Hybridizer Henri-Antoine Jacques (1782-1866)

French nurseryman, noted for having introduced the Bourbon rose. See More

(1782 Chelles - 1866 Châtillon) was a French nurseryman specialising in roses, and noted for having introduced the Bourbon Group of roses from the French island île Bourbon (île de la Réunion nowadays) to France. These roses were illustrated by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) in his work "Les Roses".

He was born into a family of gardeners. On leaving the army, he worked as apprentice gardener at the Grand Trianon (in the park of château de Versailles), where his acumen caught the eye of Napoleon and whom Jacques told that his goal was to become head gardener on one of Napoleon's estates. Eventually in 1818 he became head gardener to the Duke of Orleans, later to become King Louis-Philippe, at the château de Neuilly on the banks of the Seine near Paris, as well as Monceau on the outskirts of Paris, and Le Raincy near Chelles. These three estates totalled several thousand acres, earning him a salary, with free housing, clothing, food, horses, etc. for his wife and family, of some FFr 8,000 a year, increasing to about FFr 14,000 by 1835. When Louis-Philippe was forced to abdicate in 1848 the château of Neuilly was destroyed. He leaves then his business to his nephew Victor Verdier.

The collaboration between King Louis-Philippe and Jacques, both great lovers of plants, led to a number of new plant varieties, in particular several new rambling roses (among which Félicité et Perpétue). Jacques was one of the founding members of the "Horticultural Society of Paris", created in June 1827 which became, in 1885, the National Horticultural Society of France.

Antoine Jacques, besides being a zealous and gifted gardener, was acquainted with the writings of eminent botanists from all over the world. He published a number of catalogues listing the plants in the Royal gardens, as well as a four-volume Flora of the plants of Europe in collaboration with the botanist François Hérincq. He also published monographs on conifers, and on the Chinese cabbage or Pe-tsai.

Jacques had learnt from de Bure how to hybridise irises naturally. But it is diffcult to say which ones he bred himself or inherited from past centuries.

Registrations/Introductions

Tall Bearded

• 1830: 'Aurea', 'Sambucina Major', 'Augustissima', 'Spectabilis', 'Reticulata alba', 'Reticulata purpurea', 'Reticulata superba', 'Jacquesiana', 'Variegata major', 'Pallida speciosa'
• 1859: 'Palissy'.

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Interested in French irises ? Please visit: Société Française des Iris et plantes Bulbeuses - SFIB | website (french language).

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-- BobPries - 2012-05-18