I hear Dr J is a really a 'project' rose that needs manicures and pedicures and lots of attention; just the right song sung over him. A rarefied beauty. But I decided to give it a go in a shady spot. Monty has had great success with it.
I'm hoping it will be red, like him below
and not bright purple - another example of the Doctor.
But who can tell? Because I love red flowers and have many, when certain plants bloom magenta or cerise, the colour clash can be just horrible if they are near each other. I have a small garden and clashes can be quite violent. I probably sound obsessional. Ho hum.
I suppose there is something to be said for buying a plant in flower from the GC.. or at least seeing it in flower at the GC and going home and ordering it from a quality supplier.
I was startled today when I saw Clematis 'Charmaine', in its double form, it was a very dark red, like a Dahlia... I think like most reds they fade to a lighter shade, but this was most unusual. It blooms with single flowers as well..
For red roses, I recommend Souvenir de Claudius Denoyel, which is a climbing hybrid tea, or Danse des Sylphes, which is grown over arches at Kew Gardens, unfortunately it doesn't have much scent.
I have 3 or 4 and my favourite is 'Gruss an Teplitz' with a German name which can be difficult to English speaking ears... it's very fragrant, old rose scent and has made its way into the coveted rose 'hall of fame'...
My plant is about 6 x 6 foot, gets a bit of blackspot but I don't care about that. It will grow well in very poor, gravelly soil, and is better for it..
Well, I would be interested to find out if the colour is apropos my conditions. And how these things work. Does soil / sun / ph affect the colour of roses or clems in a replicable, measureable way?
I researched this very issue trying to find out why my roses were generally paler than advertised. Various American websites did say that strong sunlight will wash out the colour and that morning sun and afternoon shade is the best combo - the opposite to what I have got in my hot colours border, of course. Also new plants can generally have paler blooms until they settle (think it was Marlorena that said that and in my limited experience so far says she is absolutely correct) so it could be your Nubia just needs a season or two. PH does not generally affect ‘genetically programmed’ colour, apparently. Apart from Hydrangeas where the acid soil allows a greater take-up of aluminium to turn them blue - so it’s about soil nutrient availability rather than PH, per se. I do mix in and deeply mulch my alkaline soil with acid compost and I am convinced this has an affect, but perhaps just providing growing conditions a bit closer to ideal. My Munstead Wood and Lady of shallot are both stronger this year.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
That's interesting. Thanks for that. I will investigate. My red roses do change a lot through the year in colour. I can imagine that strong sun would make a difference.
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I've been jonesing after some of the red echinaceas..
For red roses, I recommend Souvenir de Claudius Denoyel, which is a climbing hybrid tea, or Danse des Sylphes, which is grown over arches at Kew Gardens, unfortunately it doesn't have much scent.
I have 3 or 4 and my favourite is 'Gruss an Teplitz' with a German name which can be difficult to English speaking ears... it's very fragrant, old rose scent and has made its way into the coveted rose 'hall of fame'...
My plant is about 6 x 6 foot, gets a bit of blackspot but I don't care about that. It will grow well in very poor, gravelly soil, and is better for it..
The first bloom opened a week or so ago..