Here is one for you to consider. Here is a link that might be useful: Dendrobium devonianum

Kim, I'm not convinced that the color was so rare- a search of Tea Roses at HMF shows quite a few that are called red or dark red, including FD's presumed ancestor, 'Souv. de David D'Angers'. The dark red color combined with the large flower probably was a real treat, though, and it sounds like the plant was a nice shape if grown in suitable conditions on suitable understock. I read the review below of 'Francis Dubreuil' from a 1906 issue of Gardening Illustrated Magazine, and felt that 'FD' was being praised for his beauty, but also subtly dismissed. The writer suggests that because 'FD' has a weak neck that the HT's 'Liberty', 'Warrior' and 'Richmond' are better choices for red flowered pot roses, and that 'Princesse de Sagan' is a better choice for mass planting of a red Tea in the garden. 'FD' is best grown as a standard for buttonhole flowers. Honestly, if I were in the market for a red Tea rose in 1906, I wouldn't have rushed out to buy 'FD' after reading this review... As for why 'FD' wasn't available in U.S. nurseries at the turn of the 20th Century, it may have been due to something fairly simple- poor marketing, problems with importation, plant losses due to weather/poor storage or some other factor(s) lost in the sands of time. Or you may be right to suspect that 'Francis Dubreuil' just wasn't a very good or useful rose, and American nurseries preferred to devote limited space to better/ more popular plants. Virginia Rose Francis Dubreuil Red Tea Roses appear very much out of place when mixed with other Tea-scented varieties at the exhibitions, but in the garden their value is justly appreciated. It is a question whether the Rose under notice of the variety Souvenir de Therese Levet is the better, but I think the place of honour is usually accorded to Francis Dubreuil. It is a lovely Rose, of exquisite shape in the bud, and of a rich dark amaranth-red colour, with a maroon shading. Its beauty is best displayed when grown in standard form. Here it will make a glorious head, if budded upon a thrifty Brier, and one may always be sure of a good button-hole flower from a tree of this sort. Neither this variety nor Souvenir de Therese Levet is seen to very great advantage as bush plants, their growth being rather too diffuse to be used as garden varieties, but upon a low wall they would be grand. Where highly-coloured flowers are appreciated several plants of Francis Dubreuil should be grown, considering the scarcity of good reds among the Hybrid Teas, and by good cultivation upon well-drained soil blossoms of great beauty may be obtained. Being a true Tea, it is as free flowering in autumn as in summer. The tropical weather of the last few weeks has been very favourable to this Rose, and I have been able to cut numbers of lovely blossoms. There is a beautiful reddish Rose named General Gallieni which is worth growing. It has a tinge of coppery-yellow at base of petals, and often pervading the centre petals, but its general effect is red. Betty Berkeley and Friquet are two other good crimson or...[bottom of the page is cut off]... but the best of all for general effect in the mass is Princesse de Sagan, which is as much a China as it is a Tea Rose. How effective are its velvety crimson blossoms, so quaintly twisted and so freely produced! Another Rose that has been splendid just lately is the Hybrid Tea Etoile de France. I have been inclined to condemn this Rose, but must hesitate in view of what I have lately seen. I am afraid that in a cool or wet season it would be a failure, but in seasons like the present it will be fine. As a pot-Rose Francis Dubreuil has one failing, and that is a peculiar weakness in the stalk, which causes the blooms to bend at the neck and appear on the plant quite distorted. Market growers have, for this reason, been obliged to discard the variety. Perhaps it is not wanted as a pot-Rose now that we have such beautiful reds as Liberty, Warrior, and Richmond. ROSA.

I think most native plants are boring and I like to collect the unusual and exotic from around the world. NO WAY...although some native plants may be boring bec. we see them too much (i.e.: New England Asters.. sorry!). Yes, I also like to grow others--not so much exotic-- because I like MANY plants. I don't really care one way or another, I just grow what I like. I do care, but I also like to grow other plants. I like variety. I think native plant advocates are bossy and annoying. Never thought of it this way... but it might just be that I don't know that many... LOL! I am just starting to become interested and would like to know more. You certainly have arisen my interest.. and would love to learn more. I have ALWAYS been interested in wildflowers (have a big collection of books), and sort of assumed they were natives. I also thought (wrongly) that natives were happier in the wild... I can identify many 'wildflowers', but don't know whether they are natives or not. Have lots to learn. I would like to know more but unsure how or where to look. There seems to be a lot of sites providing info, but what I still haven't seen is a LONG list of natives.. I would like to grow more native but unsure how to grow or obtain native plants. Yes.. but my problem is the small size of my garden more than anything else!!!!! I give native plants preference in my garden planning. Not yet!! I grow natives in my town or city gardens or borders or in my yard. I do have a few! I would be interested in getting together with other native plant lovers to share seeds, cuttings and information. As long as I don't have to drive too far I would be interested in an online native plant club. not sure I would be interested in getting together with others to promote the cause of native plants. probably not I would be interested in attending talks and lectures or classes on native plants. Yes.. again, if I don't have to drive too far. I would be interested in native plant seed and live plant exchanges. yes I think that there are already enough information and attention in this subject and any more would be redundant. Yes, there is actually a lot of info, but, honestly, I think it is hard to navigate through all the info. Anne-Marie

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