Breeding chocolate brown colours in roses

Extract from an article by Nola Simpson and John Ford

Read the full article in New Zealand Rose Annual 2006

Introduction

Over the centuries in the search for perfection mankind has manipulated the genus Rosa to considerable effect. In the process a wide diversity of fascinating and useful plants has been brought forth. From nature's original pure species roses of shape, form, floriferousness, colour and different growth habits have all combined to provide us with an unrivalled family of diverse plants.

During the last one hundred years the emphasis on colour has been one of the principal aims of most rose breeders. The development of new colours excites the imagination and has led to new fashions in roses.

Why breed brown roses?

The brown colourations in roses have held a fascination, with exciting possibilities for the future and with the hope of producing rich golden brown shades such as the bronze of pansies and chrysanthemums.

The breeding history of Simpson brown roses

The quest to breed chocolate brown roses commenced around 1970 when by chance a seedling from the rose Orangeade as seed parent produced brown tonings - this led us to try this seedling as a seed parent using a variety of pollens. When Le Grice produced Jocelyn (mentioned earlier), the pollen of this was used to produce eventually Tane (SIMetna), which was a mahogany velvety brown hybrid tea type floribunda. This rose had the very distinctive glossy dark green holly-like foliage characteristic of Jocelyn. In the mid 1970s the rose Mary Sumner was introduced into the breeding programme to bring more vigour into the offspring and also to set seed readily with different pollens. A seedling from Princesse and Tane crossed with Mary Summer produced probably our best rose to date, Hot Chocolate (SIMcho). This rose is very healthy and vigorous and the brown colour is velvety with <attractive shadings in the petals. Using Princesse again with Hot Chocolate has given us the latest selection, Chocolate Prince (SIMehoka). This is the first true HT in the colour chocolate brown. It is very vigorous and healthy and the brown colour holds up well in the heat, unlike many other brown roses e.g. Hot Chocolate and Colourbreak. There have been a number of others along the way worth mentioning. Dark Moments (SIMdemo) bred from Kirsty Jane and Mary Sumner his been quite popular and holds its brown colour well in the heat; again it is very vigorous. Kirsty Jane was one of the earlier seedlings from the original Orangeade seedling

ROSE WATCH

Five of the best win at Palmerston North

Five new roses representing the latest trends in the world of roses recently won awards at the New Zealand International Rose Trial Grounds in Palmerston North. The trials run in partnership between the New Zealand Rose Society and the Palmerston North City Council aims to test unreleased rose cultivars with the view to their possible release onto the New Zealand market.

Over the past two years, the winning roses along with 52 others not yet sold in New Zealand, were assessed seven times by a panel of 20 judges in areas such as plant quality, health, freedom of flowering, flower quality and fragrance. Those roses which gain an average of 70 points or more across all categories are presented with awards, indicating that the winners have the consistency to perform well in gardens throughout New Zealand once released.

Gold Star of the South Pacific

This year’s winner of the trial grounds premier award is EVEgolove, bred by Derrick Everett of England. An outstanding floribunda that produces clusters of golden yellow semi double blooms, it will make a stunning display in any garden. The bush grows to around 1 metre high and has excellent tolerance to disease, particularly black spot.

Bred from Goldyla x Baby Love.

It will be released by the New Zealand agent of the breeder, Tasman Bay Roses of Motueka in the near future.

Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North

Presented for the best New Zealand amateur bred rose on trial, this year the award goes to Pammy, bred by a relative newcomer to rose breeding, Marilyn Tynan of Palmerston North. It is named after Marilyn’s sister who passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. A floribunda with semi double blooms of creamy yellow, edged pink and red, this rose produces large clusters of blooms on a healthy plant that grows to 1 metre high

Bred from Sexy Rexy x Mem

It will be released by Ford Roses of Palmerston North in the near future.

Certificates of Merit

BO 203 98, bred by Interplant of Holland. A single red shrub rose with a silvery white eye, it is very free flowering and an easy rose to grow with excellent disease tolerance. Grows to approximately 1.3 metres high. Parentage unknown

It will be released by Interplants New Zealand agent, Matthews Nurseries of Wanganui in the near future

SOMhitmas, bred by Rob Somerfield of             New Zealand. A floribunda with large clusters of pure white flowers, occasionally with a hint of pink. Good disease tolerance and a compact grower reaching one metre in height.

Parentage: Anniversary x Sky Tower

It will be released by Glenavon Roses, Tauranga in the near future.

Tapestry (CHEWdayglo) bred by Chris Warner of England. A patio climber, this rose has clusters of small red blooms with an unusual yellow reverse to the petals. A free flowering variety, this rose is a very contained patio climber only reaching 1.5m x 1.5m.

Parentage: Golden Handshake x Dusky Dancer.

Currently sold by Warners New Zealand agents, Tasman Bay Roses of Motueka

The trials are now into their 36^th year and are located at the northern end of the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens, one of New Zealand’s premier rose gardens located in the Victoria Esplanade Gardens, Palmerston North

Promising New Roses

* TAPESTRY (CHEW-dayglow) comes from Colin Warner of England by way of his NZ agents Tasman Bay Roses in Motueka. It is deep scarlet with gold reverse and base, of medium size, but borne in cluster-fashion and that profusely, I assure you all. The flower season is long and the bush will grow to 1m x 1m with ease, after the fashion of Dusky Dancer from which it is bred.

   Fittingly there is no fading, slight fragrance and neat foliage that are true miniature-type size and proportion. Not many thorns is for me a bonus, but the real merit here is the wonderful “Large Stems” it readily produces for show purposes – fair dinkum – Gold Medal prospects for those so inclined. I think a “Vase” is also a distinct possibility (glowing colour).

   Overall, a fine prospect for one and all. Do allow plenty of room, as it will require it to perform. Available (initially) from Tasman Bay Roses.

   The second rose I wish to point out is actually one of a series of four, each similar, but different in colour.

* GARDEN ROSE YELLOW (TWO-yel) is bred by Jerry Twomey of California, (syn. DREAM YELLOW).

   The NZ name describes the variety’s niche; it is a splendid one for garden show and is of course very healthy and free flowering. Bush is upright, yet well branched and bushy. Blooms are medium-large dusky yellow somewhat like one of the parents, Whiskey Mac. However, the worst thorns are gone and walla…  there is an intense fragrance. (In my advancing years, I am more and more enjoying this latter trait!)

   There is also Garden Rose Orange, Garden Rose Red and Garden Rose Pink all with similar excellent health habits. In the USA these are called Dream Yellow etc, but NZ Agents Rasmussen of Wanganui, have changed the names for our market. Available through most garden centres.

   A third new variety of merit is from Sam McGredy again. If the barrel is near empty, it must be a b----- big barrel.

* IT’S MAGIC (MAC-kalves) is, I believe, a FB/HT and not HT as some may try to say. It has clusters mostly of full double flowers of lovely style. Buff – light orange. Prolific flowers on a dense and vigorous bush, typically good health and very cutable indeed.

   There not many in this colour band, which have such willingness to please as this one has. My observations of it in recent PVR tests in Palmerston North were a pleasure indeed. A fine prospect for everyone who wants a good doer in an illusive colour. Available from Matthews Nurseries resellers.

   Now I just have to include one top prospect for the show nutters, a French HT no less.

* LANCOME             (del-BOIP) HT hails from the DELBARD concern and is released here by Bell Roses, who also have provided colour photo.

   This one was meant to be a ‘glasshouse rose’, but has turned out to be quite suited to outside cultivation, providing such is sheltered and warm. The colour here is rich cerise. The blooms are superior decorative form, almost certainly a fine addition to the ranks of show worthy varieties. I refer everyone to the latest NZ Rose Annual P.31 (about centre of page). It has already been discovered by the Whites of Whangarei!

   It started off with me as my punt of the year, it was true HT and it was ex Delbard, who often have superior varieties.

For our final new one we return to Bob and Cathy Matthews in Wanganui. Bob is breeding some exciting roses in his own rights.

* PRECIOUS PET (MAT-mav) is a hard to classify variety. Really a “modern Shrub Rose”. I notice the raiser calls it a Shrublet – what’s in a name?

   This rose is dusky pink, small but full double and borne constantly in large, loose clusters. It is of medium height and bred from the fine rose Lavender Dream from where it draws many of its finer traits. Again, I encountered this one in the recent PVR tests and I must say became enchanted with the all round possibilities. A splendid new one for any rose garden and dare I say it – possibly even an improvement on Lavender Dream

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