Soul Mate, Black Caviar

For those who are interested in these two elusive creatures:

It's official: From quiet "soft release" status, Soul Mate/Julia Child is now officially part of Swane's 2013 catalogue, and has become a a high-visibility offering ;-))

Guess who's just popped up in the about-to-be released Treloars 2013 catalogue. Why, it's Black Caviar! $25 a plant, just so you know. So the price is dropping fractionally.

Hey, but you want to know more about this mystery rose, don't bother with Treloars entry . There's nuthin' but the colour and category. A lousy three lines! It's ANTI-PORN! lolol

Okay, more info...
Black Caviar is a Tantau rose. Tantau T225, to be exact, if oblique.

Does Tantau have any highly fragrant dark reds in its stable, or is this a real novelty for them?

I've got BC on order from Silky roses Betsy , learnt from experience with new release roses , its going in a pot , and if its a winner , i'll plant it , if its a dud i'll give it away .....

Betsy, did you uncover any other name than the breeder code T225, like what it is/could be called in Europe.

Nope, roseman. That's why I threw it back up for comment here. Rosen-Tantau's site reveals nothing when the T225 code is entered, The (so far) only registered exhibition name is "Black Caviar". The parentage remains unknown to HMF.

The only other way would be to contact Tantau or HMF I guess.

Maree that's what I am going to do with my BC haha ..

You betcha Rosy , cause gees i'm sick of digging out dud roses , we better compare our Black Caviars hey and i've still got that bet going with Betsy too , for all those rose petals ...

I can't wait until it arrives! I better find an extra big pot hehe

Sounds good Rosy , where did you order yours from?

Treloars

Mistydowns has it available(limited numbers), just got their new cat

Local nursery has it here in Brisbane. Just saw the one plant, don't know if they are getting in more, I imagine they would.

Treloars. They are sold out now, and I need to find a second one for a friend who breeds thoroughbreds.

Which nursery happy roses?

If you type in 'Roses by Donelles' you will get the address and number, if you ring ask for Donelle. Very nice lady

Oh yes I have been there thanks

I have been told the hardware store, part of the Coles group are selling 'Black Caviar' at a really cheap price.

I gave in and purchased a Soul Mate from Swane's which surprised me because when opening the 12" long plastic and paper wrap around the roots all the bottom containing sawdust fell out exposing 3" long finger thick roots without any feeder roots. Is this necessary to pack the roses quickly or what? Can't be to give the plant a quick start as feeder roots take quite some time to develop. Oh well I can wait another season to see what it is really like. I won't complain but have a memory like an Elephant.

Bruce, what sort of "cheap price" and the Coles shop does it start with M and ends in S.
As for Soul Mate, are the ones in body bags from this years dig, do you think. If they are and you plant yours now it should get some young feeder roots out prior to Spring and give it a head start. They didn't have any in pots did they Bruce ?. The one I have is a good plant, but as mentioned I think yours will take the 12mths to establish itself like mine and others that have it.

David, I did get the information second hand but you are on the right track with beginning with M and ending with S.
It is either Coles or Woolworths owned.

Regarding Soul Mate, when it starts to shoot and get some canes I can also bud it (Only for my own use) on some well advanced Multiflora or Fortuniana understocks. It seems to have good breeding potential so congratulate Swanes on their choice to bring it in. We do rely heavily on these imports to enlarge the local gene pool. I have been a customer with them since the late 1970's and watched my wife spend a lot of my money on their roses. That being the case I have watched the length of the packaged rose roots shorten from 8-10 inches to 3 inches. Their emphasis seems to be grafting older understocks, field grown until their root system won't fit in the bags they are packaged in.
We know how appealing these thick plants are to beginners at the point of sale. However, I choose nothing older than 1 to 2 years with a substantial root system. These have much better initial growth and settle in better.

David The pots are an expense outside what I am prepared to pay for a rose. Being aware of the costs involved in bringing plants to Australia
I always buy packaged roses from them. Some rose people will ask me to bud one of their PBR roses which I decline because they have to have a fair go. There has to be some principals applied in this business.
All I want is better roots and not those understocks that are ready for the aged pension.