So, so lovely! It’s a rose I’d surely grow if I didn’t live in a soggy, soggy, temperate rainforest. That rich raspberry-mauve-violet color is deeply fulfilling! There’s something magical about roses the color of EdB in combination with antique pinks. I wish I could stick my nose in those luschious blooms! I tried but bruised my face on my iPad screen.

It’s brilliant that you grafted EdB!! What a different rose on Fortuniana and truly something to rejoice! Grafting might keep this wonderful old rose in commerce. I like to go own root whenever possible with strong cultivars, even those who need a bit of pot nurturing before they take off. But some great roses just require the scaffolding of a rootstock, rather like my daughter needs an IEP to succeed in school. Brilliance is not the 100% self supporting thing it’s cracked up to be—for roses or people. Someday, I am going to try my hand at grafting roses. I have saved a number of articles on grafting over the years, and an expert recently and kindly offered to teach me once things settle down a bit.

I think Eugene de Beauharnais is a lovely little rose. I currently have two own root bands that were potted on into six inch pots (yes, tiny six inch pots!) that have been vigorous, fragrant blooming machines. One currently has 21 flowers and buds at all stages of development while the other, slightly younger, has 9 flowers and buds. All on bushy little plants maybe a foot tall. The fragrance is powerful, sweet old rose. I think maybe I need to pot them up a size or two…

I wish I could take credit for grafting EdB, but in reality, the plant was a gift from Kim Rupert.

EdB rusted like an old bucket here, when we quit spraying. Kim speculated that that might not happen if it was grafted to strong rootstock, and that proved to be the case.

I'm delighted that plant continues pleasing you, Jeri! After raising so many hundreds, perhaps a few thousand seedlings all these years and studying which ones were healthier and which ones were real trash, and how expansive the root systems were correlated with the health and vigor of the plant above ground; then observing how roses which traditionally were acceptable to desirable budded, were so often really garbage when grown own root, it was obvious budding was what was needed. Of course, the fact that when you tried EdB, your climate was more like mine here in North County and now yours is increasingly more like what we moved from in LA County, doesn't hurt, either. Arid heat is much better for reduced fungal issues, presuming there is sufficient root system and water available, compared to milder, wetter periods combined with fairly cool to cold, wetter periods which help foster more fungal outbreaks. The seedlings which turn out to be really good plants are those with the larger, more vigorous root systems. If the seedling has few roots, dump it. It won't grow well and any growth it produces is going to contract disease. Those with massive root systems are going to grow like gang busters and most often, they will remain very clean. Why not plants in the garden?

I do have an own root EdB.

Kim -- A building with an insufficient foundation will never be a sturdy, safe structure. Clearly, the same applies to growing things.

A cr*ppy root system is never going to be a sound, healthy plant.

You gave this rose what it needed to succeed.

Stunning and glorious!

I have three bushes of EdB, on their own roots, and I have never seen any rust on any of them, although they do get a bit of BS sometimes. Interesting, how different climates affect roses.

Jackie

Jackie, I think your plants are much, much older.

And your conditions, totally different, and probably far more welcoming to the plant.

I believe a significant reason for the difference in health is the amount of water they've received. Even with drought conditions, Jackie's plants traditionally received a great deal more annual rain totals than Jeri's. Water stress EASILY induces fungal issues, even with varieties which usually don't suffer from them.

Excellent point, Kim.

And, along with the historically large difference in rainfall, you get a like difference in pH . . . Everything around here being highly alkaline.

And don’t forget the influence of the garden fairies at Jackie’s place! I suspect there’s Magic Grow pixie dust everywhere. :-)

portlandmysteryrose - AWW... what a nice thing to say. I chock it up to ghosts of my DH's ancestors - one of them actually planted the EdB in the picture I posted above, although I have 2 others that I rooted from it that don't get rust either.

I just wanted to point out that EdB is not necessarily weak on its own roots - it just sounds as if the rootstock makes it easier for it to thrive in Jeri's condition.

Kim - you are correct - we are theoretically in a horrible, awful, drought here this year, but we have gotten over 20 inches of rain since Oct 1 of 2021.

Jackie

I'm glad for you, Jackie! We haven't received 20" in three years combined.

Here is my own root Eugene de Beauharnais today just after being potted up into an 8 inch container. Fragrance is intense, pure, sweet old rose:

I wonder if you could strengthen the root system using an air pruning pot.