Scents worth buying & comparable scents?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I no longer miss Jude the Obscure (died 3 times through my zone 5 as own-root). Well-Being and Parfum de Paris are the 2 best scents purchased from LongAgoRoses, each gives 30+ buds this year as own-roots. Well-Being scent is comparable to Jude the Obscure: delicious tropical desert. But Well-Being has prettier colors and doesn't fade like Jude, plus lasts longer in the vase. Well-Being gives me 10 times more blooms than Jude.

Parfum de Paris scent is way-better than New Zealand scent. It's honeysuckle plus old rose, its scent lasts until petals drop. Gave 30+ buds after bought as tiny band this May. Below pic. taken Sept 15:

Comte de Chambord, Radio Times, Betty White and Sonia Rykiel are worth buying for the scents alone, these 4 are the top 10 among my 147 fragrant own-root roses. Below bouquet has Comte de Chambord on left, Betty White in the middle, and Radio Times on right. Blue are Poseidon:

What are some roses worth buying for the scents, what are some comparable scents, what are some scents that last long? THANK YOU.

Featured Answer

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

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Every nose is different, but here are a few that I think are worth getting for their fragrance, and comparable roses.

For me, Alnwick Castle is worth getting for its strong raspberry fragrance. It is much, much stronger than Rouge Royale (although Rouge Royale is still a baby in my garden), and stronger and much more raspberry-like than Sonia Rykiel in my garden and to my nose.

It took me a few years to appreciate the scent of Boscobel. It is a unique scent in my garden, although I've smelled a couple of other roses in other gardens that had a similar fragrance. It is definitely not a traditional rose fragrance, and to me smells like cherry LifeSavers. I think it was Benjamin Britten that has a similar fragrance (but not identical).

I agree that Radio Times has a particularly lovely fragrance. The rich fragrance reminds me of Pinot Noir in that it has a deeper rose fragrance with woody notes. One of the best ever and worth getting for the fragrance alone.

Desdemona is one that I haven't seen people comment on the fragrance much. But for me, it is worth getting for the fragrance alone, since it is always present, no matter what the weather. It smells like lemonade and Hendrick's gin. I can't think of any other rose with a similar fragrance.

I've raved about Scentuous, so I won't say any more other than that it is worth growing for its Maker's Mark Bourbon fragrance alone, even though the beautiful flowers don't last very long. 3 days at the most.

I'm not very fond of the color of Dee-lish. Or its name for that matter. Or that it burns easily in the sun. But I can't get enough of its rich grapefruit fragrance. I want to smell it again, and again, and again. So it is one that I do grow specifically for its fragrance, and not its beauty.

Like many, I would grow Mr. Lincoln for his silky rich fragrance, but it would only be for his fragrance, since the lanky awkward bush and flower color would not fit anywhere in my garden. Chrysler Imperial gets a similar comment.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (129)

strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Sharon: Lowe's stocked Perfume Breeze last year in all states across USA, and this year it's Home Depot in 2-gallon pots at $25. Perfume Breeze is old rose and musk and the scent floats more than 30 feet away in a group of 5 pots at Home Depot.

Many years ago I bought 14 roses from Burlington Rose in CA, and her band is 1/20 the size of the huge 2-gallon pot of Perfume Breeze at Home Depot.

Annie L. has a better scent than Lyda Rose since I fertilized it with chicken manure. I didn't fertilize Lyda Rose with chicken manure (I used MG-Soluble for roses).
rosecanadian
last year
Berrypie - that's cute. :) :)

Straw - I can't wait to smell blooms from my Perfume Breeze!
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
Related Discussions
The subjectivity of scent
Q
Comments (28)
The sense of smell is directly connected to the sense of taste. If you loose the sense of taste, the sense of smell goes too. I believe what is perceived as a bad smell is a built in protection against eating poison, infected waste matter or rotten food. Personally I like very hot foods, such as hot peppers but many do not. I also like vinegar, most anything that has been pickled & started asking around & discovered many people who like hot peppers also like the smell & taste of vinegar. I wonder if the different ways people react to smells is based on their tongues & taste buds? Why do some like hot while others cannot take it? The worst smell around here is the stockyards. It smells like burning fat & hides with rancid overtones that just smells greasy. I grew up in a refinery town & that smell never bothered me & still doesn't. Most people find it absolutely awful so maybe when you are exposed to a smell considered bad by most as a child, a bit of nostalgia or familiarity sets in? The best smell was the time I went to Phoenix & the Orange Blossoms made the entire city smell like Jasmine tea. Of all the wide ranging odors I've run into that still wins #1 as the best I ever encountered. It did smell better than a refinery town, I must admit. I like medicinal smells in plants and most woodsy smells like patchouli, a favorite. I hate any perfume with musk, the really sweet ones----some women nearly gag you with over doing it, the worst is to have someone come up & give you a hug then you're stuck smelling it the rest of the day. Thanks a lot. This post was edited by TexasRanger10 on Tue, Apr 1, 14 at 14:25
...See More
Marie Pavie's scent?
Q
Comments (6)
Myrrh is a very distinctive scent, and to my nose MP smells nothing like it. That said, I am not very good at recognizing all the nuances of rose scents. I haven't smelled raspberries, or wine, or any of the other scents accredited to various roses. All I smell is roses, or in the case of moss roses, balsam and in the case of Ambridge Rose, that distinctive "myrrh" scent. I've never smelled myrrh personally.
...See More
Scented geraniums on steroids !
Q
Comments (4)
If the ones in the ground were from pieces of your potted plants then it doesnt matter which ones you use for cuttings, theyll be the same plant. it does sound like the ones in the ground are probably getting more nitrogen from the soil than your potted ones and thats why the leaves are so large, it can also depend on the amound of light and they can get larger leaves if they are too shaded. they are very easy plants to root (as youve found when you put the pieces in the ground), they dont need any hormone powder or special anything to get them to grow. if your cuttings are rotting then most likely you are overwatering them, you really just need to keep the soil moist but not wet, and dont be afraid to let them dry out slightly either. the cuttings do like some warmth and strike roots much quicker, so you might be best to keep overwintering your plant, do the cuttings in spring and then even save one of those new plants to overwinter the following year just so that you dont end up with a woody old thing that youre trying to get cuttings off.
...See More
Scented Plant Questions
Q
Comments (52)
Green or is it Dale? As far as choosing a reputable online nursery. Well, there's always GW...asking people if they ordered from 'x' nursery and their opinions. Second..have you heard of Gardenwatchdog? You can check a nursery's feedback there. Go to www.gardenwatchdog.com click on first letter of nursery, scroll down until you find the name, then click...99% is honest feedback. Shipping...It's true, there are shipping charges, 'sometimes free shipping though,' but unless a nursery happens to be in the state you reside, it's tax-less. Our county tax is, if not one, the highest in the US. Some people on Ebay offer free shipping, others charge a small fee..Of course, there are some sellers who take advantage, charge over-priced handling fees. Those I avoid. Also, there's hundreds if not thousands rare plants you can only find online. Never locally. A very BIG plus buying online. :) Nope, you're not cheap, you're cautious. These days, you must be careful. One reason it's best finding reputable nurseries..where people you've talked to shopped or checking Gardenwatchdog. Mike, I believe we got our Ag's around the same time..definately, same month. Yours arrived a few days to a week after mind. I think it was Robert who got me started w/Ags..it's all his fault..lol. j/k. Toni
...See More
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
last year
last modified: last year
1 that isn't often mentioned is violet's pride. Beautiful rose fragrance that lasts when cut as does the rose itself. However it is prone to spot in my neck of the woods
strawchicago z5 thanked Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
rosecanadian
last year
I love Violet's Pride. :)
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
Steve_M in PA
last year
Violet's Pride is a good suggestion. It's a very pleasing scent, though I wish it was stronger. And the plant has great foliage and a nice compact form. I had one last year, but it died over the winter.

Angel Face is a nice one for scent - strong, sweet, and sort of citrusy. RIP likewise.

I have 2 Lady Emma Hamilton in pots now. The first blooms in my garden so far. Really nice scent! Rose-y, but sweet and fruity as well. Smells like a fine dessert. :) Not super-powerful so far, but maybe that will improve over time?
strawchicago z5 thanked Steve_M in PA
Sheryl May 8a
last year
We bought a vacation house in Tuscany in January. I went back in May to find this surprise growing over the guesthouse! The scent is heavenly and can be smelled from several feet away. Sadly, I don’t know what it is.
strawchicago z5 thanked Sheryl May 8a
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Sheryl May 8a: The leaves and blooms look like Golden Celebration. Your climber looks fantastic against the wall. Golden Celebration has a strong scent, one bloom can make the entire room smells like a cross between a florist shop and a bakery. Scent smells like lemon cupcakes fresh from the oven.

My 12th-year own-root Golden Celebration is small in my zone 5a, but it's a climber if grafted in a warm climate. Golden Celebration is a sparse bush. Mine is in 4 hours of sun only.

Yellow Golden Celebration blooms are large, over 4 inch. across. Left is Radio Times, and right is Christopher Marlowe:
Alana8aSC
last year
I miss my sprawly Christopher Marlowe. I am going to have him again one day.
strawchicago z5 thanked Alana8aSC
rosecanadian
last year
Sheryl May - Holy Hanna!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!! I'm gobsmacked!!

Straw - lemon cupcakes fresh from the oven!!! Oh, drool!!! Those 3 roses look fantastic next to each other and are delicious looking!! They are so fluffy and absolutely beautiful!! Oh my!!! :) :)

Steve those are lovely descriptions of fragrance. :) :)
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Purple lodge is worth buying for its warm & spicy old rose scent, the scent if 10 times better than Twilight Zone and Big Purple. So I choose below bloom of Purple Lodge:

OVER the below bloom of Big Purple, grown in a dinky pot last year. Big Purple smelled good only in cold fall for the 9 years I had it (8 years for the 1st one, then I bought a second one).
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Below Kordes Summer Sun's scent is similar to Christopher Marlowe, but its gaudy color hurts my eyes. The scent is crisp & fresh (carnation and lemon) and is stronger in intensity, than Louis Estes (light scent to my nose):

Sonia Rykiel's scent is pure deliciousness, on the same rank as Jude the Obscure .. both makes my mouth salivate. When my daughter was in grade school, she wanted to eat Sonia Rykiel's bloom since it smelled so yummy. Rabbits love to devour Sonia Rykiel's leaves (even the leaves smell like raspberry rose).

Below Sonia is on left, Evelyn is on right, and top right is white Bolero. I would rank Sonia Rykiel as twice better than Evelyn's peachy scent. Bolero trails behind (smells like waterlilies). Bolero is best as wafting scent if there are lots of blooms.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
last year
Im going to be pretty bummed if my sense of smell doesnt return. I could barely smell Memorial Day and it is a very fragrant.
strawchicago z5 thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
oursteelers 8B PNW
last year
Kristine that would make me really sad too. Fragrance is a huge part of gardening for me
strawchicago z5 thanked oursteelers 8B PNW
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Kristine: I'm so sorry & hope your sense of smell returns. Aromatherapy, such as sniffing essential oils (lavender helps with sleep) are used to stimulate scents in those with Covid.

My sniffer is strong since I never have Covid, and I'm never vaccinated either thanks to my 2015 flu-shot reaction (worse than child birth with vertigo).

I sniff lavender oil & peppermint oil & camphor oil daily during ragweed/hay fever season for my stuffy nose. It helps with nasal congestion.

NOW brand is best, Walmart's essential oils (from China) were discontinued due to bacterial infection. Years ago I test-sniffed those oils at Walmart and it stank badly, so I didn't buy it. NOW corporation (based nearby in Illinois) lost over a million dollar with Chinese scamming them, so NOW does less business with China.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
last year
last modified: last year
Good idea Straw. My husband had a perpetually stuffed up nose . That might help him as well.
strawchicago z5 thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
seasiderooftop
last year
@Kristine LeGault 8a pnw I really hope your sense of smell comes back soon!

@Sheryl May 8a that yellow climber is wonderful! Such a profusion of blooms and the sunny color is perfect for the location.

Best wafting scent roses in my garden are Darlow's Enigma and the corner with Autumn Damask and Comte de Chambord. I can't tell which one of those two it is that wafts like that since they smell so similar, or maybe it's the combined power of the two?

One of my favorite rose scents in my garden is my Teasing Georgia, her scent it puts a smile on my face every time I smell her. It's not the strength of the scent so much as the cheery, fruity, summer-y nature of it.

A newcomer in my garden this year is Rosomane Janon. Somehow the fragrance is described as mild on HMF but it definitely is NOT mild, I don't know where they got that. Guillot (the introducer) lists her as strong. RJ is a Generosa which are known for their scent. Her grandparents are Abe Darby and Versigny. Her fragrance is a strong, complex fruity/ old rose scent, and I am in love with it.
strawchicago z5 thanked seasiderooftop
rosecanadian
last year
Straw - GASP!!! Your Sonia is exquisite!!! Absolutely gorgeous!! I really love your Big Purple bloom!! Too bad the fragrance isn't what you had hoped.

Kristine - I'm really rooting for your sense of smell to come back. Hopefully, the essential oils that Straw suggested will help. Let us know. :) :)

Seaside - I've never heard of Rosomane Janon before...it's really pretty...I'd love to get one!
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
seasiderooftop
last year
last modified: last year
@rosecanadian RJ is visually very similar to Life of the Party, they both have that color change varying between yellow and pink and both have a strong scent, although they come from very different lineages.

I'd love to grow LOTP but it isn't available in Europe, so I guess we both dream of roses that we wish would be available on our side of the pond!
strawchicago z5 thanked seasiderooftop
rosecanadian
last year
Yeah...except I killed 2 LOTP plants so I don't dream of that one anymore. LOL
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Seasiderooftop: Thank you for info. on your wafting scents: Autumn Damask, Darlow's Enigma, and Comte de Chambord.

Your Rosomane Janon looks gorgeous. I grew its parent Versigny (died twice in my zone 5a), and I was addicted to Versigny's fabulous scent, like a cross between a sweet apricot pie and heaven itself. Below is Versigny from my garden back in 2013:

Below Versigny has THE BEST FRUITY SCENT among my 150+ fragrant roses. I would rank its fruity scent to be 10 times better than Teasing Georgia, and 20 times better than Lady of Shalott (nauseating orange peel and black tea).

Safest way to sniff NOW essential oil: sprinkle few drops of oil on a tissue, and bring it within 2 inches of one's nose and sniff for 5 min. I have been using NOW essential oil for my daughter when she was an infant as nasal decongestant. She's now 19 year old.

It's the Walmart aromatherapy spray (from China) that caused a few deaths due to bacterial infection.

See excerpt from below link: CDC alert: Deadly bacteria in aromatherapy

"The contaminated spray was sold at about 55 Walmart stores and on Walmart’s website between February and October 21, 2021, when Walmart pulled remaining bottles of this spray and related products from store shelves and its website. CDC is continuing testing to see if the genetic fingerprint of the bacteria in the bottle matches those of the bacteria identified in the four patients – one each in Georgia, Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota. Two of the four patients died."
rosecanadian
last year
Straw - your description of Versigny's fragrance...love it!!! And that is a heavenly bouquet!!
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
An excerpt from below link: "Sniffing essential oils can help COVID patients regain their sense of smell. The Clinical Olfactory Working Group, made up of an international group of physicians with a strong research interest in the sense of smell, recommended essential oils as a treatment option earlier this year. The group found that when a person loses their sense of smell, smelling essential oils could help foster the recovery of the damaged nerves."

https://www.studyfinds.org/essential-oils-covid-smell/
rosecanadian
last year
Really! That's such good news! I hope I never get COVID. You too. :)
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
joeywyomingzone4
last year
My baby Autumn Sunset from Hummingbird Roses came with a bud which just opened this morning and I'm so impressed with the fragrance!! It's like ripe melon and pineapple. Really hoping that this rose does well in my zone because I love this fragrance. It's a very pretty golden apricot bloom too.
strawchicago z5 thanked joeywyomingzone4
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
last year
@joeywyomingzone4, AS is one of my favorites from her unusual leaves to her lovely fragrance, her absolute hardiness to 4f this winter, her general 'bloomability', and rock solid health regarding BS. Love this rose. I wish I could come by her sport Lemon Meringue.
strawchicago z5 thanked Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
joeywyomingzone4
last year
@Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley dang that Lemon Meringue is pretty!! It's interesting that LM is a sport of a sport.

My poor little Autumn Sunset is really tough, UPS lost the box in shipping for a week with temperatures in the 90s. I'm not sure that some of the other roses I had in the order are going to make it, but AS is growing and blooming.
strawchicago z5 thanked joeywyomingzone4
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
last year
last modified: last year
Easy to root also!😊

Some say LM is another Westerland sport. I haven't gotten to the bottom of it, just want one.😉
strawchicago z5 thanked Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
Alfie
last year
@strawchicago z5 does your well being smell strong all the time? I haven’t had mine long but early morning and in the evening it can compeltely lose its scent. Baffles me.
strawchicago z5 thanked Alfie
Ispahan Zone6a Chicago
last year
My tiny young Well Being is most fragrant during daylight hours when it is warm and relatively humid. It has an absolutely delicious ”fruit punch” fragrance with overtones of orange, lemon, grapefruit, peach and a hint of guava and lychee. It smells pure, natural and delicious. I want to drink it!
strawchicago z5 thanked Ispahan Zone6a Chicago
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
Alfie Well Being likes it alkaline, and the scent is best when the pH is alkaline (I constantly have to lime it). During tons of acidic rain, the scent is gone. When the pH drops, it loses its scent.
rosecanadian
last year
Ispahan - sooo beautiful...and the blooms are huge! The fragrance sounds wonderful!!
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
Steve_M in PA
last year
The Comte de Chambord I bought this year has been looking and smelling beautiful! Thanks for the suggestion, Straw! Growing in a pot, own-root, it's giving a really nice pure rose scent. It's quite strong, but not wafting over the entire area. I have observed that the form of the own-root plant is rather "lax", giving me the impression of a semi-wild plant. Not a problem with a bit of staking. Here it is leaning into a neighboring pot:

This rose has had some competition in the scent department from Neil Diamond (also own root, potted). Neil Diamond's scent is somewhat close in character, having a strong base of "old rose" scent. But it also has more sweetness than CdC. The scent is probably a bit stronger than CdC. I hold these scents about equal in quality, but the rest of my family has voted Neil Diamond has the edge.

And Lady Emma Hamilton, as mentioned in one of my previous posts:

Incidentally, I had COViD some time ago, and I found it did affect my sense of smell. I could still smell and taste, but that sense was a bit warped or muddled. Certain things would smell less strong, while others didn't seem to be much affected. After several weeks, everything seemed to get back to normal for me.
strawchicago z5 thanked Steve_M in PA
Alfie
last year
@strawchicago z5 thanks. I measured the ph of well being today and it was around 6.5. Is that low enough to explain the low scent I am experiencing? Weird how other scented roses are strong at 6.5 ph and well being isn’t.
strawchicago z5 thanked Alfie
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Alfie this is how rain wrecks the scent:

1) In poor drainage clay, acidic rain pools up and ferment the organics making the pH drops to below 5 so major nutrients are not available for scent.

2) In fast drainage soil, acidic rain won't pool up, so you'll get neutral pH or slightly acidic pH at 6.5, but the scent still lessen due to major nutrients being leached out, such as phosphorus, many trace elements, and magnesium (all are essential for flavor and scent).

The key to retain scent even with tons of rain is to top with dolomitic lime pellets (has both calcium and magnesium), plus dense organic matter that retain nutrients so rain can't leach down those nutrients. The magnesium in dolomitic lime makes soil denser, thus retaining more nutrients.

My first few blooms of Well-Being didn't have much scent, until I topped the pot with dense alfalfa meal & dense compost and dolomitic lime. After that the scent was a 10. Well-Being absorbs the most nutrients at a higher pH than other roses. pH of dolomitic lime is over 8.

Then I planted it in fast-draining clay, and the scent lessened. So I topped it with dense compost and got the scent back. Peat moss potting soil retains the scent better than "sawdust" or "forest products" potting soil. Peat moss is dense organic matter and all the scents are fabulous in a 100% peat moss potting soil. Blooms are larger in peat moss potting soil due to more water. Peat moss can hold water 10 times its weight.

In contrast, loamy or sandy soil cannot retain nutrients as dense clay or dense peat moss during tons of rain. Less nutrients mean less scent.
Alfie
last year
Wow what a great response. That is very interesting to read and thank you for such a detailed response. I best get ordering some lime 😂
strawchicago z5 thanked Alfie
vickysgarden
last year
I was looking around in a local nursery, and Fun in the Sun came home with me! This one has a very strong fruity smell. Too early for any pictures as I just brought it home and don't have it in the ground yet, but label looks like this:
strawchicago z5 thanked vickysgarden
rosecanadian
last year
Steve - I wonder how many of us bought Comte de Chambord because of Straw...I know I did. :) :) Your LEH is scrumptious looking. I'm glad your sense of smell came back.

Vickysgarden - I hope you'll love that...it looks so beautiful!
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
Sheryl May 8a
last year
Can you smell them from there? Absolutely divine!
strawchicago z5 thanked Sheryl May 8a
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
The scent of Earth Angel's first opening bloom smells like 7 UP in the 90 degree heat, think I'm going to love this one.

A video of bush by Backyard Paradise.

Earth Angel Spring 2021

YouTube

8.2K views

Apr 27, 2021

Backyard Paradise
strawchicago z5 thanked berrypiez6b
rosecanadian
last year
Berrypie - 7-Up ... how cool!!!

Sheryl - oh my!!! Those blooms are utterly gorgeous!! :) :)
joeywyomingzone4
last year
The first bloom on baby State of Grace has a delicious fragrance! It's a mix of fruit and vanilla and rose that reminds me vaguely of the ice cream and fruit salad dessert that we used to eat when I was a kid. The plant isn't as vigorous as I would like, so I may end up moving it, but it's staying around for the fragrance :)
strawchicago z5 thanked joeywyomingzone4
berrypiez6b
last year
joeywyomingzone4 YUM !
Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
last year
Sheryl May, is that a bouquet of James Galway? They are so lovely!
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
About James Galway, scent is light on the bush, but turns fantastic carnation if aged in the vase. Plus James Galway gets bluish hue when aged in the vase. I consider James to be prettier than Evelyn for the vase. My James Galway is 7th-year own root, below pic. was taken August 22:

Below blooms in early Sept. shows James Galway on lowest left. Light yellows are Tchaikovsky, best bloomer in Sept.
Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
last year
James Galway is so fabulous in bloom! Mine unfortunately is a once bloomer, but the bush has perfect spotless foliage all summer and even now during one week into our first triple digit heatwave of the year, with one more week to go, it looks perfect. It doesn’t grow even a single new leaf after the new Spring growth and Spring blooms finish. It gets morning sun and about 6 hours direct morning sun in summer and very bright shade all afternoon. In mid winter that spot only gets 3 hours direct sun.
strawchicago z5 thanked Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
I brutally prune my own-root James Galway down to 3 feet after its 1st flush, so it can give a decent 2nd flush. I drastically prune it again after 2nd flush down, plus top it with soil rich in calcium so it can produce new canes. I also douse it with high potassium fertilizer SOLUBLE MasterBlend NPK 4-18-38.

When James was a tiny 1st year own-root, the repeat was fast since it's short. Mine is in only 4 hrs of morning sun. It takes ungodly amount of water & potassium to pump up water up to tall canes, so I keep James short for that reason.
Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
last year
So beautiful! I am a little jealous yours needs such vigorous pruning after first flush. I suspect James Galway wants cold winter to trigger vigorous spring growth. Mine is 4 years old and just under 3 feet tall after a light deadheading after the last Spring flush. It just sits in stasis mode the rest of the year. I probably should replace with a pink that does better in Zone 9b, BUT I love his blooms so much I will keep him a bit longer, especially since he looks so perfect green and mannerly the rest of the year. One thing I haven’t tried is alfalfa tea. I wonder if I gave some mild organic fertilizer and tea treatment once our summer heat ends and fall weather starts, if I might get a fall flush? Our fall weather doesn’t start until mid October.
strawchicago z5 thanked Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
rosecanadian
last year
Oh, Straw!! That's a beautiful bevy of blooms! :) My faves are your delicious James Galway and Tchaikovsky. Those colors complement each other so nicely I'd love to see a bouquet of the two of them. :) :)
strawchicago z5 thanked rosecanadian
librarian_gardner_8b_pnw
last year
What a beautiful bouquet, Straw!
strawchicago z5 thanked librarian_gardner_8b_pnw
strawchicago z5
Original Author
last year
Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal Yes to alfalfa tea. Nitrogen for growth and potassium for blooming is retained better if there's organics on top. My clay is black peat (tested VERY HIGH in organic matter), and James Galway shot up to over 20 feet when I put too much Holly Tone in late summer.

Espoma Holly Tone is high in organic matter: feather meal, chicken manure, plus gypsum (calcium sulfate) for fast growth.

I don't like Holly Tone since it makes roses too tall and stingy. I prefer alfalfa tea plus SOLUBLE MasterBlend (high in potassium & trace elements and phosphorus for blooming). MasterBlend has 4 times more iron and many times more manganese than other fertilizer.