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| One of the first roses I planted here, was Archduke Charles. It has grown shapely, flowers most of the year and has never had any diseases. In fact, it has not even had an off day. It has every attribute one could ask for except one. It has no perfume. For that reason, although I admire it greatly, I cannot love it. I am finding that the older I get, the more I need my roses to be highly perfumed. The stronger the perfume, the more I love them. Archduke Charles is planted in a very sunny, prominent place in my garden. I walk past it all the time, but never stop to admire it. In fact, I was looking for a photo to post, to show you what a good-looking shrub it is, but realised that I had never taken a photo of it. It is all probably deeply psychological!!! However, I am thinking of replacing it with Grandmother's Hat. What do you think? Will Grandmother's Hat do the job? Will I love it? Daisy |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| IF your climate supports GH as it does Archduke, I believe you'll love her. In this climate, there is no disease. It flowers continuously, from winter through winter. It has beautiful flowers and wonderful fragrance, even nicely scented sepals, peduncles and new growth tips which scent your hands of sweet, peppery, cedar when you groom the plant. I've grown her for about 27 years and she continues in every garden I've created. Kim |
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- Posted by jacqueline3 9CA (My Page) on Sat, Dec 8, 12 at 10:16
| I have a baby Grandmother's Hat here and I did really love the first blooms it had last year. Lately the deer have been pruning it, so I think I will have to put a cage around it for a while. In addition to having lovely huge FRAGRANT blooms, it is the easiest rose I have ever seen to root. You just stick pruning leavings into the ground, and water them, and they root. Really - I did not believe it when I heard it, but trying it was so easy. Now I have 4 more in pots! Jackie |
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| I must be the only person on the forum for whom GH did not do well. The bush was absolutely fine, grew like crazy but the flowers in even moderate warmth were rather shapeless and only lasted for a few hours. I think if I had placed it where it had afternoon shade it might have been much better but such a spot was not available. I have a feeling you would like it since everyone else seems to adore it. Ingrid |
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| In our Coastal garden, "Grandmother's Hat" is one of a handful of roses that I consider to be "essential." In our garden, she is all that's been said above, and simply flawless. That said, I wouldn't kick Archduke Charles out of bed, either. Jeri |
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| If I had to make this choice, I would say to myself, "Self, think how you would feel if you were to take out a rose which experience had proven to be healthy and well-performing but which had one attribute lacking, and replaced it with another rose which, in the final analysis, happened not to do as well for you." For me, a healthy plant has to be positively offensive or a non-performer for me to remove it. Me, every time I'd look upon the new rose, I'd see behind it the ghost of the removed rose accusing me. |
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| I agree! And, honestly, Archduke Charles is SUCH a great rose. A survivor. One we find over and over in old cemeteries, and always a handsome plant. Moreover, years back, when I really could smell things better than I can now, I thought Archduke Charles had a lovely fragrance with a crisp hint of Tea in the mix. Not a rich, heady fragrance, but certainly, fragrance. I don't think I could ask more of a rose than Archduke Charles gives. Jeri |
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| Have you ever smelled Grandmothers Hat? or are you drawn to her because of her fragrant reputation? I love both roses, but I have learned not to buy a rose that I have never seen grown, and smelled, locally under my conditions, I have always been disappointed by them. -I consider this: How much time I spend looking at a rosebush? That's my experience. Luxrosa |
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