It's a dark ruby red on our acid clay, I finally have a bloom!!! It seems to be the favorite of the herd of deer that run through the yard. The bloom is about 3 inches across, and has a light to medium scent of sweet rose. Very healthy, no blackspot in cool weather. Twins, the Lens Hybrid Musk, is planted next to it, and the deer ignore that one.

I am certain there is a good reason for this rose being described as a hybrid musk, but by any measure that nominative is a big stretch. Shrub, yes. But hybrid musk? The parentage is certainly interesting and varied -- polyanthas, floribundas, shrubs and even one hybrid musk in the distant background (Eva) -- but hardly points to the hybrid musk designation. I guess it's all up to the breeder, and Tantau thought the overall appearance of the shrub was more like a hybrid musk than anything else. This certainly defines the limits of the name and suggests that it is more a catch-all category of Pemberton, Bentall and Lambert derived creations than anything else.