIP-AND-HERB NOOK – Combine the rose with culinary sage and thyme in a sunny corner so hips and herbs share autumn colour and fragrance – appealing to home cooks who enjoy cutting from the garden.
Technical cultivar profile
Property
Data
Name and registration
Gallica 'Officinalis' is a historical Gallica shrub rose, also known as Officinalis in exhibition use, supplied here as an own-root, container-grown heritage rose for private gardens.
Origin and breeding
A long-established selection of wild Rosa gallica with medieval roots, breeder and exact introduction date unknown, representing classic European heritage material adapted to temperate climates.
Growth and structural characteristics
Bushy, upright shrub reaching around 100–150 cm high and 80–130 cm wide, with dense, matte grey-green foliage and moderate prickles, forming a full, leafy framework in average garden conditions.
Flower morphology
Semi-double, cupped blooms of medium size borne in clusters, with approximately 13–25 petals; once-flowering in summer, then self-cleansing to a degree as some spent blooms develop into ornamental hips.
Colour data and phenology
Deep carmine-red flowers with a slight purplish tinge; colour may lighten subtly and take on purplish notes in strong sun, maintaining good overall colour retention across the main summer flowering period.
Fragrance and aroma
Very strongly scented with a rich, spicy-sweet character that readily fills the surrounding garden air, especially effective when planted near paths, doors or seating where the perfume can be enjoyed at close range.
Hip characteristics
Produces moderate quantities of ovoid, orange-red hips around 10–16 mm in diameter, giving a decorative display into autumn and early winter and adding wildlife appeal and cutting material.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Hardy to approximately −34 to −32 °C (USDA 4a, RHS H7), tolerating typical UK winters; disease resistance is medium, with some susceptibility to common fungal issues in humid seasons.
Horticultural recommendations
Plant in well-drained soil, improving heavy clay with compost; suitable for full sun or light shade. Water in dry spells, especially in containers of at least 40–50 litres, and prune lightly after flowering.
GALLICA 'Officinalis' offers richly scented historic blooms, pollinator-friendly semi-double flowers and durable own-root growth; consider it if you value characterful beauty with reassuring long-term reliability.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose
Product Type:
eleanorROSE® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!
2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
