Color is deep amber in cool weather and yellow / gold in warm weather. Plant is vigorous and free flowering. Intense fruity fragrance enhances the appeal. Only flaw is that flowers don't last long, however they shatter and don't hang on the plant.
Saw these in a rose garden in Mornington, Victoria, Australia today and was really impressed with the bushes. Loved the form and colours and they looked like prolific and healthy bushes. Was early evening so didn't get much hint of the fragrance though.
Thanks Michael. I've put the breeder of AROfres as Jack Christensen - is that correct? What is the more correct date of 'Honey Perfume' JACarque, 1993 or <2004?
Yes, and it was either stored at Bear Creek Gardens or Armstrong Roses (or both), which is where the city listed in the patents is.
HP is really void of information. HB was bred before it was tested: "Observations made from specimens grown in a garden environment at Somis, Calif., in March 1997 to November 1998. " If I had to guess, they both germinated in 1992. Mardis Gras was bred after this, and tested in 2006/7. It was probably germinated the year or year prior to Singin in the Rain won the AARS in 1995, since they had early access to it (Edmunds and Jackson/Perkins were introducing it first).
I don't see any exact date for HP. J/P was pretty typical with its information-void patents.
My gambler's guess as to what AROfres is, for this rose and 'Mardi Gras', probably Sunsprite x Katherine Loker. Sadly, there is no record of its true parentage, like many Christensen roses.
