There are many European type roses that are considered miniature roses. In the 18th century, these smaller versions of old roses weren't looked up to, because of the repeat-flowering miniature rose that came from China. There isn't much knowledge of how the miniature China rose came to being. But the first of these miniature roses reached the European market shortly after the 1800's. It is apparent that they were imported from the island of Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean.
Miniature roses have gone through two separate periods. First was during the years of 1820 and 1850, then after the year of 1930. With the production of the polyantha rose ( described on the polyantha page ( see link below )), the popularity of the miniature China rose was injured. Since 1930, the miniature rose has gained popularity once again. This all because of a miniature rose that was found in garden boxes in two small Swiss regions. The rose was known as the "Pompon de Paris". This miniature came to being through extensive crossing with polyanthas, floribundas and the hybrid tea roses. The reason people came to love this new miniature rose was because it has the look of a hybrid tea rose but in the smaller blossom version. Creating a different look for their gardens. And with the cross pollination of miniature roses and hybrid tea roses, the miniature roses have taken on the hybrid tea rose colors.
Now with the crossing of the miniature rose and the climbing type rose the process of adding more options to what style and color of miniature roses you are wanting, is strictly up to the gardener and the look that they are trying to achieve, in their rose garden
I think you can see the pattern going on here. Through many trails and errors, most of the roses we have grown to love, have gone through a rigorous pollination processes. This has given us many different looks and varieties of roses today.
