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| When I placed my order with Rogue Valley, I took a chance and chose Pink Mermaid as my free rose for buying 4 bands since I've always loved the look of Mermaid and Pink Mermaid. Well, the order arrived today, I opened the box, and out popped an almost 5 foot tall band of Pink Mermaid (thankfully its thornless)! I know the Mermaid roses can be very tall and vigorous, but this is crazy! I burst out laughing when I opened the box and its canes came flying out out me!
I'm just wondering how big of a tree I need for it to climb, or if my 4ft tall fence will even hold it? If not, any suggestions? Thanks for the help. I've also posted a picture, but it really doesn't do it justice! ~Tammy
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by barbarag_happy 8a SE VA (My Page) on Wed, Feb 29, 12 at 19:40
| I haven't grown Pink Mermaid but my regular Mermaid quickly covered three 8-foot sections of my 6 foot tall fence! I've never seen anything like it in terms of speed of growth. I was tempted to sit in a chair by moonlight to watch it grow..! |
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| Don't plant it against the house. It could take it over! If you have a big enough spot for it I'll bet it's going to be lovely! |
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| Pink Mermaid has nothing to do with Mermaid, other than the name. I grew it twenty years ago, own root, from Muriel Humenick and her wonderful nursery, Rose Acres in El Dorado, CA. She used to sell mail order, now I think she's local only. On her mountain top, it ate a very tall wire fence used to keep the deer out. It can be quite pretty in flower. The rest of the time, it's another prickly, green climber, but that's prejudice from the land of the thirteen month flowering season. It's pretty much a standard Wichurana rambler, single, pink and primarily spring flowering. I don't know why yours has no prickles, but Pink Mermaid is NOT thornless. As with any Wichurana, it will layer itself where it touches the ground, so unless you want LOTS of them, watch permitting it to lay on the ground. It can also self seed, and being single, it is VERY fertile. Don't let it get away from you. I know there is conjecture that Mermaid may be one parent, but studying the plant's botanical details will show you it is nearly pure Wichurana with no Bracteata characteristics at all. I've also read conjecture it may be a Frances Lester seedling, possibly something originating at Tillotson's , the predecessor of Roses and Yesterday and Today. There are no Moschata or Multiflora traits obvious in it, either. Plant it where you can control it, preventing it from rooting where it touches the ground and give it LOTS of room. I don't know how hardy it needs to be where you are, but I would expect it to be as hardy as the average Wichurana rambler. Kim |
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| Thanks everyone! After I read your post Kim, I did read the little bit they had on HMF about it not being related to Mermaid. As for the thorns, I don't know why it doesn't have any...I even went back out in the garage a few minutes ago to check it again...odd (maybe they accidentally gave me some other type of house-eating rose), guess I'll see when it blooms :) For placement, I think I'm going to scrub the fence idea. I have too many other climbers and ramblers growing on it, and I don't want them smothered! I think I may just plant it along the brushline behind the house and let it go wild ...or maybe grow it up one of the Bradford Pear trees on the property, but they may be too small? Decisions... |
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