'Traviata' Romantic Rose
POSTED BY KIM — I just received my copy of “The Voice of the Rose,” the newsletter published by the The Rose Society of Greater St. Louis. In the latest issue, they have summarized St. Louis’ Consulting Rosarians’ top choices from 2008 (can’t wait to see 2009 results!). I’ll list the top three for each category here, but personally, I stand by 1. ‘Cherry Parfait’, 2. ‘Heaven on Earth,’ and 3. ‘Traviata’ (pictured above).
So many roses, so little time! 
There are two lists — the CRs voted on Garden Display Roses and Exhibition Roses. Interesting to see where the two lists overlap, and diverge.
GARDEN DISPLAY ROSES
Double Delight
Top Hybrid Teas
1. Double Delight
2. Gemini
3. Veteran’s Honor
Top Grandifloras
1. Gold Medal
2. Queen Elizabeth
3. Tournament of Roses
Top Floribundas
1. Hannah Gordon
2. Sunsprite
3. Europeana
Top Climbers
1. 4th of July
2. Altissimo
3. New Dawn
Top Shrubs
1. Knockout
2. Sally Holmes
3. Carefree Beauty
Top Old Garden Roses
1. Rose de Rescht
2. Baronne Prevost
3. Souvenir de la Malmaison
EXHIBITION ROSES
Moonstone
Top Hybrid Teas
1. Moonstone
2. Gemini
3. Veteran’s Honor
Top Grandifloras
1. Gold Medal
2. Queen Elizabeth
3. Sonja
Top Floribundas
1. Hannah Gordon
2. Sexy Rexy
3. Playboy
Top Climbers
1. Altissimo
2. 4th of July
3. Don Juan
Top Shrubs
1. Sally Holmes
2. Graham Thomas
3. Dortmund
Top Old Garden Roses
1. Rose de Rescht
2. Souvenir de Malmaison
3. Baronne Prevost
1 Comment
October 11, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Just a few of my notes:
I was a member of the American Rose Society for about 5 years and all of these are standard favorites around the country. The four that I’ve seen consistently thriving in the STL area are: Double Delight, Queen Elizabeth, 4th of July, and Graham Thomas. Although close to one hundred rose cultivars have passed through my garden at various times, the only one on this list that I’ve grown is ‘4th of July’ – and it is a winner. Absolutely stunning with heavy rebloom and spectacular color. It’s a sturdy, vigorous plant that needs (and gets) no spraying in my garden. The lower leaves may blackspot a little and it gets devastated by Japanese beetles in midsummer, but quickly grows out of any damage.