Sold by K&M as Golden Holstein

Time for some lists.

When deciding on a new rose to purchase, one typically will see a picture of a nice bloom online or in a magazine or catalog. But how do you find out if it's a good rose? The Comments here on HMF can be invaluable, but the experience of others can vary by geography/location, specific garden traits, as well as grower dedication, skill level and knowledge. Consequently, I find myself reverting back to the rose's rating in the ARS Handbook for Selecting Roses.

What follows are two lists - one for Underperformers vs. the ARS rating, and the other for Overperformers vs. the ARS rating. This is reflective of my experience, in my own gardens over the past 4 growing seasons with the plants that I have. To me, "under" or "over" performance means that I would rate the rose at least 0.5 LOWER/HIGHER respectively compared to the ARS rating. Here goes:

Underperformers
– Lavaglut - ARS rating is 8.6, for me it's more like 7.6. Not a bad FL but an 8.6 rating implies greatness. This one is good rather than great.
– Julia Child - ARS rating 8.3, not a bad rose but nowhere near an 8.3 for me
– Tropicana - ARS rating 7.7, mine is own-root and it just won't take off - 7.0 rating for me. Perhaps needs to be relocated to a spot where it's more isolated.
– Barrone Edmund de Rothschild - 8.5 ARS - not a bad rose at all but more like 7.8 for me. Started to show some fragrance in 2024.
– Peace - ARS is 8.0, for me it's 7.5 at best. I have two plants, each planted in 2023. Perhaps in third year they will leap?
– Bliss Parfuma - ARS 8.4, many people love this rose but for me it's more like a 7.7. Maybe I have not seen its best yet.
– Plum Perfect - ARS 8.4 - this is a good FL but it's not 8.4 good.
– Black Magic - ARS 8.1 - good for exhibitors but for me it's 7.5 at best. Needs to bloom more.
– Chrysler Imperial - ARS 7.8 - I value vigor highly and CI lacks vigor. Have not noticed as much fragrance as advertised either.
– Electron - ARS 7.8 - just doesn't bloom enough for me
– The McCartney Rose - ARS 8.2 - like Electron, not enough blooms even though good grower with fragrance
– Silver Jubilee - ARS 8.3 - no more than 7.3 for me - I suspect my summers are too hot for this rose bred in England. Short stems are the main drawback.

Now the Overperformers:
– Oh My! - ARS 7.8 - this can be as good as it gets in roses, one of my favorites. Upon seeing the bloom visitors typically remark, "oh my."
– Royal Welcome - ARS 7.8 - one of my best - another underrated Keith Zary HT
– Rainbow Niagara - ARS 7.8 - good grower & bloomer, in cooler weather the vivid color of the bloom is unsurpassed
– Voluptuous - ARS 7.7 - for me, this may be my best hybrid tea, worthy of a rating more like 8.5 - another underrated Keith Zary HT
– Apricot Candy - ARS 7.5 - perhaps my strongest grower and one of my best bloomers
– Perfectly Red - ARS 7.8 - as good as any red - yet another underrated Zary HT. Why isn't it more available? I have another maiden bush coming this spring from WR.
– Malibu - ARS 7.1 - can't understand why this is rated so low - great garden rose - color of the bloom is to die for
– Red Masterpiece - ARS 6.9 - low rating almost caused me not to get this one - so glad that I did. This is a keeper in my garden.

What have I learned? ARS Rating is actually a good predictor of the quality of the rose - but there are exceptions, both to the upside and to the downside. You never know until you give it a try.

The winter mulch was put down a little more than two weeks ago. Simple process really - my landscaper and her crew put down 2-3" of shredded hardwood mulch over all the rose gardens. They leave me perhaps 1/3 of a cubic yard so that I can add more protection to the tender varieties (e.g. Ring of Fire, Brigadoon, and others). Everything is now tucked away nicely. The overnight low tonight is going down to 5 degrees with a wind chill of -18 due to 16-30 mph WNW winds. The artic blast will only last a couple days - nothing to worry about really.

The other new is that I am now fully retired. So, no more work or travel getting in the way of growing fabulous roses in 2025!

Mildew in Paris. Blooms are gorgeous though, and smell lovely. First year plant from Heirloom. Will spray next year.