La France

Reputed to be the first hybrid tea, La France was bred in (I think) 1867.  We have a bush at OGH, which really looks past its use by date.  I don't know when it was planted but I suspect 40 to 50ish years ago.  This winter we decided to hack it back prune it quite hard, especially on one side where it was clearly dying back.  It has responded with vigorous new shoots, so fingers crossed that we have saved it.