I have a foundling rose I call “Brockman & Rowley No. 12” and it was last in a line of 12 HT’s along a long-gone front fence. I suspect it may be ‘Aspirant Marcel Rouyer’,1919 as its features do seem similar to what the books say. It is the right deep apricot colour, it is deeper in the center, it does have flesh outer petals, I have seen the veining on the outer petals, and the fading flowers on the old bush, and it did develop good colour in heat here. The only thing which is not quite right are the references to the long buds.
If anyone thinks it may be something else, can you guide me further?
It took me a few years to strike this, but it is up and away now. In years past the flowers were a horrible harsh yellow. But the bush was so old that I thought I should grow it and now I am glad I have. Interesting the way this pale white-yellow bud can open up, rather quickly, and show this intense colour. The other most interesting thing (for me) was that this old bush in October 2007 had new leaves with only three leaflets with absolutely no thorns under. I can distinctly remember being amazed by this. Today, my little, less than one foot high bush has BIG prickles under the leaflets. Some three leaflets, but there are some fivers. I find that so interesting. Does an old bush in desperate straits give up on a leaflet or two, and discard any excess armature that is not really needed.
Here is my Field Report-in-progress. Because my bush is so young, I have not, so far, done a complete Field Report.
ROSE NO. 443
TODAY’S DATE “Brockman & Rowley No. 12”
SEEMINGLY IN WHICH GROUP Hybrid Tea.
ORIGINAL LOCATION Cnr. Brockman & Rowley Sts., Bridgetown.
2008, Feb 12. A cutting I took on this date succeeded and I planted this small bush on April 1, 2008 in the Lustgarten.
ESTIMATED AGE OF PROPERTY
All roses were planted prior to 1935* (owner died in 1996?) Alison Ladson (who lives opposite): The owner’s brother, Charlie still comes to mow this property. Alison will ask him next time if he knows what the roses are.
2001 May 2, Alison has moved away!!
(*1935 Big grain of salt to be taken with this date. Other roses seem to be
1950 Sutter’s Gold.
1945 Peace
1946 Ena Harkness)
MAIN FLOWER COLOUR Yellow.
some colours I have noted were “pale apricot gold”
2002, November: – a harsh orange yellow.
2007. May 6. – A pure pale yellow
2007, Oct 21. – an ugly pale orange.
OTHER COLORS OR TINTINGS Whitish outer petals. Veining on the outer petals was noted in October 2007.
BUD UNOPENED:
2007, Oct 21 - buds are coppery pink on outer petals
2009, Feb 2 – (at Northcliffe) buds are whitish, a hint of pink. Yellow in the base.
BLOOM PEDICEL STIFF OR BENDING: Stiff.
SMOOTH OR PRICKLY: Prickly.
LEAF NUMBER
2007, October 21. Many of the new leaves, just under the buds, are only a three-leafer.
2009, Feb 2. On a foot high bush, there are mostly three-leaflet leaves, but there are some five-leaflet ones.
LEAF COLOUR – MATURE: dark green
LEAF TEXTURE OR SURFACE: Shiny
LEAF RACHIS:
2007, October 21. The rachis under is quite smooth. There is a slight trough on the rachis top. All the leaf rachis I feel are smooth under.
2009, Feb 2. Rachis under is very prickly !!!!
PRICKLES: 2007, October 21. Old thorns on old wood are long, over half an inch, not dehiscent.
DOES THIS CULTIVAR REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHER? IF SO, WHICH ONE, WHY, AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS NOT THAT OTHER CULTIVAR?
Aspirant Marcel Rouyer, 1919. Sounds right.
Golden Emblem
Feu Joseph Looymans, 1921 – seems to have no white outer, and ages to a spiky form.
Geheimrat Duisberg
Goldenes Mainz
Louise Catherine Breslau, 1912. – see BCD’s Adventurer plate 77.
Max Krause, 1930
Richard E. West. No info
Sunurst, 1911. Description is¨Yellow, orange center, white reverse. Bud picture seems wrong though.
DISCARDED POSSIBILITIES.
Comtesse de Castilleja – sounds too pink.
Eclipse – bud on Eclipse is too narrow.
Fontanelle, 1927. Too lemon yellow.
Georges Schwartz – no pictures, but sounds semi double.
Golden State 1937 – ruffled form
Roslyn, 1929. semi double, wrong form.
Souvenir, 1930. No picture but sport of Talisman and leaf is different.
Sunstar – colour is orange red, semi double.
Ville de Paris – too lemon yellow, wrong form.
W. F. Dreer. Helpmefind says pink.
