Enhancing the scent of Austin roses

15 years ago

Are they any tips for enhancing the scent of David Austin's roses? Maybe adding something to the soil? Companion planting? A certain type of fertilizer.

I'd appreciate any tips anyone may have.

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Comments (10)

gnabonnand
15 years ago
In my garden, I've found a good way to enhance the scent of any of my roses. I just move my large container with Duchesse de Brabant growing in it close to any rose and voila, the finest scent begins emanating from that area! I do love that rose, including its fragrance.

Seriously, I haven't noticed any change in scent based upon what I've done to the soil around the rose, but I do love the combination of rose and basil scent mingling together. Especially when the breeze blows the leaves of the basil and the rose against each other. It's fantastic.

Randy
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years ago
Adding a couple of pints of Guinness to the gardener does wonders.

Seriously, time and good culture. The larger, stronger and more established the rose is, the more energy it has for producing fragrance.
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@Paula Steiner scented rose blooms last a shorter period of time compared to those with no scent. If you have read of a rose having a "heavy petal substance", that was code to exhibitors that the rose would last a long time when cut and likely be suitable for exhibition. Scent is either expressed by the petals or the stamen. In modern roses, it's mainly the petals. The oils and alcohols which comprise scent arise from "petioles", pores on the petal surfaces. These oils and alcohols are very chemically active and heat up to allow for the scent to be expressed. Petals with heavy "substance" have a heavy wax surface or skin which covers the petioles, preventing any possible oils and alcohols from reacting and becoming scent. If you want a cut flower which lasts a long time in vase; can withstand a lot of handling and endure shipping, you want the heavy petal substance (hence, lack of scent) so your product arrives in good shape and lasts a long while once received. Yes, there are florists who sell scented roses, however their fragrant blooms do NOT last AS long as cut flowers as those possessing no scent. Yes, there ARE "florist" and "exhibition" roses with scent, however, they do NOT last as long cut as those without scent. What's the use of a rose that doesn't smell like a rose? A commercial product you can actually advertise will arrive in a good retail shape after shipment; which will endure being worked into a floral arrangement and be in retail ready shape and last a week to ten days in a vase if properly cared for. Or, a rose you can cut at 3 AM from the garden in the dark; shove in an ice chest and drive several hours to a rose show, then abuse and molest it to look the way you desire and last in less than ideal conditions until judges finish picking it apart.
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We've grown about a dozen different Austin roses and the best for rebloom, strength of scent, and large blooms are: 1. "Tamora" one of my favorite Austins, creamy peach. 2. "Mary Rose" damask rose scent, medium pink, scalloped petal edges gives it a ruffly appearance. "Mary Rose" blooms 3 to 4 weeks earlier in spring than does our "Heritage", is healthier, and produces more flushes each year. "Mayflower" was very healthy but not as pretty as Mary Rose, and has moved to a friends' garden. 3.Pink "Gertrude Jekyll", to my nose, has the best fragrance of any Austin. Deep rich Damask rose scent. Healthy plant. Lux. P.S. "Comte de Chambord" an old garden rose, repeats more than any of our Austins, is healthier, and is very fragrant, of damask rose.
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PlantLady, have a look at the pics in my post in this forum... think it's the same one? Here is a link that might be useful: my pink rose
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Comments (8)
I think some companies say in fine print that they can substitute roses. I was surprised to read that on some online websites. It is a very unique beautiful looking rose, and rather a nice surprise but disappointing to have no scent, I'm sure. I found this link that looks just like yours and says it is an Alnwick https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/296558/#b but I saw a lot of other photos of Alnwick that look nothing like this. Hope this helps.
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melissa_thefarm
15 years ago
Yes, I don't have any tips, either--actually, it's an interesting question!--but lavender and pinks are great rose companions, both for sight and for scent, if they'll grow in your garden (I bet they will).

Melissa
jimska
15 years ago
Hi newbie, had a Falstaff that I absolutely would not part with because the first year I had him, he had the most amazing scent of any rose. Rasberry with something else, simply amazing but years 2&3 had a faint to no scent at all. Was about to SP him until my Grandma mentioned that if you cut up white onions into slices and bury them in a circle around the rose it would make the rose smell again. Tried it, and sure enough, had a very good medium scent. Did this in the fall, tranplanted it and killed poor Falstaff. Got three more this year, hope it helps.
Jimmy
blendguy
15 years ago
sorry... just a note... onions are toxic to dogs, so do be careful about spreading them around a garden when a dog might decide to snack. :)
jumbojimmy
15 years ago
Onions are toxic to dogs? I didn't know that. Thanks for the advice.

I've also heard that lilium bulbs are toxic to cats too.
jimska
15 years ago
I'm always surprised by what I learn on this forum.
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
15 years ago
Me too. I had no idea Guinness made roses smell better. I really needed a reason to buy another case. Thanks Hoov.
bamabutterfly
15 years ago
I read onetime an article (somewhere) about this country where they grow tons of roses for perfumes and they plant garlic around the roses to make them produce a stronger scent. I would like to try it one day, just to see if it works.
jimska
15 years ago
Funny you mention garlic bama, was going to try it in the next few days. Figured if a stinky onion works, why not a much stinkier garlic bulb.
Jimmy

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Enhancing the scent of Austin roses

Comments (10)

gnabonnand

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

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melissa_thefarm

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jimska

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