I'm ok with a rose dying to ground but only if it has enough vigor to grow back to a nice size fairly quick...I can see why the angel of death is hovering over your Pink Enchantment...

I saw Pink Enchantment when I visited Chamblees, and I almost bought it. I think I resisted because the bloom form was a bit coarse and pancake flat, like many Kordes roses. I ended up settling on Moonstone for a pinkish-white, and I’m very happy with it.

I did get Beverly and Savannah, for me, their outstanding fragrance makes them very worthwhile, even if they are also a bit pancake flat.

Love posts like this one. I also have Pink Enchantment it is own root. In year one she grew very well with ample bloom. It does not bounce back from winter or have enough energy to bloom. What ever the reason I’ve had all I can do to resist spading it. Does it need a rootstock, hates my zone, is it my soil who knows. I have finally gotten to the point where I don’t really care. A rose works here or it doesn’t.

I’m done buying the latest and greatest. I need to let Moses try them first. :-) Only thing is At Last was a new one. Being introduced thru White Flower Farm well I wasn’t to hopeful. It’s been a rock star here.

In the years that I have been gardening WFF use to be a great nursery. It slowly went down hill until I refused to order anymore. It would be nice to here that they are turning the business around again. I can say that the roses that I received where in excellent health. In a northern garden with a short growing season health is important. Or it will barely make it thru it’s first winter.

Jim,

I have decided to remove it ASAP. In its place I have one of three choices sitting in azalea pots right now:

Chantal Merieux (one of the many cuttings that took last year and is garden ready now, the two others in the bed are wowing me...thank you Cori Ann, gold star for you)

Pretty Lady Rose (will be #2 in the rose bed, #1 is really impressive so far)

Purple Prince (suddenly appeared on Amazon and I took the bait....has bloomed very nicely in its pot = v. fragrant, rich purple, floribunda form)

I'm leaning toward Purple Prince.

Best wishes with Purple Prince! Or whatever rose you decide on...

This is soooooo reassuring a post to see, since I've been watching the protected spot where I had Pink Enchantment waiting for it to show any signs of life whatsoever. I kept muttering "but it's a KORDES rose" as I wondered what I did to insult it when planted. At least it sounds like it's not just me, and I might not need to replace it thinking it'll do better next time. It was in prime real estate for me and didn't even survive a protected zone 5, so it's unlikely to get better. There are better Kordes pink roses (like Beverly).

Now I'm thinking that Wedding Bells will get that protected spot next year. Surprisingly that one hasn't survived its second winter, though it did fine last year, so it might be only zone 5-6 borderline hardy. Still that one has earned its keep with stellar blooms and is worth fussing over with a better spot.

Cynthia

Cynthia,

If only Wedding Bells was fragrant. Maybe I will override my 'Prime Directive,' (fragrant roses only), and get Wedding Bells anyway. But I spend a lot of time sitting very close to my rose bed, breathing in the fragrances. The scents are too important to me to diminish them. Maybe if and when my old nose gets worn out like the rest of me, I will set aside my fragrance directive.

Moses

Moses I hope you did not take my post the wrong way. What I meant up above is that many of your roses seem to behave the way mine do. So perhaps I would be better off waiting a year to see what they do for you.

Patty,

Not at all! I was greatly amused! We learn from one another. It goes both ways.

Moses

Mine did not survive winter. But it was in a shady spot. Agree that flat blooms are not that attractive.

Did you know Moses, that the fragrance and the rich red, are the weakest genes in the rose family? That is why very fragrant, deep rich red roses are so rare. Meilland came up with the best red rose called Papa Meilland and he is a disaster unless grown in a greenhouse.