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michaelg_gw

Enabling 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles'

michaelg
12 years ago

I haven't seen much discussion of this rose. I like mine a lot. What do others think?

Currently we have a number of good red climbers available, but Tess is the only one I've grown lately. Anybody want to add a side-by-side comparison?

The flowers of Tess are outstanding. They are bright cherry red or medium crimson; the color is always slightly to the blue side of true or flag red, and it doesn't change much with age. Flowers are large, well formed, and moderately fragrant to me. They are long lasting on the plant or cut--unusually so for an Austin rose. The flower quality holds up in hot weather and sun.

The plant is inclined to be more climber than shrub, but could be either. I am pruning mine to stand up but allowing a few canes to ramble on a wall behind. It repeats regularly, not in great numbers, but enough to look like a flush. Laterals on the shrubby part are longer than I would prefer, but not wild and whippy like those on the neighboring 'Radio Times.'

This year I didn't spray for the first 9 weeks of the growing season, and a number of roses defoliated, including I think all my other Austin roses except 'Prospero.' Tess only had only a very few blackspotted leaves and no mildew.

Comments (18)

  • bart_2010
    12 years ago

    I'd like to see the colour of Tess; sounds like a winner to me. I don't like "flag red" at all, so is Tess "blue" enough to be defined sort of as crimson(like, say, Austin's The Dark Lady)? thanks, bart

  • erasmus_gw
    12 years ago

    I bought one this spring and have been pleased with the rebloom and color. It is described as being brighter than L.D. Braithwaite, so I was not sure I would like the color, but so far it is a darker, bluer red. So far it looks pretty healthy.

  • karenforroses
    12 years ago

    I've grown Tess for about 3 years now and really love her. She's a generous bloomer and re-bloomer, gets very tall (I have her on a tutour) and has the most lovely formed bloom and such a pure bright color. Here's a picture:{{gwi:293123}}

  • cecilia_g62
    12 years ago

    I planted a Tess this spring and it has grown to just over 3' tall. I was planning on having it as a shrub but its not very bushy and has a lot of long canes. Now I've been thinking of making her climb a trellis. She's planted close to a wall so I wouldn't need to move her. The only issue I'm having is that the canes are pretty thick and don't seem to want to bend much. I know that tying canes on a lateral produces more blooms but I can't get the canes bent that way without breaking them. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If anyone has any idea how to keep it a shrub and make it bushier I will try that root as well. Thanks!

  • anntn6b
    12 years ago

    I've had one for four years and added two more this spring on multiflora from Pickering.
    I haven't sprayed in four years. It keeps chugging along and blooms after rainfalls (our irrigation system needs reworking).
    It is an excellent shade of red for our place which has hay fields and then eastern Hardwood Forest in the background.
    It is almost a climber, but the soil isn't that supportive of vigorous growth.

    If you like Tess, you might want to try Crocus Rose which is even better in its bloom production and resistance to fungal problems. Here in east Tennessee, it's been a really successful rose (white to creamy white depending on sun exposure.) A friend who's grown it for two years after I told her to remains awestruck at how much better it grows than her Hybrid Teas.

  • michaelg
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    LD Braithwaite is a true modern medium red like Olympiad. But Tess is always on the cerise or blue side of that. The color in the garden is quite bright, as in Karen's picture. However, roses cut in tight bud will usually open in the house a darker, smoky purple red that is really gorgeous. Cut after sepals separate but preferably before petals do. Rule of thumb: try cutting the old-style blooms sooner than you think you should.

    My foliage is darker than Karen's, and I rarely get blooms in clusters so far.

    cecila--yeah, I broke a cane last week bending it too early. Best time is probably just after blooming.

    Thanks, all, for the comments.

  • michaelg
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Only five people growing Tess?

  • michaelg
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Kevin, does it get rust or mildew in the Irish climate?

  • kevin_mcl
    12 years ago

    Yes Michael - the 'soft' Irish climate can be a bit a problem with fungus attacks. In the South West in particular where it seems to rain every five seconds.
    However, in my garden, rust seems to be only an occasional problem with PM a bit more common but blackspot is a constant battle. I find I have to give - at a minimum - a monthly spray with myclobutanil or some other fungicide from May or many of my roses will be reduced to near bare canes by mid July.

    I am also a bit surprised that Tess doesn't seem to warrant the attention that other Austins get given its overall vigour and profusion of vibrant crimson blooms.

  • hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
    12 years ago

    Beautiful photo, Kevin!

  • Clinton7719
    10 years ago

    I live on Hawaii Island (The Big Island of Hawaii) and I just got Tess with a few other English Roses and they are doing quite well at the moment. But I do have a question. Here in Hawaii where it can be quite humid and yet the summers are not hot due to the trade winds, we tend to lose leaves on our roses. Will Epsom Salt's help in this case and will it help Tess and the other roses as well? Also, because of the volcano activity, we have this haze that we call "vog" which emits sulfur every few days during the month, will this cause problems also to my roses?

  • hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
    10 years ago

    Sulphur is a known fungicide, so "vog" might actually be good.

    Epsom salts won't be of any benefit unless your soil is seriously deficient in magnesium.

    Are is the foliage you are losing spotted with disease, or does the foliage just fall off?

  • mendocino_rose
    10 years ago

    First of all Clinton I don't think you should use Epsom Salts. What I heard was that the soil in most of Hawaii is very high in Magnesium, too high in some places for roses to do well, so you wouldn't want to put more on. Maybe you could have your soil tested.
    I'm growing Tess on a pillar with the Clematis Marie Bloisett. Beautiful!

  • Clinton7719
    10 years ago

    Thank you, hoovb and mendocino_rose for your input. I will hold up on the epsom salts. The foliage on my roses usually turn yellow and fall off. I am wondering now if there is an iron deficiency problem with my soil. I need to have my soil tested. Roses do very nicely here with monthly feeding and spraying but of course we do have the usual problems that comes along with gardening. Tess is blooming profusely and the others are doing quite well also. I just love the beautiful crimson red color of Tess. It is a gorgeous rose.

  • DLEverette_NC_Zone7b
    7 years ago

    My Tess is more on the magenta side than crimson or red. This is it's first season though. Should this be expected from the first flush?

  • Anne Zone 7a Northern CA
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    A gopher or vole ate all the roots off mine and in doing so left me with 2 branches. Both rooted nicely and are back in the ground in pots. Can't wait for the blooms. I love seeing everyone's pictures so much. Thank you. I had to buy it as a Thomas Hardy fan.

  • SamuellaZ6a
    10 months ago
    last modified: 10 months ago

    My second-year Tess is also more cerise in our clay Kansas soils. Magnificent, iron-clad rose. She is planted by the curb in a crappy, rocky spot, has been run over by guests backing out of our driveway, but she is COVERED in blooms.

    Wicked thorns but I will always grow this rose . Such a vibrant color. I am not crazy about the scent (too powdery to me). Consistent, decent repeat as well. Last year, I had a flush every 10-15 days. She has an interesting bloom shape--almost like a dahlia that recurves back to the stem--but I don't mind.

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