''Rosa'' 'Frensham' is a dark red Floribunda rose cultivar, developed by Albert Norman in 1942 and introduced into

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

Harkness Roses Harkness Roses (a trading name of R. Harkness & Co. Ltd) are rose breeders based at Hitchin, Hertfordshire in England. The nursery was founded in 1879 in Yorkshire by brothers, John and Robert Harkness. Early varieties include 'Mrs. Harkness', ' ...

in 1946 as 'Frensham'. It was awarded the RNRS Gold Medal by the

Royal National Rose Society The Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) (1876-2017) was a specialist horticultural organization in the United Kingdom dedicated to the cultivation and appreciation of roses. Founded in 1876 as the "National Rose Society", it was the world's olde ...

(RNRS) in 1943.

Description

'Frensham' is a medium-sized, vigorous bushy floribunda rose, 4 ft (121 cm) in height, with a 3 ft (91 cm) plant spread. The rose has a medium (9-16 petals) semi-double bloom form with 2–3 in (3-5 cm) flowers, typically borne in clusters. 'Frensham' has a mild fragrance with a bloom color of dark red. The rose blooms in flushes from spring to fall. The foliage is dark green and shiny, and the plant has many thorns and prickles. 'Frensham' is susceptible to mildew.

History

'Frensham' was developed by amateur rose breeder, Albert Norman, in 1942. A family friend of Bill Harkness of Harkness Roses, Norman was a diamond cutter by profession. He is also known for developing 'Ena Harkness', 'Vera Dalton' and 'Anne Elizabeth'. Norman developed the rose by through a combination of: ''Rosa'' 'Edith Cavell' x (''Rosa'' 'Edgar Andrew' × ''Rosa'' 'Crimson Glory'). The new rose cultivar was introduced into Britain as "Frensham' by (

in 1946. The family nursery, which continues to sell roses today, was established in 1879 in

Bedale Bedale ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the district of Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is north of Leeds, south-west of Middlesbrough and south-west of the county town of ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

by brothers, John Harkness (1857-1933) and (Robert Harkness (1851-1920). 'Frensham' was used to develop the rose cultivar, Rosa 'Columbine' (Poulsen, 1956). The rose was awarded the RNRS Gold Medal in 1943.

References

{{Rose, state=collapsed

Frensham Frensham is a village in Surrey, England, next to the A287 road, WSW of Guildford, the county town. Frensham lies on the right bank of the River Wey (south branch), only navigable to canoes, shortly before its convergence with the north bran ...

1946 introductions