I LOVE THIS ROSE!

That said, you really need to have the space for it.
It is a huge, wonderful thing, and I've never had anyone come into the garden and see it who was not fascinated by the different forms and colors of the blooms, from one plant to another. It is also right at the top of any list of "most-disease-free" (not disease-resistant. Disease-FREE) roses in my garden.

Jeri Jennings

I have Forune's Five Colored Rose coming this week from Ashdown. It may or may not be the same as Smith's Parish. Malcolm Manners told me Smith's Parish can be kept pruned to a smaller size if you like. I wouldn't go below 5 feet or so, but I won't have room for anything that requires much more than a 6 or 7 ft. spacing.

I bought it because of the unique color changes on the bush, but I'm thinking it is one of those roses that will cause delight only when viewed at close range. I think our gardens need a little of the "hidden treasure" aspect-something that will make you smile as you work in the garden. Sort of like seeing a little frog or bunny peeking at you.

However, if this rose does not do that for you then you will resent taking care of it. I fully understand that feeling! Maybe you can find someone who would love to have it.

Sandy

Hi, Carrie,
I have what was tagged as "Red Smith's Parish". I purchased it from Bonnie's Greenhouse in Waco. Last year, I, too, was unimpressed. But just wait. This spring it knocked my socks off. It was literally covered in blooms. I must say that it gets to be very large, mine is probably 5 by 5 and only the second year. However, I think it can be pruned to a manageable size. It is pumping out blooms again after the first flush. I hope this helps you some. Vicki p.s. The blooms are also larger this year.

I have this one too from Ashdown, bought this spring. I think the whole idea of this rose (I've read it is referred as 'it 'throws' an occasional red petal') is fascinating! I've been wanting to get it for years. Mine is small, but I'm hopeful! Fun and always unexpected, you never know how the blooms will come out.

To see pics of some of our roses and other recent rose-y landscaping projects, ck out my Picture Trail:

careytearose

Here is a link that might be useful: look at the Favorite ROSES we grow, and Landscaping Projects 2007 albums

No one has mentioned fragrance. Does it not have one? I can't smell it, but that isn't saying much. Non fragrant roses don't stand a chance in my garden.
The blooms are kind of cool, I haven't seen a red petal yet, but lots of the blooms have a red stripe.
I hate to be so quick to judge a plant, but I am starting to resent the water given to roses that I don't love.

Carrie,

Life's too short to keep roses we don't like. Sometimes we can't explain why not, but since we garden for fun, we should keep only what truly makes us happy. The guilt over wasting money is usually short lived when we replace with a rose we really, really, like. I'm not likeing how Souvenir de la Malmaison is in my garden, so I may replace it with Madame Antoine Mari. I'll probably put Souvenir in a pot for awhile to help with the guilt.

Sandy

Sandy, Ashdown's FFCR is 'Smith's Parish'. I do wish they had not changed the name...

We have a hedge of 17 of them on our campus, alternating with 17 'Red Smith's Parish', and I have used it in several places in the landscape of my church -- both situations need large-growing roses, and groups of them at that. For those purposes it is perfect. As has been mentioned, no disease, ever. It also does ok on its own roots in Florida, at least for 5 years (that's the age of my oldest ones OR so far.)

Certainly, it is a landscape rose -- lots of color from a distance, creating a nice "blob" in the landscape, and almost never out of bloom. And when you do get a striped flower, that's interesting up close. But generally, the white flowers are not very interesting individually, up close. Certainly growing it with the red form adds interest, in that the red form also comes in a whole series of colors, from medium pink through blood red.

I'm going to have to stick my nose into one this morning -- I don't recall ever noticing a fragrance.

Thanks for all the info Malcolm! The red form sounds much prettier, but is hard to get. The venders that carry it all seem to be out of it whenever I try to order.

Can the size be kept somewhat under control?

I figure if I get at least 5 years out of a rose I'll be happy since many are unavailable at this time grafted. From what I've observed, quite a few of the boring green shrubs typically grown in Florida never seem to thrive much past that anyway. At least with a rose there is some enjoyment in growing it.

It sounds as though Smith's Parish can be a bit on the bland side. Oh well, maybe it'll be kinda neat to watch for a color change.

Sandy

I had one when I lived in Florida. I got it at Giles, and it was on fortuniana. I finally ended up shovel pruning it. While I loved the light green leaves and how healthy the bush was, and it grew like mad, it hardly bloomed for me. I was completely unimpressed with the one I had. Normally it's just my type of rose, so it was really hard to give up on it.

I had absolutely no luck with several tries at growing Archduke Charles either, so maybe I've got a selective brown thumb. :D

Allison,

It was so nice to hear some enthusiasm for this rose. I was feeling a bit discouraged about having spent the money on it, but I feel better now. I'm glad you mentioned how nice you have found it to be as a filler in a vase of roses. I mighnt never have thought of using it that way.

Sandy

Yay!
Glad I convinced you to give it some time!

Allison

I'm glad too! This is one of the roses I'd hate to be without. I like it so much that I have 'Grandma Schmidt,' which is the solid pink sport. Gramma occasionally throws a red bloom, so she still keeps some variety. Ans she's as disease-free as the original.

Jeri

Jeri, there's one around this area that folks just call "Red Smith's Parish". I got one, it is still pretty tiny, but I would not say the blooms are red, but a clear rosey color, pink to rose red maybe, nice little double or semidouble blooms. Is this your "Grandma Schmidt", you think?

Nope.
One of the bloom form/colors we get on our Smith's Parish is a semi-double pink, close to the color of Hermosa. Jim Delahanty isolated a stable sport of that form/color and registered it as 'Grandma Schmidt.' I think Ashdown carries it.
'Grandma Schmidt' will pull a red bloom from time to time, but mostly it is the pink. Very pretty. I can't believe I don't have a photo of it handy!

Jeri