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'World War II Memorial Rose ™' rose Reviews & Comments
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I just noticed that this rose was bred by Ollie Weeks near the end of his life (1912 - 2002). I clicked on his plant archive in HMF and the list was not as long as I was expecting, considering he is the illustrious O. L. Weeks, founder of Weeks Roses. Ollie and wife Veronica sold the company in 1985 to the current ownership, and Weeks Roses has gradually built up into the powerhouse it is today. But apparently he kept on breeding, (notably in partnership with Herb Swim); he also bred many roses post-1985 under his own name. Ironically, WW2M was not released by Weeks Roses in 2000, but rather Conard-Pyle Star Roses. Interesting history!
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#1 of 3 posted
7 OCT 23 by
 Lee H.
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I started growing this rose in the spring, and have been well satisfied. I also started his namesake 'O.L. Weeks', this year and it has been a stellar performer, considering it started just 6 months ago as a $9 Walmart body bag. It does not seem to be widely distributed, but has been a blooming machine for me. Nice dark velvety red, long lasting, unfading blooms, and incredibly vigorous. In fact, as of this (late in the season) minute, it has more blooms than any other rose in the garden. But mine is now over 7 feet, so it may be better classed as a Grandiflora.
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Lee, I'm glad your WW2M is doing well. Mine took off in its third year, I think mainly due to more sun exposure and the addition of root stimulator to my feeding regime (see prior thread). Now I'm going to look out for O.L. Weeks, especially since you speak so highly of it!
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On the subject of O.L. Weeks, he had a longtime collaboration with Herb Swim, there are many roses they created together as Swim and Weeks; HMF has a list if you go under Breeders and type in Swim and Weeks, the most famous being Mister Lincoln. Then there is Oklahoma, Angel Face, Perfume Delight, and Arizona, among others.
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Hi! I don't know if you still have your body bag WW2? Mine was also a body bag, and it struggled along in a smallish container for a couple of seasons. Season 2, I was putting it in shadier areas, thinking it needed protection from the high desert NM sun. But this season, I put it in full, all day blistering sun, and started giving it root stimulator solution, along with the regular feeding regimen I give all my roses. Well, that thing started to produce with a vengeance, and became one of my most productive roses. I think that the body bags benefit greatly from root stimulator, because they have inferior roots to start with. I've used this technique on 3 of them this season, and they all quickly became robust and productive. You might want to try this on your WW2 if you still have it. I buy a gallon jug of Fertilome concentrate each season and use it on all my new roses, transplants, body bags, and band roses from High Country Roses and other vendors. I believe it makes a noticeable difference. I give it about 3 times in the first season, spaced out. The first two applications about 2-3 weeks apart, and then about 1 month later. Miracle Gro Quick Start is also a good root stimulator, but it's more expensive.
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I posted several pics of this rose this season, because it has been such a champ for me. The only issue I had with it was a tendency for some (not all) of the foliage to crisp up at the edges during the extended high temps period, where it was 98-105 degrees for 2 months straight. I just looked up the lineage, and with Paradise as a parent, that is not surprising, as THAT rose's foliage has a notorious tendency to fry in heat. That said, WW2 foliage is MUCH more resistant. I think having it in the ground (as opposed to a small container), where the plant has more defenses would avoid this happening. I do love the color. As another reviewer said, it's haunting. I would also describe it as magical, ethereal, and delicate. It glows at dusk and dawn. And I always appreciate roses that are tough and hardworking in the challenging conditions of high-desert New Mexico! 10/6/23, Albuquerque NM, Zone 7A, Hot and Dry, No Spray.
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This rose has such a strong scent and equisitely unique color I thought it must be difficult or everyone would have it. Wrong. In LA it has 25 blooms on it today (Oct 21st !) and has out performed 80 % of my roses all season, even thoough it's only 3 years old. Long vase life and no disease. It is a little thorny. Wonder why this one has not caught on?
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Thanks for the info. My two Blue Girl roses are stingy after the spring flush.
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