After more than 7 years growing them side-by-side, "Ferndale Red China"; and "Korbel Canyon Red China" are the same variety, in my opinion, or so alike that that there is virtually no difference between them. Both have a light cherry scent, from time to time. Both grow very tall here, at least 8' with support.
Not exactly "short", in my experience, as given in the description. I am currently growing this rose as a sort of pillar which, I notice this morning, is roughly 8' tall (would be taller with more support). I imagine a free-standing bush could build with time to the same extent as 'Miss Lowe's Variety', for example, or 'Comtesse du Cayla', which are generally 8' x 12' here.
Per the paper linked below (in Table 4, beginning on the paper's page 28), this rose is triploid. I am cross-posting this comment on all others mentioned which do not already have their ploidies mentioned in their descriptions.
Also, per the same paper (p. 37), it is genetically identical to a sample of Slater's Crimson China they got from Ralph Moore: "A rose that did prove to have the same profile as ‘Slater’s Crimson China’ was the found rose ‘Ferndale Red China’ (C38), so it seems that rose has found its identity."
I don't know how precise the genetic mapping is for these things. Does that prove that "Ferndale Red China" is the same as Slater's Crimson China, or just that it's closely related or a sport?
The methods used shouldn't have any problem differentiating between close relatives, but sports would show up as being identical.
The report notes that not all specimens of alleged Slater's Crimson appear to be the same rose, so while I'd hope that Moore was using the genuine article, one should expect to encounter some which don't look very much like "Ferndale Red."
In the time when these Chinese roses were first described in Europe, they were given species names. As such, there was a belief that seeds raised from those plants would thus bear the same name, unless it was very different from the parent plant. And this is why there really is no one 'Slater's Crimson' today. Perhaps there was never just one which arrived in Europe, being as many plants had lay-overs in India, and seed could be collected and sown there or in Europe. :-) ~Christopher
After 2 full years in the ground (band from Vintage), mine has nearly reached 5' in a full-sun, in-the-open position. I do not think this rose is going to be "short". "Korbel Canyon Red", planted nearby, has nearly identical blooms, though I think the scents are different and it remains to be seen if the habits differ.
