Parents were Park's Yellow tea scented China X Smith's yellow China. This Parentage was questioned by Guillot who said Devoniensis was a descendant from "Adam" buts that's rather impossible chronological.
Devoniensis is one of the more hardy Teas and she can grow very well in Western Europe. In warmer climates she's an uncontested beauty next to Souvenir de la Malmaison. Speaking of Malmaison, Devoniensis looks a lot like this Bourbon but the difference is Devoniensis has less petals and less packed. However, in a lot of European nurseries they sell you Malmaison when you order Devoniensis so better to watch out and look for the real deal.
Flowers are medium to large, quartered, full in a cream white color. A very light flesh pink blush can appear at the early stages of unfolding. When fully opened the flowers are flat, quartered and can develop a very light yellow shading. When you see this light yellow shading you can be 100% sure you have the right Devoniensis. The flowers have a quite strong Tea fragrance, especially in moist hot weather. Flowers are mostly borne solitary but can appear in clusters of three or four.
Foliage is big and dark green. New growth is red at first and can be susceptible to mildew during wet, moist days but nothing serious. Armed with many, rather big, thorns she's no kitty to pick up without gloves. New growth appears from every axil and she can grow quite quickly.
Reblooming is very good and in my garden she can bloom up to four times which is very satisfying. The flowers can take rain but not for days. After two days of rain the petals turn brown, however they don't ball like Malmaison. Devoniensis is best grown on an obelisk as she can become 200X 100 cm or 6X4 feet.
A climbing sport was discovered in 1858 and this is the one that is sold usually. She can get up to 6 meters or 18 feet.
Zone 7b to 10b, heat and drought resistant, moderately rain resistant.
Again: This Tea hates pruning!
Recommended climbing Tea
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