'JGerow' comments & questions

	Member Profile		Photos		Favorites		Comments		Journal		Garden Listing

JGerow

My HMF:

RoseSpellbound ™(hybrid tea, Zary 2006) most recent 24 APR 07 SHOW ALL

Initial post 24 MAR 06 by Dove Cochrane

I grew Spellbound as part of the Jackson Perkins 2005 test panel for fragrant Hybrid Teas. Of the four test panel roses this was my least my favourite. The bloom just didn't hold up in my zone 9 heat and the colour quickly faded to a tired coral.

On the plus side, Spellbound is a vigorous grower, generous bloomer and like the other 4 test roses, disease resistant. The J&P site describes Spellbound as "compact and bushy" that's not my experience, the rose grows very tall in my zone 9.

Reply #1 of 14 posted 11 JUN 06 by Unregistered Guest

Reply #2 of 14 posted 11 JUN 06 by Dove Cochrane

It's interesting to know my garden not the only one. I'll give Spellbound one more year in it's spot if it still lacks luster I'll make a choice between moving it to a semi-shady area of the garden or shovel pruning. Dove	REPLY

Reply #3 of 14 posted 9 JUL 06 by John Moody

<p>My first year Spellbound is producing very pretty medium sized flowers that seem to hold their color up to the time I deadhead it. My one complaint is that it has a very loose growth habit and is doing more spreading than growing upward. The first winter in my garden it got caught in the Big Easter Freeze of 2007 that really devastated my roses with 50+ actually dying. Spellbound did take a major hit but didn't succumb. It appears to be taking it's own sweet time getting back to normal now however and it may just take all year to heal itself as it appears several of my others are going to do as well.

TO FOLLOWUP:
My Spellbound took until the Fall to recover but she finally did get around to showing off well in the Fall. This past Spring, one year later, she sprang up well from dormancy and continued to grow well but not great and the blooms were of only medium size but the form and color were there so I knew there was hope for her. When fall hit she really hit her stride and began a nice big growth spurt and added a couple of basals. The flowers were now very large and the color an intense salmon coral shade that really catches your eye. There still isn't much if any fragrance, but with all its' other tributes, I find this to be a good garden rose for the average gardner that can handle growing it with no problems.
John

Reply #4 of 14 posted 9 JUL 06 by Dove Cochrane

Hi John, I think the key may a cooler climate. I moved Spell bound to a more protected area against our redwood fence. I needed some height and color there and the spot gets some afternoon shade. Hopefully we both (Spellbound & me) will be happier. Dove	REPLY

Reply #5 of 14 posted 30 JAN 07 by Barbara

I also live in zone 9, Phoenix, and I just planted Spellbound. I am disappointed to hear that it does not stand up to heat. Rapidly fading color has been a frequent problem among my rose choices. I will of course see what it does this year, but in case I give up on it after the summer, do you have any suggestions for a suitable replacement?	REPLY

Reply #7 of 14 posted 6 MAR 07 by Dove Cochrane

I think it's the deep colors that have a hard time in the sun.
One option is to move it some place where it's a little protected in from the scorching afternoon sun.
Although not a salmon colored rose, Hot Cocoa (it's a more brownish red) would be an excellent choice, mine holds up very well in our zone 9 summer sun.
A lesser know rose is Hot and Spicy, an orangey red rose, is great in the heat too.

Or you would rather have something on the pinkish red side?
Cheers
Dove

Reply #9 of 14 posted 6 MAR 07 by Unregistered Guest

Actually, I just planted Hot Cocoa this spring. My 11 year-old daughter talked me into choosing it. I am looking forward to the unusual color in my garden. I suppose if Spellbound needs replacing, I will have some idea by then what color I would like to have in its place. So many roses, so little space... Barbara	REPLY

Reply #10 of 14 posted 7 MAR 07 by Dove Cochrane

Reply #6 of 14 posted 6 MAR 07 by John Moody

I don't have the heat that Phoenix does, but we did reach over 100 for several days at a time twice during heat of summer. My SPellbound seemed to do just fine. The plant continued to grow well and it bloomed plenty. The blooms held their shape and color though they could have been a little bigger, but that is normal I think for a first year bush. I wish it were fragrant. In the Fall the blooms were a bit bigger, though still a bit smallish, but still nicely formed. I have reasonable hopes for it next spring if it survives the winter. I will protect all first year bushes, but after the first year they will be left to survive winter on their own!!.

Reply #8 of 14 posted 6 MAR 07 by Dove Cochrane

Reply #11 of 14 posted 22 APR 07 by JGerow

I also grew this rose as part of the 2005 J&P test panel and it did not perform well at all in my zone 7a (Reno, NV). It never really thrived here. J&P replaced it once and if finally gave up the fight over this past winter. The few blooms that I got were beautiful, but I had the same fading experience that others had - not very pretty after the really short blooming of 2-3 days. All of my other HT's in the same garden are still thriving. I would not recommend this rose either.

Reply #12 of 14 posted 23 APR 07 by Dove Cochrane

I learned from another rosarian (Kim Rupert) on HelpMeFind that our gardens each have their own special micro-climate, separate and unique from the general climate of our town or neighbourhood.
Our "micro" pocket of individuality can also be extremely different from the garden planted at the front of our house and the garden at the side or rear. Add that to the individuality of each rose and you may find one rose that, although treated the same as all the others, fails to thrive.
If your Spellbound is stressed and failing to flourish, there is a reason why and you should look at all the possibilities.
For example: too much water or not enough water, too much wind, too much sun.

The rose in my garden that was giving me trouble could not take the dry winds in combination with full sun. Those two things stressed the rose to the point that it was a disease ridden pain in the ass. (sorry for the language, but I grew to hate that rose *L*)

I moved the rose to a more protected area of my garden, it was shielded from the wind and received some afternoon shade.
It's a different rose, and I recently examined it for rust (last year it was covered with the stuff) and there isn't even 1 infected leaf, it's blooming it's little heart out and I so glad I didn't shovel prune it.

I recommend you take a look at the location of the rose, determine if there is anything stressing it (could too much sun could be the problem, or very cold wind?) Look around for a more suitable area and move it. It's not too late in the season to move your rose and you may find it begin to flourish and meet your expectations.

Good luck with your Spellbound and please let me know how it goes
Cheers
Dove

Reply #13 of 14 posted 24 APR 07 by HMF supporting member

RoseBlush

Dove......

This is great advice. I learned the same lesson when I was growing roses in containers at my condo in San Diego. If a rose didn't like the spot I had it in, I just moved the container. I am now living in the mountains of northern California and have started all of my roses up here in containers because I didn't even know the microclimates in my own garden. Roses that showed mildew in one spot were completely clean when I moved them to a different spot with better air circulation. The same is true for other variables that affect a plant. Some thrive in full sun all day long, while others need a bit of shade in the afternoon. Once I know a rose is happy in a given location in my yard, that's where I put it in the ground. Roses that would not thrive in my new garden were given to folks that had different microclimates. Up here, just a few hundred feet difference in elevation can change the performance of a rose. Of course, I do use BIG containers.

Smiles,
Lyn

Reply #14 of 14 posted 24 APR 07 by Dove Cochrane

Absolutely amazing isn't it? I used to think a zone was a zone, never realizing the difference a couple miles could make much less a couple of blocks. I like your big container idea, I will soon be moving to Ohio and that will be helpful while I'm adjusting and getting to know zone 6	REPLY

RoseTahitian Sunset ™ most recent 22 APR 07 SHOW ALL

Initial post 21 JUN 06 by Unregistered Guest

I just planted one in Zone 6. The color and form of the blooms is just about OK and there is no frangrance. Maybe it will improve with time. I have to wait and see.	REPLY

Reply #1 of 3 posted 25 JUN 06 by Sarah

I live in the same zone.The best time to smell roses is in the morning just after the dew,when its humid and warm the air is more dense.I also have this rose and find it does have a good smell when it opens some but i dont think it smells like licorice like it says Id say more of a sweet tea rose smell maybe a small hint of licorice.Hope you start to enjoy the fragrance soon.	REPLY

Reply #2 of 3 posted 9 JUL 06 by John Moody

I planted a potted TS in my zone 5b garden and it has really taken off quite well. It has beautiful large blooms that rival the color of my favorite rose of all, the floribunda DayBreaker. Also like DB, the foliage is outstanding. Thick and shiny and so far completely disease and pest resistant even to thrips when all my other roses were suffering mightily from them. I plan to breed TS and DB this year and hope for some good seedlings from them.

John

Reply #3 of 3 posted 22 APR 07 by JGerow

This rose positively thrives in my zone 7a garden! Beautiful prolific blooms. I planted it as part of the J&P test panel 2005 and was thrilled to see it got named appropriately. Would highly recommend this rose. Fairly carefree - maybe you are over caring for it? This rose doesn't seem to mind the heat, the blazing sun and lack of humidity here. Had a slight powdery mildew issue in the beginning but managed to eradicate it.

RoseSweet Freedom most recent 22 APR 07 SHOW ALL

Initial post 13 FEB 06 by Dove Cochrane

I grew this rose as part of the Jackson Perkins 2005 test panel for fragrant Hybrid Teas. It soon became one my favourite of the four test roses. Sweet Freedom smells lovely and the bloom is a pristine creamy white.	REPLY

Reply #1 of 3 posted 24 MAR 06 by Unregistered Guest

Reply #2 of 3 posted 24 MAR 06 by Unregistered Guest

Hi Diane, I'm in Southern California, zone 9. We don't get a hard enough freeze that I need to protect my roses. It stands up to out summer heat very well - I wish I could be more zone helpful to you. Dove	REPLY

Reply #3 of 3 posted 22 APR 07 by JGerow

I agree on this rose as well. It is a prolific bloomer and is turning into a rather large HT! Seems to enjoy my zone 7a sunny location. Very much a problem free rose! Although it compares (in my opinion) to the John F Kennedy, the Sweet Freedom has a much better looking set of canes than the JFK. Will be doing a hard prune on it this year to see how it does as I'm concentrating on shaping it this year. This was also part of the test panel.