'Slater's Crimson China', 'Belfield' 'Chinese Monthly Rose," "Old Crimson China' "Rosa chinensis semperflorens", circa 1790 from China.

This is one of several roses brought to Europe from the Orient which were then crossed with the once-flowering old European roses.
Many hybrids were raised, giving rise in due course to the current wide range of repeat-blooming varieties.

Its small, open, semi-double crimson blooms are of a shade not previously known in Europe and are borne constantly on a low-growing open twiggy bush with small red-tinted leaves.

Long believed extinct, it was rediscovered by rosarian Richard Thomson at Belfield in Bermuda in 1956.

[Info via Botanic's Pocket Roses, 2000]