Louis Claude Noisette

Louis Claude Noisette
Undated engraving of Noisette
Born	2 November 1772 Châtillon, France
Died	9 January 1849(1849-01-09) (aged 76) Paris, France
Scientific career
Fields	Botany, Agronomy
Author abbrev. (botany)	Nois.

Louis Claude Noisette (2 November 1772 – 9 January 1849) was a French horticulturist and botanist recognized for his contribution to the cultivation and hybridization of plants, especially roses. The standard author abbreviation Nois is used to indicate Louis as the author when citing a botanical name.

Noisette was born in Paris, France, into a family with a strong tradition in gardening and botany. His father, Joseph Noisette, was the head gardener to the Count of Provence, later King Louis XVIII of France. Noisette had two brothers: Antoine Noisette, a botanist who managed the botanical garden in Nantes, France, and Philippe Noisette, a significant figure in the American horticulture scene.

Life and career

Born in Châtillon, France, Noisette began his career in the military as an infantryman for two years before moving into horticulture at age 23. Following his military service, he assumed responsibility for the Val-de-Grâce Botanical School, which was subsequently closed within a few years. In 1795, he became a gardener at Val-de-Grâce but left this role in 1798. In 1806, he, along with his brothers, set up a botanical facility where they grew a wide variety of plants, with a focus on roses.

Noisette passed away in 1849.

The Noisette rose

Noisette is known for his role in developing the Noisette rose (Rosa x Noisettiana). This hybrid rose originated from seeds sent by his brother Philippe from South Carolina. Philippe had crossed a Rosa x 'Old Blush' plant, obtained from Louis Claude, with Rosa moschata, resulting in 'Champneys' Pink Cluster'. Louis Noisette subsequently created 'Blush Noisette', the first Noisette rose, by sowing seeds of 'Champneys' Pink Cluster'.

Contributions and recognition

Noisette introduced and distributed rare American and Indian plants to France. His contributions were recognized in 1840, when he was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

His influence extended beyond France, with Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy, commissioning him to landscape his extensive estate in Austria.

The genus Noisettia, comprised by three species of small flowering plants native to tropical America, was named in his honour. Additionally, a garden at the Palace of Versailles bears his name as a tribute to his significant contributions to horticulture. ^{[citation needed]}