Mousseline is a refined historic rose with soft pink, cup-shaped flowers and a pleasantly sweet fragrance. Its distinctive character begins with the flower buds: they are covered in fine, greenish-brown glandular hairs that look like moss. This characteristic growth gives moss roses their name.

Moss roses form a special group within old garden roses. Their striking buds were prized as well as their flowers. On Mousseline, the “moss” can release a resinous fragrance when lightly rubbed, a lovely contrast to the flowers’ sweet perfume.

There is some confusion surrounding its historic naming. David Austin offers Mousseline under the name ‘Alfred de Dalmas’ and dates it to 1855. Other rose experts distinguish this rose from Moreau-Robert’s Mousseline, dating from around 1880–1881. In any case, the rose linked here represents the rich tradition of nineteenth-century moss roses.

An appealing quality is its repeat flowering. After the first blooms, new flushes follow throughout the summer. This lets you enjoy its delicate color and distinctive buds for longer.

Mousseline forms a bushy, upright shrub with light green foliage. Give it a spot in a romantic border or historic rose garden, preferably where you can admire the flowers up close. Plant it in fertile, well-drained soil and remove spent flowers to encourage further blooms.