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New roses from Heirloom, any experience with these

16 years ago

I just ordered some roses from Heirloom before their 10%off sale was over. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with any of these roses?

Louise Clements

Alec's Red

Portlandia

Star of the Nile

Pretty Jessica

Well Being

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Comments (8)

olga_6b
16 years ago
From your list I grow Louise Clements and Star of the Nile. In the past I also used to grow Alec's Red.
I really love both LC and SotN. They are not no spray (BS)roses, but otherwise they are almost perfect in my opinion. Fragrant, very free blooming and both grow into round attractive bushy plants. Easy to manage in the garden and exceptionally beautiful. They need time to reach their mature size. I think LC was a slow starter in terms of bush size, but always bloomed well. It is approx 4x5 feet for me with regular spring pruning when I take approx 1/2 off. SotN is bigger bush, probably 5x6, with the same type of pruning in spring. Both are always admired by visitors, very unusual color of blooms. SotN is more fragrant, but LC flowers are also fragrant, just the fragrance is moderate, but very nice.
Olga
dublinbay z6 (KS)
16 years ago
Pretty Jessica is a sweetheart. Smaller plant with big blooms! I've only had mine one season, but it had decent rebloom and no serious disease problems. I'm really looking forward to her second and third years.

I haven't grown Well-Being but practically swoon every time I see a pic of it. Big fat gorgeous yellow blooms with a slight flush of red around the outer edges. One reason I haven't bought it, however, is that when I inquired here on the forum, no one could assure me it was even somewhat disease-resistant. I don't remember anyone saying it was a disease-magnet, but a rose has to rate better than just "average" to get into my garden. It sure is beautiful though.

You've got a nice list there. Pics in the spring so we can enjoy them also?

Kate
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I don't agree Rosefolly. VID or VI are terms, I believe, for roses indexed at UC Davis. The Florida Southern program does not use that terminology (according to what Malcolm Manners has posted on the web). There is at least one other program that does testing at least (is it Washington State??? I forget). Do they use the VI or VID labeling? Also, if a nursery has all their roses indexed, does that mean each rose must have an individual indicator label on it? And if so, why should they use Davis' terminology if the rose didn't go through the Davis system? Pickering virus indexes their roses but they have no VI or VID shown on individual plants in their online catalog. What about nurseries that received plants from more than one virus treatment program? List the Davis-sourced ones with VI and what then for the others? What about nurseries that didn't get some treated and/or indexed roses direct from the organization that had the program? Should these indirect sources be trusted that the rose really did go through a particular system (not necessarily which one is even listed as is the case sometimes with Vintage)??? But as to what you've received, with virus symptoms from Heirloom, I would ask you which rose (s) was it? And secondly when (what year approximatley)? I think this matters and is actually important to know. Was it last year, 5 years ago, 20 years ago or? Heirloom was beginning their rose mosaic virus program back in the early 1990s, and what they were doing was right there described in their catalog. Just like with any company that has a warranty on a product, that doesn't mean that the product can never have a problem, what is important is what the company does about the failures, not only as to a replacement, but also how they work to prevent them in the future. I give high marks to companies that make the effort to improve their products, and also to those that disclose how they are doing so. Heirloom I feel should be praised for taking on a huge task (with so many US roses infected with rmv), at no doubt considerable expense, when many others chose to do little or nothing (even when the market was booming). That means that various rose nurseries let places like Heirloom do the heavy lifting and bear the burden of cost of testing/treatment, while they could sit back and rest on their laurels. I think it is really unfair to criticize a business that has actively sought to produce only rose mosaic free roses when this criticism benefits the nurseries that didn't help. I have to wonder if more nurseries had a policy, decades ago, such as Heirloom's that many more roses would now be in commerce rose mosaic virus free. There could have been cooperation with one nursery testing/treating a particular rose or roses and another nursery doing others. I think if this had happened, the rose-growing public would have benefitted and become more educated. I think there would be less acceptance of virused roses and in general healthier, longer-lived roses on the market. As we've heard, from Malcolm Manners and others, roses that are clear of rmv perform better than those that are infected. How much of the difficulty in various parts of the country have gardeners had because they've bought virused roses and then been disappointed at the lack of vigor or extra care required? What about replacements needed? If sickly roses are the starting point, will people continue to buy a faulty product? Just IMHO but I think the lack of wide scale participation of rose nurseries in rmv programs has been a contributing factor in the loss of popularity of the rose as a garden plant. Melissa
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Heirloom Roses is really grating on my last nerve. I already have an order on the books for spring delivery. I emailed them over the weekend to add two roses that were on “sale” to my existing order. The online system wouldn’t allow it and I tried calling but their office is closed on the weekend. The following Monday I get this bullsh*te response: ”Thank you for your inquiry. We cannot add to the existing order as our system will not let us. The sales prices are over, so you can either wait until we have another order, or you can place a new order online. Any order over $50 will get free shipping. You can create a new order online and then set it for the same shipment date as the other order. Thank you! Sincerely, Crystal” My previous order already qualified for free shipping, I wanted to add two more roses which combined also qualified for free shipping, but what if I only wanted to add one rose? I would have to pay additional shipping. However, that’s a moot point if they don’t honor their own sales prices. To pour salt on the wound, I’ve been able to make changes to my orders in the past. I don’t appreciate having my arm twisted to order more overpriced products just to buy some roses from them, and having multiple boxes shipped increases the chances of plants getting delayed or lost in the mail. I also don’t appreciate getting spammed 2-3 times a week by fake sales emails advertising fake “new” introductions. They are destroying the joy of getting mail order plants with their greedy grubby little hands. I personally won’t miss Heirloom Roses if they go out of business. It’s becoming too aggravating to buy roses from them, and I refuse to reward bad behavior.
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phylrae
16 years ago
We have been growing Star of the Nile and Well Being for several years. They are two of my absolute favorites of the 80 we have. They are both absolutely exquisite. However, ours came from either Roses Unlimited or Northland Rosarium (both being our only own-root sources). Your other rose choices look beautiful too!
:0) Phyl
mike_in_new_orleans
16 years ago
I only have Alec's Red from your list; just got it last summer. But I already love it. Small, compact bush, but big full blooms that last a very long time. Lots of petals, reminding me of a bourbon or something. It's a sort of coral red, but not at all orangy to my eyes. I rather like the color. Aside from the great bloom-life/vase life, the best feature has to be its awsume fragrance. It's right up there with the very best!
Molineux
16 years ago
From your list PRETTY JESSICA is the only cultivar in my collection. You really can't go wrong with this rose. She is one of the shorter English Roses topping out at three feet. Growth habit is nice and bushy, exactly what you'd like from a smaller antique rose. Really pretty plant and like Kate wrote has large blooms that nicely show up from a distance. The flower form is absolutely perfect. Flowers aren't just pretty, their gorgous. The color is a soft ethereal lilac on the other petals blushed a richer cherry pink in the middle. Stems are strong and straight. Vase life is good. Repeat bloom is reliable. David Austin has had disease issues with this rose in the U.K. but here in the states she has better than average resistance to black spot, powerdry mildew, rust, etc. Best of all the intense Damask fragrance is so strong it will reach out, knock you over the head, then drag you by the hair into a giggling state of rosy euphoria. PRETTY JESSICA is one of the great hidden treasures of the rose world. You made a terrific choice.

Patrick

Images of PRETTY JESSICA by CelestialRose-z4/NH.
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agility_mom
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks to everyone. Those pictures of Pretty Jessica are beautiful. This is my kind of rose!
Fortunately, I don't have to worry about too many diseases here. So I don't even look at disease resistance when picking out a rose. After all there has to be some advantage to putting up with these 110-120 degree summers;)
gnabonnand
16 years ago
"... the intense Damask fragrance is so strong it will reach out, knock you over the head, then drag you by the hair into a giggling state of rosy euphoria ..."

That statement is priceless. If that doesn't make a person want this rose, then there's something very wrong :-)

Randy
judith5bmontreal
16 years ago
I had already made my orders for next spring, when one day I read Patrick's description of Pretty Jessica - and I just had to have it. The photos from Celestial Rose clinched the deal for me. I called and added it, even though I will have to dig out more perennials to fit her in! Love the description of her scent - exactly what I'm looking for LOL
Judith

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