Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by wirosarian z4b WI (My Page) on

Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 1:05

I have a spot in my garden for an OGR & I'm looking at either Ispahan(Damask) or Fantin Latour. There are things I like about both, so anyone growing them, give me some input to help me decide which one. Thanks, Larry

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RE: Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by mariannese 5b (My Page) on
Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 6:41

I have both and if I lost Ispahan I would plant another at once. Both can freeze in a bad winter but Ispahan less than Fantin-Latour so I may still get flowers from it. Ispahan's longer flowering period, 6-7 weeks, is an added bonus. The bush shape of Fantin-Latour is perhaps neater, Ispahan is a bit unruly in my garden. The flowers are equally good on both roses.

Besides, the rose reminds me of the city of Esfahan, Iran, one of the most beautiful cities I have visited so I would keep it for that reason only.

RE: Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by melissa_thefarm NItaly (My Page) on
Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 10:51

I don't know how it does in your zone, but in my much warmer climate I love 'Fantin-Latour'. It grows so robustly, it has plenty of foliage, the flowers are beautiful and fragrant, it has few thorns, there's so much and such healthy material to work with when pruning time comes. Here it can make a massive shrub, I don't know about where you live. It gets summer mildew, in moderation, but isn't bothered by it. I enjoy myself every time I have to work on this rose. It roots easily from cuttings.
'Ispahan' to my eyes has rather modern-looking flowers. I'm still getting to know it. As Marianne says, it has a reputation for having an unusually long flowering season for a once-blooming rose.

RE: Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by ispahan 6a Chicago (My Page) on
Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 16:02

Both roses are lovely and both can get HUGE when happy. My original bush of 'Ispahan' is still growing at my parents's house in southwest Michigan and is at least 12 feet tall x 10 feet wide, with pruning! It is a monster. Bloom season is very, very long. Fragrance is only moderate at best to my nose.

'Fantin Latour' grows well locally in urban Chicago. When well grown, it is a somewhat smaller bush than 'Ispahan', but with larger flowers, heavier fragrance and a much shorter bloom season. Of the two, I think 'Fantin Latour' is slightly more refined.

In spite of what my screen name might suggest, 'Ispahan' is not one of my all-time favorite roses. My inspiration in choosing that name many years ago was the beautiful city in Iran rather than the rose.

RE: Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by wirosarian z4b WI (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 7, 12 at 12:46

Thanks for your input. I like the looks of FL's bloom a liitle better but the longer bloom season & better hardiness of Ispahan are leading me in that direction for now. One question, does Ispahan spread readily by runners from the roots? Larry

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Posted by mad_gallica Z5 Eastern NY (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 7, 12 at 12:52

Here, in the garden of Napoleonic roses bent on world domination, Isphahan is extremely well behaved. It has produced a few suckers about a foot from the original crown. This was actually a very good thing since those parts were the only pieces that survived the combined vole/dog attack.

RE: Ispahan or Fantin Latour ?

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Posted by wirosarian z4b WI (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 7, 12 at 13:11

Thanks m_g, that's good to know. Critters in the garden can be a real pain. I've been doing some serious rabbit trapping because of a rabbit population boom due to the mild winter last year. Last winter they gnawed several Gallics completely down, only 3-4" high by spring. A least they were considerate enough to leave a large amount of rabbit poop around them so I didnt have to use much fertilizer to get them going again.

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