More On Red Chinas -- Ferndale

9 years ago

In another thread, Anita Clevenger mentioned that the Sacramento City Cemetery volunteers are propagating this year some roses they've not pushed in the past.

One of those is "Ferndale Red China."

I waited a long time to get this one, and I am liking what I see. Today, I got my first good picture of it -- tho the plant is still VERY immature. (I need to pot it and a couple of other things up to 5-G.)

As I understand it, this red China was collected in the historic cemetery in Ferndale, CA. Cut and paste this URL, to see photos of this remarkable place:
https://www.google.com/search?q=ferndale+cemetery+california+photo&biw=1077&bih=519&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gxtZVJ7bHO2aigLUqoC4BA&ved=0CB0QsAQ

There were once many plants of this, in that cemetery, but I am told that all are now gone. (I'd still like to see the place.) It was collected by Gregg Lowery of Vintage Gardens -- and so, preserved.

To learn more about fascinating Ferndale, CA, see:
http://ci.ferndale.ca.us/

Anyhow I think this is a charming rose, and for us, the foliage is lovely, even in a baby plant. I think this one deserves a spot "front and center" here.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Victorian Village of Ferndale, CA

Comments (7)

Kippy
9 years ago
Yes please!

I love ferndale and still have some of the blue enamel camping ware that I purchased on their Main Street back at the end of the 80s. This is one I hope I can attend the spring in Sacramento for (the event falls between my so. And his wife's birthdays and makes it iffy for me)
altorama Ray
9 years ago
I grew this rose for a few years, I brought it inside over the winters.
(It died one summer)
It was a beautiful rose, I uploaded a lot of pics on HMF.
I miss that one.
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sammy zone 7 Tulsa
9 years ago
Jeri, I wonder how it would compare to Cramoisi Superieur and Louis philippe. Your picture seems to have a little less of a tint of white than my CS and LP.

CS is tied as my favorite rose next to SDLM.

Sammy
mendocino_rose
9 years ago
It is charming. Many years ago now Michael and I went through the Ferndale cemetery looking for it and it was gone.
jerijen
Original Author
9 years ago
Hey Sammy -- Great to hear from you!

I don't think this one is at all like Louis Philippe OR Cramoisi Superieur. The red is a different shade here -- maybe less-blue? (But not an orangey red at all!)

Though it begins cupped, it surprised me by opening quite flat, with a large, showy, white "eye," very showy yellow stamens, and and a prominent, large, blood-red stigma.

The bloom is on the large side for a China (even though, my plant is still immature). So far, I see it as being quite different from other red Chinas that I have experienced.

Jeri
paparoseman
9 years ago
I had always wanted Korbel Canyon Red and got it from Vintage via their special own root order system. ALAS unlike my other Chinas it defoliated REPEATEDLY and I shovel pruned it for a bourbon rose replacement.
jerijen
Original Author
9 years ago
Well, there you go, Lance. There are no Bourbons here, because none of them can keep healthy foliage -- whereas, Chinas are tough as nails.

Location, location, location. :-)