Jean Baptiste Guillot

The Guilliot family had six generations of rose growers.  Jean Baptiste Guillot was born on December 10, 1803 in France.  He settled in Lyon, France and raised flowers and vegetables.  In 1834 he focused his efforts on growing roses.

The first rose produced was a bourbon rose, “Lamartine” (named in honor of the French poet) in 1842.  Jean Baptiste died in Lyon on April 18, 1882.  His son Jean Baptiste Andre (Guillot Fils) worked with his father at the age of 14 in the nursery business.  He later created his own nursery firm which resulted in the production of 80 new roses.  His first creation was the tea roses “Mme. Falcot”, a seedling of Safrano (tea 1839).  He produced the first hybrid tea  (La France, 1867) that revolutionized the world of roses.  He also bred one of the first polyanthas “Mignoette” in 1880.    He produced roses that are known throughout the world today:  Catherine Mermet, Etoile de Lyon, Mme. de Watteville

In 1884 Jean Baptiste and his son Pierre (“Guillot et Fils) produced many new varieties.  Among them Mme. Laurette de Messimy a small growing china roses.  Pierre also created Comtesse du Cayla.  All together he produced 41 different roses.  Pierre died in 1893 at the age of 66.

Pierre’s son Marc assumed the firm.  He died early in 1953 leaving a wife and four boys.  They took over the business and continued the promotion of the rose.  The family business continues today and carries on their love for the rose.