Hall of Fame Roses

Simon, I can get you a little budwood of Mrs Reynold's Hole. Lynette has it in her garden.

I think I'll wait till next season thanks Karen... I think I'm going to have my hands full soon and not sure about budding at this time of the year down here. I've been flat out the last two weeks and haven't had a chance to get those plants in the mail. Will try and get onto it tomorrow

Simon, the best Firefighter bushes I have seen were at Swanes in 12" pots, no doubt grown in Narromine and moved to Sydney for display.
Growth was tall and bushy for a HT with no Blackspot due to being grown on the drier west side of the Great Dividing Range. It is definately the perfect red.
I know from posts on this forum that very few will buy it as it's not available at a chain store for $5. Personally I think it's worth $20 as a pack rose.
The only problem I can see is the Dr Huey understock it's grafted to, possibly other propagators have it on Multiflora.

We have potted firefighter this year at work. cant wait to see what they are like ...as long as the possums dont find the new buds again.

My vote for Hall of Fame is "Charlotte Armstrong".

She is a rose that never gives me any trouble (despite being left pretty much alone) & she can stop me in my tracks from across the yard & draw me in closer for a better look everytime without fail.

A third vote for 'Children's Rose'... I pruned mine back today and was amazed at how strong and well shaped it is... just a small tidy up... nothing drastic... great big hips on her too... might have to see what she can breed next season.

I have been growing 'Fire Fighter ' for some time and have found two weaknesses.

First is no hips, and second is very slow growth. Swanes have it in the garden and during the past 6 months hasn't grown at all but the Dr Huey understock looks quite old. Perhaps it needs a course of steroids or something like the ones they had in 12" pots.

I have propagated it for myself only on Multiflora and growth seems to be the same. A plant of Sylvia grafted at the same time and growing next to it is 3 times taller with 3 times as many canes.

FF is a beautiful rose bloom with most fantastic fragrance but growth is very slow. I also want some hips to breed it to a Tea.

Bruce, is 'Fire Fighter's growth slow because it builds up a twiggy bush, like a Tea', instead of long canes like most HT? Or is it just slow?

Marchin Konnigan would be my choice.

WFRS Hall of Fame Roses

On Firefighter originally I found its growth very slow but after 4 years all my bushes of it have taken off and were over 6ft tall prior to pruning.

I'll put in my two bobs worth here and say " Olde Fragrance " , its a real toss up between her and Violina , Violina's fragrance much sweeter and blooms in the heat will perish , but not much in these two, love em both ...

Admin wrote:A third vote for 'Children's Rose'... I pruned mine back today and was amazed at how strong and well shaped it is... just a small tidy up... nothing drastic... great big hips on her too... might have to see what she can breed next season.

yes an all time fav. of mine as well.

My "Hall of Fame" rose is Imp. A floribunda bred by Australian hybridist George Dawson it grows like a weed and is covered in bicolour carnation like blooms that are offset by shiny dark green folage. Disease resistant is as good as anything else I grow. Gave me a grand champion award at the Sydney Royal Easter Show a couple of years back.

I have been absent from the forum for a while so thought I would post here my current favourite for the Hall of Fame listing.

I do like Mr Lincoln. It is strongly growing, nicely shaped bush, a beautiful red, long stems, and a strong perfume. A neat package.

Welcome back Chrisval7.
I love Blue for You and Rose of Wagga Wagga as well as City of Newcastle