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Colors! Princess Alexandra and Lady Elsie May

11 years ago

Well, I'm convinced...and your pictures on Garden Web helped convince me...I ordered BOTH Leonardo da Vinci and Princess Alexandra of Kent roses! Now, to place them....would they look good side-by-side?

The color of Princess Alexandra seems to be somewhat similar to my Lady Elsie May rose (which is coral-pink, a pink on the orangey side.) Maybe it would go there? What do you think?

And anyone who grows Munstead Woods...what colors does that go well with? Light pink? Or...? I would be interested in your thoughts on what color combos work well together with either Munstead Woods or Princess Alexandra.

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Comments (3)

dublinbay z6 (KS)
11 years ago
Myself, I would be cautious about trying to match shades of pink without actually seeing the roses blooming right in front of me. Even then, it could still be tricky since the shade of pink on just one bush can vary (sometimes a lot), depending on the weather and growing conditions.

On the other hand, contrast can be quite dramatic. Munstead Wood would look terrific with light pink. Would create a most dynamic effect. And a light pink would go well with the medium pink of Princess Alexandra. You might consider, for instance, Austin's Sharifa Asma--gorgeous pastel pink/white blooms, graceful shrub (kind like Leonardo or Princess Alexandra, in that respect). Sharifa would contrast wonderfully well with all of the above--and if inserted between Leonardo and PrincessAlexandra, would help bring out the individual virtues of each one rather than blurring them together side by side to each other.

However, you would need to spray for BS, I think, with Sharifa. For a more disease-resistant pastel pink/white you might try something like the floribunda Easter Basket (about 3' x 3') or maybe Austin's Queen of Sweden (about 4' x 3')--although its vertical habit may not work in well with the more graceful lines of the others.

Just some thoughts. Hope you plan on taking pictures so we can all enjoy the results.

Kate
nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
11 years ago
Hi vickysgarden,
Where did you get Leonardo? I still don't know of a source for him. I will be planting Princess Alexandra this May, though, and am really excited about it. I also had Munstead Wood special ordered for me by my favorite local nursery and the order couldn't be filled. It's such a popular rose, I think, and the order didn't go in soon enough. So, I'll either try David Austin, or try again next year for Munstead Wood. Diane
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nothing like that. The ladies are in my front foundation beds which are kinda neat. However, an old spreading yew is in back of them. I recently pruned it big time cause it was really getting big and taking a lot of sapce. I suspect its roots are sharing ladies' space. Darn Hmmm... more food? remove big old yew? the yew will like the food too.
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who has grown princess alexandra of kentP
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Comments (25)
SJN, I have both PAK and Sharifa Asma. My temps in the summer get to be about the surface of the sun. My PAK came through like a champ. She gets full sun and is in direct line of hot afternoon sun. She also sits in front of my house which is a very creamy white. Needless to say, she gets the reflective heat off of that as well. Plus we are on water restrictions, so she only gets watered twice a week when the temps can be over 112 degrees and cools off at night to say 85 for two seconds before reaching 95 plus again. She is on her own root and this was her first year. Here are some pictures. Her flowers are gorgeous and HUGE! In cooler weather, they were bigger than my hand! She also makes a good cut flower compared to other Austins. She is one great rose! This is her in June when she was a baby. By the time December came around she was over 6 feet tall. This is a picture around Thanksgiving. Sharifa Asma is also a beauty. I do love that rose and the scent is to die for. She is not overly fond of heat however and I get about three flushes of blooms on her for the year. She doesn't produce when it is hot. I have her in full sun and I think she might enjoy a bit of afternoon shade. She stays very small and mannerly for an Austin, about three to four feet tall and about three feet wide in a well rounded bush. Let me see if I can find some pictures of her.
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Lady Elsie May
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Comments (3)
Well it is a triploid hybrid wichuriana... only seldom sets seed (so it doesn't really need dead-heading). Slightly above average as far as disease resistance (but not my definition of excellent here in TN). Will get about 3' x 3'. It's more of a shrub than an upright form so it may get slightly too wide for a container- but I guess some judicious trimming could take care of that, though :) All in all, I have it in a tough spot that would kill most other "normal" roses and it has survived. IOW it's about on par with the hybrid musks and other species hybrids.
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Lady Elsie May
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Comments (7)
Mine was new last year and seems more of a coral color than yours. It did well in its first year and seems to be really taking off this spring. Carol
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vickysgarden
Original Author
11 years ago
Diane, I ordered Leonardo Da Vinci from Heirloom Roses. It is an own-root plant. Munstead Wood I had to order directly from David Austin. I have gotten some of my David Austin roses on ebay, though...they have some interesting ones at good prices listed right now.

Kate, thanks for your suggestions! I like the idea of a pale pink next to Munstead Woods. I have a pale pink rose, Quietness, which I may move to place next to it.

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