Need opinions on this J&P test rose... is it Sugar Plum?
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
Related Discussions
Damson Plums (yesterday's harvest)
Comments (59)rockfarmer: I know they're not the best (or even close to it) nursery around, but at the time I paid I think $6.98 ea. for all the trees I've got from them...now their prices are as high as quality nurseries. As far as the varieties available they are exactly the same now as they were then (4-5 years ago). I would never recommend ordering from them, but contrary to reports here my experience with their customer service was very positive and I have a great plum tree from them. So all in all, I probably got what I paid for. Also, ALL the free trees I got from them (little tiny sticks) ALL grew and grew well, they were also ALL correct in their identity. I gave a free red maple they sent me to a buddy and it has since grown to a beautiful tree. To buy a red maple of that size and quality ( size it is now) from a good nursery would cost you at least $150. So, they have a place and I think generally try to do a good job....See MoreLegacy of J&P
Comments (39)Jackson and Perkins, IMHO, is a model for what went wrong with the rose industry. I don't blame only them for this, but they were the "face" of roses for decades in this nation, and they were responsible for leadership (or a lack of it.) The public perception that "roses are hard to grow" (at least any rose aside from Knockouts) is a direct result of years of trading research and honest effort in for marketing and making a quick buck. There is no excuse for the endless parade of hybrid teas that fall victim to blackspot, the claims of "hardiness" from roses that are not at all hardy in cold climates, or even the lack of own-root roses or alternate root stocks. I can forgive a company for trying to introduce new products vs. just selling classic, unpatented rose varieties, but when the new roses have the same problems year after year for decades, that just points to a complete failure on the part of the company. People have put up with much more nonsense from rose sellers than they have with almost any other garden product: "hardy" roses that are not, "disease resistant roses" that fail to resist any real disease, and so on. Is it really any wonder that the Knockout roses have so effectively replaced all other roses? Why? Because they actually deliver what is promised, and most folks are so shocked by that concept - a rose that actually grows as advertised - that they will only buy that variety for fear of being lied to yet again. While Jackson and Perkins may have at one time been a boon to the industry, they ended up being a perfect example of what went wrong: marketing trumped quality, and we were all left with dead, black-spot covered roses as the result....See Morenew J&P roses
Comments (22)This years J&P Test Panel has actually been pretty good in my opinion. I have already stated that I love Summer of Love and Malibu from it and they are definitely keepers for me. As for the other two, the jury is still debating but for the most part it is good news as well. JACdrama, the red/white stripe has bloomed once so far and they were pretty nice but could have a little tighter form to them. The color,size, and fragrance were nice. I hope the form tightens up and that the rebloom is good. If so, I will definitely find a spot for it in the garden somewhere. JACelvet, the dark velvety red, was super slow to break dormancy. I am telling you that it took a good 10 weeks and I thought at about 7 weeks it was about to dry up and die. In a side conversation with the J&P rep one day when they called to try and get an order out of me, I told her of my concerns with it. She offered to send me another so I let her and three weeks later a second one arrived. Lo and behold the very next day my original plant broke dormancy like gangbusters and has done a nice job of catching up with the rest of them. The second JACelvet bush they sent broke dormancy that very first same week so now I have two very good growing JACelvet plants. The bushes are growing vigorously and have started blooming. The blooms could use another few petals to fill them out but the form is decent with good petal shape and petal substance that makes them last a long time on the bush. the color is excellent. Many times first blooming cycles end up with fewer petals on the blooms than what I would like but most times that is one thing that will definitely improve with a little more age and maturity of the rose bush. I truly think this will be a keeper as well and this will be a good rose when it matures. All four bushes have had very good disease and insect resistance with my usual spray program that I use on all my 225+ roses. They've had no disease or insect problem at all even including the nasty little thrips I get each and every springtime. All of the potted bushes were growing well until I sprayed a new amendment item I bought on-line on all my potted roses including 18 mini's on my back deck and my pot ghetto where the test roses are currently growing. The stuff left a greasy,waxy, gray residue on them and stunted the growth of the big roses and almost killed my mini's by defoliating them almost completely. Thankfully they have all rebounded as the stuff has been wearing off of the leaves and the bushes are putting on new foliage growth. This little tragedy slowed the growth on all my roses but they are coming back and I cannot fault the roses for this as it was definitely my fault for spraying them with the stuff--Liquid Karma it's named. Maybe I got the quantity wrong, but I don't think so. I sure won't use it again, that's for sure, so I just wasted my good money for nothing. For the person who asked, all the test roses that J&P is sending out are own root. I was surprised at first by this as o/r hybrid tea roses for me have generally not been very good growers especially in the first year. However, these have been the exception both last year and this one. last years test roses grew and bloomed well and continue to do well this year too. I am condifent that these test roses will do the same. J&P has done a commendable job of carefully and correctly selecting o/r roses that will do well without being on an understock like Dr. Huey which is what they generally use on most of their roses. John...See MoreRoses I want to have.....need opinions
Comments (11)I have had my Shiela' Perfume for four years. I really like the blooms initially as they have nice color and form and also have a very strong but nice fragrance. The only problem is they only stay pretty for a couple of days. If you want to cut them for a vase, do it early so they stay a pretty color. The Shiela's Perfume bush is vigorous growing and winter hardy enough and seems to stay relatively disease free. Overall, a pretty good rose I would say. Paradise is new to me this year and has been outstanding from the onset. Vigorous and disease free growing and lots of beautiful flowers. Sheer Magic, Southern Belle, April in Paris are also new this year and so far have been very good roses that I would recommend to anyone. All were started bareroot in pots and broke dormancy well before transplanting to the garden bed where they continue to establish themselves. Southern Belle and April in Paris were part of the J&P Hybrid Tea Test Rose Panel this year. That is why I buy them every year. I have already ordered the Lovestruck, Enchanted Evening floribundas, and also the grandiflora Dream Come True from J&P for next Spring. I think that the pictures of the new J&P offerings for Spring 2008 are some of the best I have seen from them in years. I only hope I haven't been duped and end up with a bunch of duds! The Mardi Gras floribunda and the Dream Come True grandiflora look especially inviting for their excellent color combinations. John...See MoreRelated Professionals
Allentown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · La Marque Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lakewood Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Owings Mills Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Saint Matthews Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Finneytown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Matthews Landscape Contractors · Arden-Arcade Landscape Contractors · Garland Landscape Contractors · Melrose Landscape Contractors · Ridgewood Landscape Contractors · San Pedro Landscape Contractors · Tacoma Landscape Contractors · Waterford Landscape Contractors · West Haverstraw Landscape Contractors- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDESGarden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter
Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom
Full Story
ARCHITECTUREHouzz Tour: Modern Plays Nice in a Historic Houston Neighborhood
Subtle modern details make this new home stand out from its elderly neighbors without disrespecting them
Full Story
EDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops
This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESThe Hidden Problems in Old Houses
Before snatching up an old home, get to know what you’re in for by understanding the potential horrors that lurk below the surface
Full Story
EARTH DAY5 Ideas for a More Earth-Friendly Garden
Consider increasing the size of garden beds, filtering rainwater and using plants to reduce energy use
Full Story
COLORS OF THE YEARPantone Has Spoken: Rosy and Serene Are In for 2016
For the first time, the company chooses two hues as co-colors of the year
Full Story
PETSHouzz Call: Send in the Design Cats
Post your best photo of your cat at home, in the garden or with you in your studio. It could be published in a featured ideabook
Full Story
FRONT YARD IDEAS10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
Choosing attractive, well-mannered plants and sharing the bounty will go a long way toward keeping the peace
Full Story
FUN HOUZZHouzz Quiz: What Color Should Your Front Door Be?
Think you’re hip enough for orange? Or optimistic enough for yellow? Take our front-door personality quiz and find out
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDES5 Decor Trends to Try — and 5 to Rethink
Some style trends are worth jumping onboard. Others you may want to let fade from your memory
Full Story
Krista_5NY