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My very first Veracruz Rose seedling bloom!

8 years ago

I planted some VCR seeds in winter 2010/2011 to pass the dull season, hoping for just one to turn out as pretty and fragrant as mama, but with a not-so-huge growth habit.

Mission accomplished!

It took forever to go from crowning to just this stage.

Then it was another eon to get to this:

And another decade or so to reach this point:

Then I finally, after circling around it all day on my day off (you can do a lot of circling when work doesn't get in the way, in case you're wondering), I just pried open the stubborn petals. Voila!

Smells crazy good (I know Rox wants the details), going from heavy fruity rose scent in the morning to a heavy star jasmine scent this evening. Awesome!

This is why we grow seeds and wait patiently. Even when some turn out just pretty, others will knock your socks off!

Jen

Featured Answer

jandey1
Original Author

8 years ago

Well, this one keeps getting better.

I think I'll keep it :)

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Comments (10)

David Richter
8 years ago
Jen, this is a keeper for sure. Definitely can see some VCR characteristics like that inner edge curl, but she sure is vibrant and I love that little textured part where the pink stripe fades into the orange and gold. I bet the scent is even more enticing in person as just reading about it and imagining digging the nose deep into the petals.

Good going!!
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years ago
Do you feel this is an improvement to 'Vera Cruz Rose'? I have one and it sure is a lanky grower. I just about tossed it, but then decided to chop it down, let it resprout, and try again, this time with a more robust root system.

Not sure I can tolerate 2 feet of growth, or more, in each branch before blooming.
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jandey1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, David! It's a big flower (check), great smell (check), not a huge plant so far (check), nice petal shape (check), good contrast on the colors (check)--yes, keeper!

Dave, the outer stripe color seems a bit more intense than the original, though the petals are lacking that charming point and inner ruffling so far. Hard to tell until more blooms open up.

The tree is just a hair under 4 feet tall, not fat or thin, and the growth has been steady each year. All my VCR seedlings exhibited strong growth that first year, but the leaf nodes on this are pretty evenly spaced.

The foliage is nothing special and kinda sparse, unlike the one other VCR seedling I kept. But I think it may grow a bit less gigantic. The new branches off this inflo are not even starting yet, so it will probably always grow slowly.
rox146
8 years ago
you are so right Jandey for knowing I love to know the scent. My VCR is one of my top 3...this is amazing to see....smell her again for me.
edzone9
8 years ago
Great Job !, We love growing from seed as well !

Ed
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years ago
Just outstanding! What are you going to name it?? What are your temps like these days? Sometimes I think high night temps have more to contribute to color than day temps alone.
barb13_gw
8 years ago
Great job. It would make the parents proud. :) Barb
jandey1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, Dave and Barb! I'm calling it Austin Rose, and I do feel it's better than the mother plant. More intense colors and better growth habit. Still super large blooms, though they haven't developed that famous rose scent.

This is how it compares to the others right now.
Clockwise from 3 o'clock are Austin Rose, Desert Sunrise, Austin Sunrise (another seedling of mine), Firecracker, Gladys O'Neal, Gina (which is no small bloom, either), Psycho, Austin Sunrise again, and a small Jeannie M.
ANNAMARIA VECCHIO
8 years ago
Wowwww.......Jen, you must feel so proud of such an accomplishment, it is GORGEOUS and like Rox, I loved to know the fragrance also! If you have some seeds left and you are willing to share a few, I would love to have whatever you can spare!!!

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