'Sweet Arlene' rose reviews and comments

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'Sweet Arlene' rose Reviews & Comments

My HMF:

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Discussion id : 127-093 most recent 19 APR 21 HIDE POSTS

Discussion id : 127-092 most recent 19 APR 21 HIDE POSTS

Discussion id : 17-417 most recent 11 APR 09 SHOW ALL

Initial post 19 MAR 07 by HanfordRose

This is the MOST FRAGRANT ROSE to ever grow in any of my gardens. That includes the bigger varieties too. The plant is vigorous and make healthy, shiny foliage topped off by gorgeous, soft lavender blooms. The flowers have plenty of petals and beautiful form that lasts for several days. This is definite a must have for anyone who loves fragrance and/or lavender roses.	REPLY

Reply #1 of 10 posted 12 APR 07 by Unregistered Guest

Hi! Sweet Arlene looks very lovely, and I can't get enough fragrant roses. Can you categorize the fragrance? Do you know if Sweet Arlene sets hips? That would seal the deal for sure!	REPLY

Reply #2 of 10 posted 13 APR 07 by HanfordRose

Categorize the fragrance? Hmm? Strong, more damask than fruity...certainly not spicy...just heavenly sweet. Hips? Yes. Fat hips are produced which contain fat seeds. Enlarge the second photo in this section, which shows my hand with a spray of large blooms. If you look closer at the stems in the background, you can see a few of the hips on the stems (upper left and lower right of the photo).	REPLY

Reply #3 of 10 posted 13 APR 07 by Unregistered Guest

Thank you for the reply! Sounds like SA is a "must have" for me. Those hips look good. Have you germinated any SA seeds? I'm a dabbling with breeding, just starting out, and this looks like a sweet avenue to pursue. HMF doesn't say anything about the parentage - do you have any info you could share? I was wondering if she has Angel Face in the background like my current favorite mini-flora, Something for Judy.

Reply #4 of 10 posted 24 FEB 08 by Unregistered Guest

Reply #5 of 10 posted 24 FEB 08 by kentucky_rose

Reply #6 of 10 posted 24 FEB 08 by HMF supporting member

RoseBlush

I have grown both roses and love them both. Sweet Arlene had the stronger fragrance and beautiful ruffled blooms, but I think Violet Mist is the stronger plant. This only based upon my personal experience while growing the roses in containers in southern California. If I had to choose between one or the other, I would go with VM. As for diseases and insects, I didn't have problems with either rose. Bloom production was great on both roses. Vase life ? I would say that VM has more substance in the petals of its blooms, so would have a longer vase life. I don't really cut flowers for indoors since I have cats that manage to upset any and all vases I put out.

Smiles,
Lyn

Reply #7 of 10 posted 25 FEB 08 by Unregistered Guest

Having grown both of these roses in the ground and for many years, I can truly say that Sweet Arlene makes blooms that are more fragrant, have stronger substance to the petals and definitely last longer on the bush or as cut blooms. I love both of these roses which my Mom created, but I chose Sweet Arlene to be among the first roses that I put in my new garden in Hanford. Only the best of Mom's roses have a place in this garden. I would put Sweet Arlene in my top 10 roses. That is saying a lot, when you consider that I have grown more than 2500 different varieties. This is a 'must have'; Violet Mist is a 'maybe later'. : )

Reply #8 of 10 posted 25 FEB 08 by kentucky_rose

Reply #9 of 10 posted 25 FEB 08 by HanfordRose

My top ten mini or mini flora roses would be:
1. Ultimate Pleasure
2. Irresistible
3. Yantai (could be #4)
4. My Sunshine (maybe #3...They are both great.)
5. Magic Carrousel (or Rosy Dawn, it's baby. Either of them is great; but only one is needed for a small garden)
6. Sweet Arlene (I told you it was great!)
7. Kay Denise
8. Cheer Up
9. Herbie
10. Grace Seward...or maybe Roseketeer...or maybe Rowdy Roy...or maybe Think Pink...or maybe...well. You can see the problem, when you ask a old rosarian for her top ten.

In the bigger varieties, I am passionate about Sombreuil, which never should have been reclassified from OGR to plain climber. A Dowager Queen has been insulted by this reclassification.

I also have a bizarre love for the species rose, Rosa Chinensis Viridiflora. What's not to love about a truly green rose with a mysterious past?

Among the floribundas, I adore Gene Boerner, Sonia, Red Gold, Playgirl, Playboy and Angel Face. However, French Lace is my favorite in this class, though I have allowed Iceberg into my garden as a tree rose. Those great, white Floribundas do make great garden displays.

In the HT and grandiflora classes, I have several old loves, like Futura, Aquarius, Double Delight, Rio Samba, Blue Nile and Gold Medal. If I could grow only one, it would be Kardinal...no...Bonnie Jack...or maybe New Day. Yes, I know New Day makes terrible centers; but it was my first Queen of Show; and it made a couple of trophy winning centers...just for me. : )

I haven't grown most of the newer big roses, because I was limited pretty much to minis from 1986 to 2001 by my ownership of a mini rose nursery. My new hubbie and I only have a small space for growing roses now, so minis dominate.

I hope that this helps answer your question.

Reply #10 of 10 posted 11 APR 09 by anonymous-261803

HanfordRoseThank you so much for all the valuable information. As I plan my rose garden, it helps to know what's on the favorite's list of an experienced rosarian. Also, I appreciate the 'insider' comments on these roses.	REPLY

Discussion id : 14-075 most recent 17 SEP 06 HIDE POSTS

Initial post 17 SEP 06 by digger

We got Sweet Arlene in May of 2005. I did not think I would like her. I thought the pale color would end up looking gray. Deb had to have her. I'm glad she did. SA has become one of our best minis in a short time. I have even caught myself comparing her to our very best mini. Never thought that would happen. Excellent, fragrant mini. SA is a bloom factory for us.

Edit: Deb and I did a survey in 2006. We wanted to decide which of our minis had the strongest fragrance. I knew it would be Sweet Chariot. Strange thing happened. When we cut a single bloom and got it away from the rest of the blooms, Sweet Arlene was the winner every time.

Dave