First Prize .......long + pics

20 years ago

Now this is a bagged rose picked up very late in the season reduced in price so it was a case if it grows it grows if not I've only lost a couple of dollars.

The bush itself is only about 40cms tall ( the lambs ears are starting to tower over it) and it has this one enormous bloom on it. There are minatures in front of it and some of them seem to growing taller.

The bud was just as described......vase shaped and as it opened it just seemed to grow larger and larger and at the moment fully blown the measures 60cm in circumference and 30cm across from one side ot the other.

It is almost a large as the plant itself :))

There is just the one shoot with the flower on the end so I need to know how I can encourage it to put out more branches. With only the one bloom and no other buds I have no idea if any other flowers will be a s huge as this one.

Has anyone else grown it, will it grow any taller or am I left with a midget growing a giant size head. Nice perfume but strange to look at...totally out of proportion.

All suggestions welcome.

Cathy

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Comments (14)

ginnybee
20 years ago
It is a very pretty rose indeed, I think you should pick it as it is putting all its strength into the flower, then give it a feed of rose food I wouldn't let it set another bud till it gets much bigger & stronger good luck.
Jan.
vee71
20 years ago
I grow this rose, only got it in August but it has already given me 5 flowers, not as big as yours, but good size blooms and doubled in size since I planted it. My bush is probably only about 50cm tall and 30 wide but I have seen some growing in a public rose garden and they were 1 metre high so it will get bigger. Once you remove the bloom you should see some new growth.
V
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yvonne_a
20 years ago
Grows slightly taller than average height, fairly compact shape. Huge blooms often with darker outer petals. Thorns are large on the older canes. Von.
cranethie2
Original Author
20 years ago
Thnaks for those comments.....Its nice to know it should get taller.

I did go out and pick it after I wrote the posting. It just looks enormous in the vase.

Cathy
rosesforme
20 years ago
Hi
I have had First Prize for about 4-5 years now and it has grown well.
I agree take off the first couple of blooms to encourage the plant to put its energy into its structure.
My FP is now as high as the fence and has lots of blooms.I am 5'4 and its taller than me.
It is a tall lanky plant good for fence cover.
I have planted some smaller plants under it to hide the long skinny canes!!
Good Luck with it,it loves a good prune and keep us posted on its growth.
cheers
Michelle
PS it sounds like you got a bargain!
I will post a pic of mine tomorrow of the rain eases up:))
yvonne_a
20 years ago
Well, my First Prize has been in the garden over 15 years and the canes are far from skinny - they are quite solid and chunky. Its quite spectacular when covered in the huge blooms.
Sabine
20 years ago
I have had mine for 2 years and the first year it did basically nothing, this season it sent out two basal shoots and given me about 6 flowers (hugh dinner plate size) Give it time.
rosesforme
20 years ago
Hi all

Yvonne_A
I have no doubt that a rose which is 15 years old would have sturdier canes/trunk than a rose 4 years old- wouldnt you agree?

Cranethie2
Here is the photo I said I would post.No blooms yet but plenty of growth and buds:))
{{gwi:2114936}}
The flowers are really silky and beautiful
Wishing you success with yours.
cheers
Michelle
yvonne_a
20 years ago
Very pretty picture Michelle, love all the little plants you have there. Von.
rosesforme
20 years ago
Hi Yvonnne_A
Thanks for the post .
After seeing the photo on here ,I went out and weeded like crazy all around FP and everywhere generally.
I didnt realize that the weeds had taken over to that extent:))
Michelle
yvonne_a
20 years ago
Nice to see you young ones enjoying gardening so much! We have a grand-daughter named Michelle!

Von.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photo of Precious Michelle in our rose garden
User
20 years ago
Hi Cathy thats a nice looking big rose you have there, and even better
when you get it at a bargain price, I dont have that one growing, plenty of other pinks though.
I know it has only been a few days since you picked it, but have you see any new growth
After all the lovely rain you have been having down there..Cheers..MM.
rosesforme
20 years ago
Hi all
Yvonne_A
The photo of precious Michelle is lovely.
I should get it seeing as my name is Michelle!
I have a rose called "Megan" after my daughter 15 yrs and we have Named "Just Joey " after our son Jonathon 10 yrs
I am keen to get the Childrens rose as well.
cheers
Michelle
cranethie2
Original Author
20 years ago
Here we are again, been busy and only just got back to this particular forum. I think I'm all set for an hours look around and always get interupted :(

The huge picked rose is starting to look a bit blah in the vase. All the edges of the petals have a sort of frosted look to them which is quite strange.

Anyway - after all the rain and sunshine and warmer temps as well as a feed and drink of various concoctions - 'kill or cure therapy' - the bush looks as though its putting out little side shoots. May be my imagination but there are little green tufts along the one single branch and also on the main trunk. So who knows, maybe there is life in the poor wee thing after all.

Its good to read that it should get taller - not sure about the 5' part - it was really wet when I planted it and didn't want to venture into the middle of the bed so it will have to have a new spot as at the moment its right near the edge of the bed! The main trunk is thick and very thorny so I will be interested in how the rest of it turns out.

Thanks for all the replies and will let you know later in the season how it progressed.

Cathy

Always next winter to do a bit of housekeeping and rearrange the furniture I suppose.