I would be reluctant to buy a rose named after an unloved political, or public, figure, though this hasn't come up as a practical issue. One of the worst name choices I ever heard of was a rose named 'Benson and Hedges Gold'. Who on earth had the idea of naming a rose after a cigarette?

This post was edited by melissa_thefarm on Thu, Jan 9, 14 at 0:50

As we've mentioned before on this forum, many of us would avoid buying certain roses named after politicians or other famous people we disagree with. Can't compromise my politics in the garden, after all!

I've always wondered why anyone would name a rose Ketchup and Mustard--strange. I'm sure their are stranger ones out there--like Gladys Butt.

Yes, the name Tipsey Imperial Concubine has always intrigued me also--and I've never really liked its looks, unfortunately.

One name I love for a rose is Earth Song--so poetic and appropriate, a rose blooming being the "song" the earth sings. Cool, isn't it.

I also like French names I have trouble pronouncing. Don't know why, but they seem mysterious and suggestive and "aristocratic"--guess there is a bit of a snob hidden down deep in me? Souvenir de la Malmaison just sounds so special--and the rose itself is very special.

Kate

The only rose to my knowledge I have rejected based on its name is Rosie O'Donnell, who is so abrasive a performer I wouldn't want to look at her name in my yard. Fortunately, Cliff Orent has a sport of that rose called Trump Card that has all the nice contrast with a better name. True, I learned recently that Cliff's rose was named for Donald Trump who is abrasive himself, but since the name was actually a subtle slam at the individual named I can live with that.

Kate - I think the rose you're referring to is Happy Butt, named for a boss named Gladys (say it out loud and separate the syllables to get the connection). I actually sought that one out because of the name as I love the pun and it's a nice counterpart to the lovely snob-inspired roses that I can use my French and German training to pronounce. I'm with you that rolling things like Bremerhafen Stadtmusikanten off my tongue gives me a certain special satisfaction.

Cynthia

Happy Butt--that's the name. I remembered the "Glad-[a]ys" part because that was my mother's name and I never knew anyone else with that name.

I couldn't bear to have a Trump rose in my garden--even if it was sneering at him!

Kate

I have to agree about Earth Song - that's a lovely name. And Ketchup and Mustard - I don't think I could own that one! Benson and Hedges, really? That's terrible!

Found another sidebar in the same book - apparently the DA Crocus Rose was named by a charity. Crocus is not a reference to that sweet little harbinger of spring, but an acronym for Colo-Rectal Cancer Understanding and Screening!

I will never look at Crocus Rose the same again......

Alistair Clark named a rose 'Black Boy', apparently a deliberate reference to the indigenous peoples of Australia, so the defense of "inadvertance" cannot be claimed here.

Do you really want to have to tell your neighbors you are growing a rose named 'Black Boy'? I know I would give that one a pass if I lived where it could be grown.

I have thought for some time that the name of the rose, Astrid Grafin von Hardenberg, had an interesting background. Astrid was the daughter of Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg, a man who opposed the regime of Adolf Hitler and was involved in the plot against him. For this activity, the family estate of von Hardenberg was confisticated, but von Hardenberg managed to avoid execution. In 1998, Astrid created a foundation in memory of her father, Carl-Hans, which promotes the education of young people. Tantau named their beautiful rose in honor of Astrid. Diane

Diane - how wonderful! AGvH is at the top of my wishlist, and the provenance in the name is icing on the cake!

I'm a bit late to this one, but the Princess in Crown Princess Margareta is part of the reason I chose her for my first "real" rose. I just love referring to the Princess and how she's doing. :)
LynnT

Ahh . . . 'Benson & Hedges Gold'. It's been years since I had the pleasure, but one can hope that the rose is/was as pleasurable as its namesake.