Very fragrant & disease resistant rose for a pathway: Bolero or Desdem

2 years ago

Please recommend a very fragrant and disease resistant rose to plant along a walkway, short to medium height. The area gets sprinkler water, and I don't spray. I searched and narrowed down to Bolero and Desdemona, not sure which one is stronger in fragrance. I have one Bolero (it followed me home a month ago from Regan nursery when I noticed the intense sweet fragrance with my mask on while walking along the isles. It was impulse buy because I had no idea what Bolero was), but I don't have Desdemona. Other suggestions welcome! thanks.

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Rose Lai (9b)

2 years ago

Michael - I am in the SF Bay and go to Regan Nursery for roses too.

I have 1 Desdemona and 9 Bolero as hedge. They both grow well here. Some differences:

1. Desdemona is the taller of the two. Although you can prune Desdemona, she is happiest around 4- 5 feet tall. Bolero can be kept at around 3 - 4 feet. Bolero is a bit slower growing initially than Desdemona.

2. Disease resistance: Bolero is susceptible to thrip damage here. If you are in a SF microclimate with lots of maritime influence, Bolero can get rust. My area has lots of morning fog and is in general very cool, even in the summer (sort of like in the City but I don't live in the City). Bolero was clean in the first year, but broke out with rust the second year. Rust is well controlled after I started to spray fungicide. Meanwhile Desdemona is disease free. I never see thrip damage either. If you end up getting more Bolero, I don't suggest using sprinkler water because of the chances getting the lower leaves wet and thus may aggravate any fungal disease.

3. The blooms of Desdemona is a bit more loose. Bolero has nicer and more packed blooms than Desdemona. They can both have a blush color in the middle during cool weather. I don't notice major differences in the fragrance. Both are very fragrant.

4. During the first year, Bolero took longer to rebloom but catch up quickly. Desdemona is quick to rebloom from first year on. Now after 4 years there is no difference between them.

Since you have Bolero already, I can post a picture of Desdemona though I never managed to get a whole bush shot because there are lots of other roses around it, plus my lemon tree pot is right next to it.

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Comments (6)

noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
They are both excellent roses, it just depends upon what you like. Bolero's flowers are more white than Desdemona's, which can be pale blush more than white, depending on the soil, fertilizer and weather. The plants of Bolero are more stocky, compact and stiffer. They are also thornier, but not horribly thorny. Bolero's fragrance is sweeter, but neither has a stronger fragrance, nor a "better" fragrance in my book. Bolero 's flowers are fuller, and hold on to the dead-heads. Desdemona drops the petals when the flowers fade. Bolero is more susceptible to thrips and drought and problems with heat (losing flower form, size, and petal count), although some people have reported that they don't have this problem. They both rebloom well, although Desdemona may have an edge over Bolero in this department in my climate. Bolero is more like a English bulldog and Desdemona is more like an Italian greyhound. Both are cute and smaller, but different.
Michael 9bNorCal thanked noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)
flowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I have both and while I enjoy both, I chose Bolero for a walkway bed, with some other roses, because of it's compact habit, form and fragrance. I have three, and they are all uniformly shaped shrubs. Desdemona is much taller, not as full - I can see through it, while Bolero is much too dense to see through) and in my zone, Des suffers some winter dieback. Bolero barely has any tip damage. Of course, you don't have that to worry about. Between the two, I prefer Bolero's scent just a tad more, but that's just me. In Desdemona's favor, she is taller, bringing her perfume right up to your nose, and her blooms open enough for the bees to enjoy. Her color is more varied than Bolero's, ranging from white, cream, buttery yellow and peachy tones, very subtly. Bolero often has a soft pink center, similar to Earth Angel. At present, for their first flush of the season, Bolero has at least triple the buds that Des has, and continues all season. Desdemona's blooms are truly lovely, just not as many, and mine has a definite pause between flushes.
Michael 9bNorCal thanked flowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
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flowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
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Noseometer, I just now read your comment and I'm still laughing at your analogy to an English Bulldog and an Italian Greyhound. Well put.
ladybug A 9a Houston area
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I have Desdemona and Bolero. I cant see desdemona as a hedge as it is not as dense and has thin canes. My Bolero has remained tiny after a couple years but is more dense.
Michael 9bNorCal thanked ladybug A 9a Houston area
Ann-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22
2 years ago
I would DEFINITELY recommend Bolero. I’m in coastal Southern California zone 10b, with a Mediterranean lake Climate.
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Bolero is an amazingly perfect rose for me in my area.
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It’s grown to about 4 feet high to say 5-6 feet wide. Perfectly round and bushy… I’ve never pruned it.
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It’s a prolific bloomer… A blooming machine for me. I have clay soil that I added a lot of good organic horse compost to... mushroom compost would probably also be great.
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I someone who grows a hedge of 36 boleros... in the Washington area.
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You can see a bunch of pictures of it here...

https://www.instagram.com/p/COQj2byhMH5/?utm_medium=copy_link
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And here...
https://www.instagram.com/tv/COGavc8HLuH/?utm_medium=copy_link
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Here’s a video of my Bolero:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/COYyWBtHSfP/?utm_medium=copy_link
Michael 9bNorCal thanked Ann-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22

Very fragrant & disease resistant rose for a pathway: Bolero or Desdem

Rose Lai (9b)

Comments (6)

noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)

flowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA

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ladybug A 9a Houston area

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