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Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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Posted by
gardenheat none (
My Page) on
Wed, Jun 12, 13 at 1:48
| I have been going back and forth regarding pre-ordering Gertrude Jekyll in a couple of months for winter planting, but I have read so many negative reviews; it is fussy, an unattractive bush, deadly thorns, not a good bloomer etc. The only redeeming quality I consistently read is "oh the fragrance". Is this a plant that should be checked off the list? Is anyone having success with it? My garden is in Las Vegas, so it must be heat tolerant ( June - August temp. from 100's- in June to the high one teens or low 120's by mid-August) but it will receive afternoon shade. A very fragrant, repeat bloomer, with a gorgeous flower is a must. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Dreadful thorny canes that went all over the place, octopus growth that had to be cut hard and often to encourage rebloom, and unending cycles of defoliation from disease. That was my experience. The rose is banished from my garden, period. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| I will never grow it again--for all the reasons cited above. Kate |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| I rarely see blackspot on roses... spider mites and aphids are the main problems... aphids in the spring and mites during the summer. Both are remedied by a forceful spray of water. Is there some other condition Gertrude Jekyll is prone to? With the long growing season here;plants begin leafing out in March, and bloom until December, it would likely become a large beast here; but, the heat could be a challenge for it? I have a space along a walkway; actually at the end where it is about six feet wide or so and then begins to curve. The rose bush would be up against a wall that is 7 ft tall and the planting bed is about 42" deep. I wanted to plant a rose that is not only beautiful, but will leave those passing by with a dose of an intoxicating fragrance. This rose will also be across from my covered patio where we sit out and dine or just relax, so we will see it. I would like to place a rose bush there that would have a fragrance that would perfume the air in the cover patio area too. Any medium to deep pink rose suggestions other than Gertrude Jekyll? Because of the long growing season here, one time bloomers never make the cut. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Gardenheat, you might want to consider Belinda's Dream. Those of us who, like you, get scorching heat in the summer know it as a rose that just doesn't quit. Often enough it's the only one in bloom come Labor Day. Kay |
Here is a link that might be useful: Belinda's Dream on HMF
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Hi onederw. How is the fragrance for Belinda's Dream? It isn't unusual to still have blooms here until December if it is a mild winter, or winter has a late start. We begin a big feed and soil replenishment in August for our October blooms that regularly rival April's, so a good repeat is really important, as I want that Fall show. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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Gardenheat-- I have and feel frustrated by Gertrude Jekyl.
I bought her for the reason you want her: I thought she was the most fragrant rose ever..... and for me she just isn't. Right now she is barely fragrant and i don't know why. ALL my other Austin roses are more fragrant than her at the moment. So, I can't recommend growing her for only that trait (fragrance). If you like the color and form of her bloom too- then maybe her weird habits are worth putting up with. She only remains here because I just hate digging holes and I have so many more still to dig, before I dig hers..... |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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Gardenheat, you should get your fall flush. I've noticed that as we seem to be getting more intense heat later into September and even into October, the fall flush tends to show up more toward Halloween, or even into November. Roses on the Thanksgiving table are quite possible.
That said, my BD is own root, and I didn't get the big fall show until she'd matured a bit. I wouldn't count on an exuberant bloom during her first year in the ground. Kay |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Kay, thank you for your input as I have been really overwhelmed with his as there are so many pink roses out there . I believe I have been forewarned out of purchasing a Gertrude Jekyl. How would you describe the pink color on Belinda' s Dream? . The photos online never depict the color of pink roses consistently. It does look like a nicely shaped, floriferous bush. Is she fragrant? |
Gertrude Jeykyll`
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| Gardenheat, I love my Gertrude Jeykyll! At first she didn't have many blooms and took a long time to repeat (own root) but now she does both beautifully! (about five years old). Because of space limitations, I have HAD to keep her pruned to about 4', plus she doesn't get but about 5 hours of sun here in N. Calif. I've always complained about those conditions, but maybe they help. ?? Fragrance simply THE BEST in my all-fragrance garden. Hope this helps. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Gertrude Jekyll seems to be loved or hated by many, with not much sentiment in between. Last week we learned that it is very likely that we will be leaving this desert. I was able to purchase some roses from Roses Unlimited that I will place in pots and take with me, as wherever we go will be a mild climate in terms of the cold, but I may have to deal with some Austin heat, which would be taking our triple digit days, practically every day during the summer with some scorchers months in the high 100 teens to the 120 range during the summer) down some notches. I discovered that they only range about 24 or so days above 100 whereas we get 70 or so. Another destination could be Portland, Seattle. Do you have info. as to whether or not own root Gertrude Jekyll is better than grafted? |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| If you are after that specific fragrance of Gertrude--which is one of the best to my nose--The MacCartney Rose and Jadis aka Fragrant Memory smell almost identical (to me). Sorry I can't comment as to how they'd do in the heat because we're in different climates. |
Here is a link that might be useful: The MacCartney rose
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| littlesmokie, thank you for your input. I was partial to the look and fragrance of Gertrude Jekyll. On another topic, we could be re-locating to Portland late summer. I had hoped to have a Gertrude Jekyll wherever we end up. The contending cities are Austin, TX. Portland or Seattle, WA. I recently ordered and will place in pots, Therese Bugnet, Sally Holmes, Charles R, Mackintosh and Pleasure. I hope they fair well in Portland if that is where we will relocate to? |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| Has anyone ever heard of GJ turning white? |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| I don't grow GJ (unless my mislabeled CDM is a GJ; it resembles her), but I grow several Belinda's Dream. As far as fragrance, she's pretty fragrant and has a good lineage for that (bred from Tiffany). Her pink is....vibrant.....bright....and slightly on the bluish side. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Belindas Dream blog on Garden Musings
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| I am the gj lover. It took 4 yr. Boy is she proud this year. Incredible scent and big boisterous blooms too. I do cut her back occasionally, but she is fantastic. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| You folks aren't being honest about Belinda's Dream. She looks nothing like Gertrude Jekyll. BD is a even medium pink (think Pepto-Bismol pink). The fruity fragrance is light to moderate and doesn't even come close to Galloping Gertie's intense Damask perfume. The flower form is different as well. Belinda's bloom, while very full and beautiful, are high centered. Gertie's are quartered. If you want a substitute then consider either Comte de Chambord or Baronne Prevost. These roses have the same rose pink color, Old Garden Rose flower form, and the OH MY GOD I'M HAVING AN OLFACTORY ORGASM fragrace. |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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| One Austin rose that is very fragrant and has done very well for me in the heat is Bishop's Castle. The flowers are a beautiful pink and have a sumptuous look even from afar. It's a cool pink, which I prefer, and other than some mildew in the cooler early spring weather she's been free of disease. BC has more of an old rose look than Belinda's Dream which I also have and like because of its huge flowers. Of the two for your needs I would choose Bishop's Castle. Ingrid |
RE: Gertrude Jekyll - Is she worth it????
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