Tell me about Heirloom & Melody Parfumee

9 years ago

I'm a sucker for lavender and mauve colored roses and these two cultivars consistently show up on best purple rose lists. I'm thinking of growing one of these with JULIA CHILD and MOLINEUX, but having never grown either HEIRLOOM or MELODY PARFUMEE I thought I'd solicit some feedback.

Is their fragrances as phenomenal as advertised? Will the flowers harmonize with the English Roses that predominate in my garden? What is their growth habit like? Are they vigorous? Do they grow well own root or should I go with grafted? Do they repeat bloom quickly? Disease resistance (I do spray with Bayer)? Are they hardy in zone 6b/7a? If I missed something say so and please feel free to wax poetically if you really love the rose(s).

Thank you,

Patrick

Image of Heirloom by Herbert at Hortiplex.

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Comments (7)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
9 years ago
I have Heirloom own-root and have been very happy with how quickly it grew and began to bloom. To my nose it does have a lovely fragrance. Unfortunately I planted it where it's too hot and have just now moved it to a spot where it gets only morning sun. It may be a case of going from too much to too little sun but I'll just have to wait and see. I'm not in your zone so can't really give you good advice, and don't know the other rose, but I imagine its color would go quite well with a yellow rose since the purple color is not at all loud, although it is deep.

Ingrid
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buford
9 years ago
I have Melody Parfumee. It definitely lives up to it's name, it is very fragrant. The blooms can range from mauve to a medium dark purple (not as dark as the Prince, but pretty deep). It has an upright HT bush and bloom form. Mine was BS free for the first year, but since then I've had to spray it.
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boncrow66
9 years ago
I bought Heirloom 3 years ago own root from Chamblees and it hasn't grown very much so I moved it to a different area this year and it is doing a little better. I am going to give it another year and see if it will finally take off. It has beautiful purple blooms but unfortunately my nose cannot smell it's fragrance and mine tends to get black spot.
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ratdogheads z5b NH
9 years ago
Melody Parfumee well deserves its place in the best of the mauves list. Mine is new this year so can't yet vouch for hardiness. The fragrance is heavenly. The flowers are quite large. I don't know if this will sound right, I find some very large blooms sort of vulgar, however to my eye Melody Parfumee has a refined character despite the large size. Blooms begin with a classic hybrid tea form, then open with reflexed petals revealing the stamens. The stems are strong and hold the flowers upright. I suppose it would make a nice cut rose. The color is just a hint warmer than my other lavenders - Blueberry Hill and Love Song. There is a faint stippling, very attractive. Great rain tolerance. I don't know Heirloom, but from the photos I'd say Melody has fewer petals.

First year growth habit is more hybrid tea like than some grandifloras, though I know maturity may change that. This is a very vigorous grower. I got it from Edmunds and as usual they shipped it way to late for bare root planting. All of my Edmunds roses struggled, some failed, Melody Parfumee shot up to 4 1/2 feet and had two strong bloom cycles...all in partial shade. With growth this vigorous I'd have no hesitation trying own root.

I spray with Propiconazole (Honor Guard). Even with a regular regimen many of my modern roses show varying susceptibility to black spot, especially when planted in partial shade. Melody Parfumee is perfectly clean.

It looks great next to yellow. Mine is beside Sunshine Daydream and they're remarkably alike in bloom form, growth habit, and foliage. I think it might be a little too tall and leggy next to Julia or Molinieux but it would do well behind.
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michaelg
9 years ago
'Heirloom' is highly susceptible to blackspot and powdery mildew but would be OK with a good fungicide. The plant I used to observe had a full, bushy habit and was vigorous without being unduly tall. Flowers had loose form but excellent fragrance. Probably it is still one of the better mauve roses. People are saying that 'Posiedon' has some disease resistance. If so, it is the first.
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the_bustopher z6 MO
9 years ago
I have both of them, and both need to be sprayed. Melody Parfumee gets to be a very large bush and normally has quite a few flowers. Both varieties are fragrant. Heirloom appears to be more sensitive to late frost damage in the spring although both are affected.
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bethnorcal9
9 years ago
I have both and MELODY PARFUMEE is far superior to HEIRLOOM. In my climate MP grows up as high as 6ft sometimes and the blooms go thru a wonderful range of shades and tones of mauve, lavender and magenta. The form is much more pleasing to me, whereas HEIRLOOM's is more loose and informal, and it blows way faster. It's not one of my favorite roses, that's for sure. Scent-wise I couldn't tell you. I don't really go for the smell factor; I like the visual effect best. Truth be told, tho, I do seem to remember HEIRLOOM having more of a scent than MP. At least as far as mine go....
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Tell me about Heirloom & Melody Parfumee

Comments (7)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

buford

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