Darlow's Enigma was named by Mike Darlow, who found it in an ole lady's yard in Oregon. The ole lady mentioned that the name was something like ___________ (the talk from a very experienced Oregon rosarian is that the old lady said "something like Cascades"), and Darlow couldn't remember the name she said. The enigma is this rose's real name. As for the scent, I can smell it when I drive by the plant, which is right by the entry gate to my yard. The scent is nice, detectable from 10 or 15 feet on a warm day (or maybe that's just the size of the damned plant!), like many Hybrid Musks which are actually Hybrid Multifloras. I would rank it a 7 on the scale of roses whose scent wafts on the air, a different process from scent you get when you stick your nose inside the bloom.

I actually did look at both the burkwoodii and the delavayi but I was trying to frame a planting area with one on each side and the structure of the former just seemed to fit the space better. I suppose only time will tell if I made the wrong choice :-) I did look at the delavayi again today when I went to by my Lion's Head "pony tree". I have a long way to go on this project and I'll have some places for it. jb, It's a work in progress :-) This little spot sits just off the pond and the combination of the humidity from the waterfalls and the mixture of various fragrances, is definitely a welcome respite at the end of a long hard day on the road.

I have Darlow's Enigma, and would be happy to send you cuttings. I just went out and looked at it. There are a couple issues. I have never taken a cutting, so not sure how. Like do you want a whole cane? Tips with buds? Your first bush grew from a 4" cutting, so is that what you want? I guess you are aware that Darlow's Enigma has more thorns than most, right? OUCH! If I send them, how do I wrap them to keep them alive? I guess I could spray the aphids off prior to shipping, or did you want some California aphids? My Darlow's doesn't get the attention I give the others because it's not a cutting rose, so it just stays over in it's corner, minds it's own business and grows! Mine is a 2 year old plant that was about 6" tall when I bought it from some online nursery, and this year it's putting out some huge canes! I could also send you cuttings of Blush Noisette. It's similar, and has pink roses, but not as thorny. I hope both of them will eventually climb up my palm trees. Suzi

Hi Tony, I have been looking for this rose. Hard to find. I am very interested in the rooted cuttings. How does this work? Cornelia