Some breeders, historically, have kept their crosses confidential, to prevent someone else duplicating their work. Their caution was probably unnecessary. With all the seeds produced from a cross, and all of the various roses in a rose pedigree, you may expect to get SIMILAR roses, but not identical ones.

It's sort of like my Long-Coat Dalmatian, Becket. (See below) His brother Bert is short-coated. Genes are tricksy things.

For fun, go to HMF, and check the parentages of:
'Mister Lincoln'
and
'Papa Meilland'
:-)

There's a "found" rose in the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park that we suspect is an un-released sister-seedling to 'Francis E. Lester.' Similar -- but not exactly the same.

Of course, you might get something else that you liked just as much.

Jeri

Let me say, if you ever become a breeder of dogs, you need some understanding of basic genetics. (Becket's breeder apparently lacks that.) I find doggie genetics far easier than rose genetics, but dog pedigrees help me to a basic understanding of rose pedigrees.

And Becket's parents both have boringly-conventional short coats. :-)