Well now, isn't that a respectable display?! Seriously, Jeri - that's spectacular. And to think I almost threw this out as a seedling, because it didn't flower in its first year (I assumed it would be a once bloomer)! This just might be the best thing I've bred, when all is said and done. Thank you for sharing the great photos.

Incredible! I don't it would do that in my neck of the woods, but after seeing these pics it's worth a try! ))

This has to be the supernova of roses, not only for its vigor but also the ability to bloom so many months out of the year and apparently it's very fragrant too. I've never heard of disease problems, either.

I literally just sat here and stared and stared at your photos, Jeri. WOW doesn't even begin to describe my reaction. Okay, Paul, I was just waxing on about your Gallicas on another thread, and, on a completely different thread, telling a Texan that if I still lived in that region I'd surely grow Licorice Tea. But Mel's Heritage! You have truly outdone yourself. I never thought I'd say that any rose rivals Marianne and your amazing purple Gallicas, but Mel's H may have out-Bardened all the other Bardens! I have absolutely no room in my garden for this rambler, but I don't care. Between Jeri's photos and Lisa's, I am completely and certainly convinced that I must grow it. I will find a way even if I have to grow Mel's H on the roof! Carol

Ingrid,

It is indeed very fragrant - that typical Wichurana "green apple-ish" scent that roses like 'New Dawn' and others of similar pedigree possess. I don't know if its impervious to disease, but its noteworthy that in my climate (disease heaven, at least for the first half of the year) it gets no disease whatsoever. Not many roses in my collection I can say that about.

Of course, its far from perfect - its lax growth habit makes some training mandatory, and it's not suitable for cold climates - but I'd like to think this one has a chance of remaining in gardens (and nurseries) for many years to come.

Carol,

Thank you, you're very kind. I hope you can find a space for 'Mel's Heritage'. If you have 2 square feet somewhere and you can plant a flagpole with the rose, at least you can train it UP! I know you'll be charmed by it!

Carol, I actually think MH would look pretty awesome growing over a shed roof or any other for that matter. There's a thread going on a cottage climber scrambling over a roof and this rose would definitely suit the bill were it hardy to Z5.

I just ordered an arch as an early birthday present to myself. Now to track down Mel's H and to figure out where the heck to stick another arch! Carol

Jeri, those photos are beautiful! I’m so excited for my own ML and it’s possibilities. I just put it in the ground, and am planning to train it up and over our swing arbor. So, a couple questions...is that just one plant? And how old do you think that one is? I planted ML centered behind the arbor, thinking it would spread and cover the whole thing by itself. (Based on Lisa’s reports on how he wanders.) Thanks!! :-)

Paul -- There's also the incredible fragrance. And the total disease-resistance. We sent a bunch of folks off looking to buy it, after smelling the blooms Jill brought.

Jeri, I am not surprised. It has a very captivating scent when you bring it indoors!

Yes. It does require some training. And after this bloom, Clay's going to cut it back at the bottom (it would like to crawl along the ground in the general direction of Malibu). And yes. HERE, at least, it is totally disease-free.

So, I really wanted you to see it, and I'll put all these photos on HMF.

A few more.

Amazing!

How wonderful!

What a fabulous rose! Jeri, those pictures are amazing.

Spectacular! Maybe I could find a place. How thorny is it?

Stephanie -- Reasonably prickly ... but not as bad as its next-door neighbor, 'Sombreuil, Cl.'

I wish I had taken a picture, but it has been fabulous here in southeast Texas, too.

Jeri or Paul, I have a question, does it set hips, please say "YES"

@David: Not in my experience, no.

I have never seen any hips on it, either, but whose to say its pollen doesn't work? I haven't tried that.

It’s gorgeous, Jeri! Mel’s Heritage is the best rose ever, IMO. Do you have to do a lot of cutting back to keep it from covering other roses, and anything in its path? I’ve been rather lax about cutting mine back, only cutting out what threatens something else. The canes I haven’t cut, show no signs of stopping.

In my climate, Mel’s Heritage would need pruning at least monthly, to keep at 8F, no exaggeration. I’m sure it‘s because it absolutely adores my climate and soil. I’ve never seen a hip on mine, either. I initially thought Mel’s Heritage wasn’t very thorny, but they’ve increased along with his size. From late March-December, I can always count on some blooms. What a rose, and what wonder pictures of it! Lisa

We cut it back if it gets in the way (as in, on the steps up to the street). And periodically, it needs to be restrained at the bottom, where it wants to creep along the ground, headed for Malibu. And, one day, it will likely need some genuine pruning. But to the greatest degree possible, we leave it be.

Jeri,

Those are amazing photos! I just got this rose due to you and Lisa's photos of it!

How many Mel's Heritage plants do you have and how old are they?

Is there just one on the arch in the first photo?

~Sjn

Holy Cow. Amazing, Jeri -- and Paul.

Thanks Paul and Kim, not sure how you place the "thank you thing" under comments

David, only the OP (person who starts the thread) can do the "thank you". The rest of us can only "like".

Or write, of course!

Paul, just wondering, you mention it doesn't like cold climates. Any idea how cold is too cold? Would zone 7 be okay?

Sultry -- We got only one. We had 2, but shared the other. I don't think I got room for 2!

Wow it IS BIG then lol.

Hey my little band that didn’t get planted out till maybe September is popping back up! Cold zoners you don’t know till you try :). I think it was Lisa’s pictures last year that enabled me. Will probably be a shorty here but that’s ok.

I LOVE hearing that more and more of you are trying out Mel’s Heritage! I sure want this rose to be around for my children and grandchildren, as “Mom’s/Oma’s favorite rose”, should they ever be interested. Lisa

Mel’s Heritage is one of the finest roses I have grown. Seeing your pics, Jeri, sends a thrill through me. Thank you for sharing spectacular pics of a truly outstanding rose.

It’s now 5 years since I lost mine and I still grieve for it. Seeing the lovely blooms at the Celebration made me realize how much I miss it - I have decided to get it again. I hope it’s easily available- I should have asked Jill about it.

I trust you have been able to get some rest after your hectic weekend, Jeri, and that you have recovered from your ordeal!

Jo

Jo -- Burlington is listed as a source. :-)

Oh good. I will email her. Thanks Jeri.

This rose is fantastic. Does anyone know how it does in south Florida with our nematodes? Does it need to be grafted onto Fortunia rootstock? I have never grafted but willing to take the plunge to get this rose into my yard.

Its vigor is overwhelming, so it wouldn't need grafting for that reason. As to Nematodes . . . I can't say.

However, Rose Petals Nursery offers it, so I think Cydney would have a pretty good idea about that.
https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=17.19045

And as one parent is Crepuscule, I'd guess that it really should love the climate.

You know, that IS interesting... Florida "needs" roses budded on Fortuniana, yet RP, one of their premier sources sells own root..

Nematodes are a real problem for roses in south Florida. Cant really say about north Florida. We treat roses as biennials as they only last a couple years before the roots just give up. Most roses have to be grafted on Fortuniana or Banksianna rootstock for this reason.

I have a RP Mel’s Heritage, just in the ground about 7 months but doing well so far.

Florida has such diverse soils, dependent upon where in the state you are. I’m in NE FL and very fortunate to be near a river bank, so we have more organic matter in our acidic sand than most. I also pile on the OM at every opportunity. But folks in NW FL can have heavy red clay.

I’ve been experimenting with own-root, Fortuniana, Dr. Huey and Multiflora for that reason, because I think, as I’m sure it is in other states and other gardens, it’s really dependent on your own little pocket of soil and your microclimate. So far, everything is performing as expected; own-roots are much slower than F., but more wind-stable. Dr. Huey needs lots of food and seems slow too. Multifloras are in pots, to go in the ground next month, but did better in the heat of the summer in pots than I thought they would.

The only way to know for sure is to try it! :-)

A Reverence for Roses (ARVR) also sells own-root roses. They're in Hernando, Florida, which looks to be just north-west of central Fla.

1. She is on top of my wish list. For a few years now.... It`s there any hope for this beauty to come to Europe?

Soncna -- I wish I thought there was -- but regulations are pretty draconian.

"She is on top of my wish list. For a few years now.... It`s there any hope for this beauty to come to Europe?"

I seriously doubt it. Unless someone comes to the US and hand-carries a plant of it (with appropriate paperwork, of course) to Europe, then its highly unlikely to find its way to you. As Jeri stated, the regulations are quite prohibitive now.