Rose code name

A rose code name or ICRAR code is a code, consisting of letters of the 26‑letter Roman alphabet, given to new registered rose varieties.[1]

## History[edit]

In 1955, the American Rose Society was appointed as the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Roses (ICRAR or IRAR) by the International Horticulture Congress.[1] In 1978, the Convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties in Geneva, Switzerland voted that each new rose variety registered be given a unique descriptor, the code name.[1] The reason is that every rose plant sold to the public should be identifiable, whatever the commercial name given the rose for sale to the public.[1] Code names are registered with the American Rose Society.[1]

## Structure of code names[edit]

Code names are typically a combination of the first three letters of the breeder’s name or company followed by additional letters that make each code name unique.[1] An example is MEIclusif, a variety created by Meilland International SA. Sometimes a code name is written with all letters upper‑case (MEILLAND) or the first letter upper‑case (Meilland). All breeders, also amateurs, are required to request a three‑letter code from the American Rose Society before their varieties can be registered under a code name of this type.[1]

Registration names that do not have the structure “three‑letter breeder code plus additional letters“ are also allowed, but are not called “codes”.[2]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Modern Roses – Rose Registration – Request a Breeder Code & Generic Name Authorization". American Rose Society. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
2. ^ "Instructions for Completing the IRAR Registration Form" (PDF). American Rose Society. Retrieved 18 January 2023.