The Bourbon rose was a naturally occuring hybrid from two roses being used as hedging on the Isle of Bourbon, now Renuion in the Indian Ocean.
The French East India Company brought cuttings back to France where it was subsequently introduced across Europe.
Flowers are very fragrant, ruffled double form and were one of the first to produce more than one flush of blooms per season.
Examples include ‘Souvenir de Malmaison’, ‘Venus’ and ‘Ferdinand Pichard’ which features red/pink stripes.