beautiful foliage

12 years ago

My dream rose would be a much smaller re-blooming Konigin von Danemark or R. Primula. I wish breeders would breed not only for disease resistance, but for beautiful foliage. Maybe these roses do exist and I just haven't heard of them yet.

This is my Konigin von Danemark yesterday. Her blue/gray/green foliage is even bluer than my blue hostas. I've included a picture of a young 'Blue Angel' hosta so you can see the contrast.

Konigin von Danemark yesterday:

{{gwi:307842}}

'Blue Angel' hosta:

{{gwi:307843}}

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Comments (7)

strawchicago z5
12 years ago
Awsome, Kristin - I love the blue foliage, thanks for the info.
jerijen
12 years ago
That's beautiful, and it's a rose of a type I wish I could grow.

Jeri in SoCal
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seil zone 6b MI
12 years ago
Oh how lovely! I like seeing all the differences in the shapes, colors and textures of the rose leaves too. There really is a wide variety and makes the garden more interesting.
jacqueline9CA
12 years ago
I planted a Blushing Knock Out rose about a month ago. It has taken off, and its abundant foliage is matt, and very very grey blue. The color stands out next to the other roses. It is healthy and gorgeous.

Jackie
roseseek
12 years ago
We're trying! It's often very difficult to get the wonderfully colored foliage in a smaller plant because the genes needed to dwarf the growth also frequently alters the foliage significantly.

Here are several of my own seedlings from work toward the goals you request:

1-72-1Hugonis http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.62658

CPDLFED5 http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.65225.1

DLFED4 http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.63191

DLFED3 http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.63190

1-72-1DLFED various seedlings of the cross http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.61137

Taking the species crosses a few generations further results in more traditional appearing foliage, often with the loss of the species' scent to growth tips. So far, none are smaller plants, but that's the goal.

Here's one Ralph Moore created some years ago but which was never released.

GA Californica http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.62359.1

Many on the Rose Hybridizers Association have created some very beautiful seedlings with amazing foliage. Browse HMF for some of the people's names you find on the RHA forum and you can see some beautiful seedlings. Kim
organicgardendreams
12 years ago
Wow, kristin flower that is the most beautiful foliage on a rose that I have ever seen. And that in autumn! I wish I could grow this variety here in San Diego, but I can't. To me the foliage of a rose is as important as the blooms. So I agree with you that I would wish rose hybridizers would make lovely healthy foliage more of a breeding goal and not, as it often seems to be the case, just the fab blooms.

Thanks for posting!

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Garden Dreams
rosefolly
12 years ago
Lovely! Not only the color but also the healthiness of the leaves. Looks like an example of the right rose in the right place.

Rosefolly