Deep, rich carmine-red shade with a slight purplish tinge. - historical, gallica rose - very strongly scented, garden-filling rose - richly spicy sweet character
– Very strongly scented, richly spicy sweet blooms.
– Deep, rich carmine-red historic flower colour.
– Bushy shrub with dense, grey‑green foliage.
– Excellent winter hardiness down to –34 °C.
– Decorative orange‑red hips in autumn.
– Special feature: Centuries‑old Rosa gallica used historically as an officinal rose, uniting heritage charm with ornamental value.
Illustrated with real photographs – Refined garden style
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
22,90 £
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
This classic Gallica 'Officinalis' Heritage rose brings history and character into a family garden with richly scented, carmine-red early-summer flowers and a natural bushy habit that is easy to accommodate in modest spaces. Once established, it offers good hardiness and moderate drought tolerance, coping well even in exposed gardens where strong rain and wind demand sturdy planting and sensible drainage. Its semi-double blooms open wide for bees, followed by decorative autumn hips that extend the season and add subtle structure in mixed cottage borders. As an own-root shrub, it settles in, forms its natural shape over time, and can live for decades with only moderate maintenance. Plant, water, mulch and enjoy watching roots strengthen in the first year, top growth fill out in the second, and full ornamental value appear by the third for lasting reliability. Ideal for front gardens, low hedging and period-style planting schemes that value scent, colour and atmosphere more than complex gardening effort.
Gallica 'Officinalis' in different opening phases, showing its carmine-red colour progression.
Freshly opened, carmine-red bloom of Gallica 'Officinalis'.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Small front-garden feature shrub
The moderate size and bushy habit fit typical front gardens, creating a well-defined focal point near paths or windows without overwhelming the space. Its single, abundant early-summer flush gives a concentrated display that reads clearly from the street, while dense foliage helps screen bins or utilities in a natural way, appealing to the time-pressed homeowner who still values classic cottage charm for the beginner.
Low, informal rose hedge
Regular spacing at about 90–100 cm produces a loose, informal hedge that flowers together in June, then holds a dense green line for the rest of the season. Medium self-cleaning means many spent blooms drop on their own, while the remainder form ornamental hips, so pruning can be kept to a minimum. This works well along driveways or boundaries where you want traditional character and seasonal privacy with only occasional shaping cuts for the homeowner.
Mixed cottage border with perennials
Its deep carmine-red flowers and grey-green foliage sit comfortably among traditional cottage companions such as dwarf iris, creeping bugle and low evergreen groundcovers. Because it flowers once, you can underplant with long-season perennials to carry colour through late summer, letting the rose provide structure, scent and a strong early focal moment. This suits gardeners who prefer a soft, layered look without intensive deadheading for the stylist.
Period-style or heritage rose bed
As a historic Gallica selection with a documented medieval background, it is ideal for heritage-themed beds where authenticity and longevity matter. The once-flowering, strongly scented display feels true to older garden traditions, while the own-root form ages gracefully, regenerating from the base if stems are cut back hard. This is especially valuable for long-term planting schemes in established family gardens for the collector.
Bee-friendly rose corner
The semi-double, cupped blooms open their stamens readily, providing accessible pollen for bees during their main flowering period. Although it does not repeat, the concentrated flush still offers a valuable early-summer nectar source, complemented later by hips that support wildlife interest. Planting a small group in a sunny corner adds fragrance, colour and ecological benefit with little specialist knowledge for the wildlife-lover.
Ornamental hedge with autumn hips
After flowering, many clusters set small, orange-red, egg-shaped hips which colour up attractively in autumn and hold well against the grey-green foliage. In a hedge or boundary line, this gives a second decorative season without needing complex intervention. Light pruning every couple of years is enough to maintain form, making it practical for busy households seeking understated seasonal interest for the family.
Exposed or cooler-climate gardens
With hardiness down to around -34 °C and proven toughness, this rose suits colder or more exposed British sites where winter can be severe and summer weather changeable, as long as basic drainage is provided in heavier clay soils. Once rooted in, it forms a sturdy, anchoring shrub that copes with strong winds and varying moisture levels, offering reassurance where conditions are less than ideal for the planner.
Easy-care structural planting near the house
Placed near patios or entrances, it offers a strong, early-summer scent and colour moment with only moderate upkeep: a light annual tidy, occasional feeding and watering in longer dry spells. As an own-root plant, it matures steadily, filling its allotted space without demanding intricate pruning, while its tolerance of partial shade suits typical around-the-house positions where sun moves through the day for the busy-gardener.
Styling ideas
Cottage-row – Plant a short line along a front path with dwarf iris and Irish moss at the base for a relaxed, old-village feel – ideal for homeowners seeking low-effort traditional charm.
Heritage-circle – Use three shrubs in a loose triangle around a small lawn centrepiece, underplanted with creeping bugle to emphasise their historic character – suited to lovers of period gardens.
Hip-hedge – Form an informal boundary with wider gaps, letting autumn hips and grey-green foliage provide structure against a simple picket fence – perfect for families wanting beauty and privacy.
Bee-border – Mix with long-flowering perennials in a sunny strip, allowing its early-summer flush and open blooms to anchor a wildlife-friendly planting – good for pollinator-conscious beginners.
Porch-scent – Position a single shrub near a front door or sitting area so the rich fragrance greets you in June, framed by low, neat groundcovers – ideal for small-plot urban gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Gallica 'Officinalis' Heritage rose, historical Gallica shrub rose used for medicinal purposes; ARS exhibition name Officinalis, commercial name GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose.
Origin and breeding
Selection of wild Rosa gallica, breeder and introduction year unknown; historic European origin with references as early as around 1160, representing a classic heritage garden rose type.
Growth and structural characteristics
Bushy shrub to about 100–150 cm high and 80–130 cm wide, with dense, matte, grey-green foliage and moderate prickliness; forms a rounded, well-filled outline suitable for hedging or specimen planting.
Flower morphology
Semi-double, cupped, medium-sized blooms (approximately 4–7 cm), carried in clusters; around 13–25 petals per flower, not remontant, producing one strong early-summer flush followed by hip formation on many spent blooms.
Colour data and phenology
Deep carmine-red flowers with slight purplish tinge; outer petals RHS 53A, inner 53C. Blooms darken slightly before fading, then may show gentle purplish tones in strong sun, maintaining good overall colour retention during the main season.
Fragrance and aroma
Very strongly scented with a richly spicy-sweet character, easily filling a small garden space in bloom; fragrance is reminiscent of traditional Gallica roses and contributes significantly to its ornamental and heritage value.
Hip characteristics
Moderate crop of small, egg-shaped hips, about 10–16 mm across, colouring to orange-red in autumn; decorative on the bush and useful for extending interest beyond flowering, also adding a gentle wildlife and seasonal aspect.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Hardy to approximately -34 to -32 °C (RHS H7, USDA zone 4a), with medium disease resistance; tolerates moderate drought once established but needs watering in prolonged dry periods, plus basic monitoring for black spot, mildew and rust.
Horticultural recommendations
Best in well-drained soil, including heavier clay improved with organic matter; suitable for full sun to partial shade, spacing 90–170 cm depending on hedge or specimen use, in beds, borders, parks, urban green spaces or as an ornamental hedge.
GALLICA 'Officinalis' offers richly scented carmine-red summer bloom, hardy, long-lived structure and attractive hips on a dependable own-root shrub; consider it if you want traditional beauty with manageable care over many years.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
GALLICA 'OFFICINALIS' – carmine-red historic Gallica rose
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® 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.
