I'm really looking forward to seeing my Sydonie in bloom this June. I love the fragrance and color of the blooms.

I agree with every observation you make and it was one of my first roses to turn into a favorite (continues to be and requires winter protection but also good cane survival most winters).

I have debated with myself whether it was a portland or an HP - tended to bloom more like a portland with each bloom nestled within the leaves yet other years or repeat periods more proud of the leaves.

I moved it from my HP bed into my portland bed after a nasty varmint attack one winter after which it had to start over. Last year in year 2 after the attack it made 4 feet and now dominates the portland bed for height making me once again unsure. I see even Helpmefind is unsure and covers all bases calling it a "Damask, Hybrid Perpetual, Portland" a seedling of Belle de Trianon.

For one thing for me is it it must have next to zero damask damask in it's genes to my eyes or a genetic fluke because a true once blooming damask has no stomach for zone 3 even with no protection.

Maybe it just crosses so easy the lines. It's one of trio of HP's that sure look related to my eyes that do so much better up here than the rest of them for length of cane survival after winter the others being Mme Boll, and Enfant de France.

I just received mine from Pickering so I'm very happy to hear these good reports.

I see two different Sydonies in HMF. Is that correct and which one is this?

So you'll leave Sydonie at 4 feet?!? I did that one year. It poodled up at the top, just like a #@*! under-pruned HP with not enough foliage down below. Ever since I've pruned it harder, in the 24 - 30 inch range. Doesn't it all fall over? I want pictures.

By the way to the right of Minerva is a cane of rose du castille popping up, it actually bloomed last year but is one of those damask I struggle with - definitely no repeat on this pickering damask so it's not autumn damask. Canes barely survive with burial.

Krista sent me some lovely photos of her Sydonie - Krista, maybe you could post them here? They were great and I didn't have any of my own to post (shame on me - I intend to rectify that situation this season!)

Thanks, Riku - two more to add to the perpetual 'must have' list: Mme Boll, and Enfant de France! ;-)

Nickelsmum, I'm not sure what is going on with the two Sydonie listings at HMF, one by Dorisy and the other by Vibert, released within a year of each other. The descriptions are the same, but I go with the Dorisy because that's the one Great Lakes Roses is listed under and that's where I purchased my plant. Maybe someone knows the story behind these two?

Berndoodle, reduce its size? Oh, perish the thought!! Anything that comes through winter with green canes is to be cherished intact as much as possible! (It's a northern thing.) I did get a central cane with that "poodle top" late last year, but the rest of the plant was full and blooming right down to the ground so it did not look out of place. We'll see what happens this year...and I will be sure to post a picture when it comes into bloom.

AC

Hi, here are some pics of Sydonie, taken at a nearby public Rose Garden.

There might be more than one plant in the whole shrub pic, maybe two shrubs planted very close together... Not sure about that....

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Lovely shots, all. As I recall, mine got that way too, but after the spring flush, which was not as beautiful as it should be. Must be the impact of longer growing season. Great rose, love it.

It is one of the HP's that works down here in coastal southern Ca. Graceful for an HP, powerful fragrance and exquisite flowers. Replaced the stingy, awkward, exceedingly tall & naked Yolande d'Aragon and her monstrous sister Glendora. I have it with Grandmother's Hat and the well-behaved decent bloomer Marquise Boccella - no other HP's invited to the teaparty here anymore :(.

I'm very fond of Sydonie. All the good things said here are true.

As for Yolande, I'm planning to try it trained out as a fan against a tall fence. Has anyone else tried this? I'm not willing to give up on a rose that is so healthy (here) and has such lovely and fragrant roses. It seems to me that there must be a successful strategy available.

Glendora, also lovely, has not been monstrous for me. It is on the north side of my house and gets half day sun. Perhaps that is the reason.

And Grandmother's Hat? Here, in my climate, a truly amazing rose, and one of my favorites. I have heard reports of BS from some other areas, but I don't see it here.

Rosefolly

Even in my warmer climate, 'Sydonie' is a healthy, graceful 4-footer. Definitely one of my favorites, too!

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