FOUND - Looking for a new Mutabilis...

If anyone has a virus-free (RMV that is) 'Mutabilis' that would be willing to pass on cuttings to me I'd love to hear from you... Mine is badly virused and as it grows bigger I am growing less willing to turn a blind eye. Look for yellow discolourations on the leaves... I'll take a photo of my leaves to show you what I mean.

Mmmmm not sure I have mine in flower from a cutting for the first time this year and I will let you know, BTW your Burg Berg is in flower

Photos???

Geezzz you dont want much do you, will do ASAP

Simon, Wedge might have a picture of it, it may be at Karen's friends house (Lyn) that we took him to. It is huge if it is the rose I think it is.

Yes... it does grow huge... I have a photo of one growing at Woolmers Estate that easily covers an area 8-10ft square... Mine is growing quickly now too in its third year, but the damned thing is viruses and I really want to use it in breeding.

Simon , I have a friend with one that would be RMV free but I could only get budwood etc . They do not live close so would be difficult. If all else fails would try sometime this season.

Simon, have just looked at ALL of the Mutabilis roses, I assume you want the china, Wedge took pictures at Lyn"s and took notes, I will get him to post a picture here hopefully.

G'day Simon. Wedge to the rescue I did indeed take some photos of your Mutabilis and being ever efficient, Roseman got me to catalogue all my photos so i knew exactly which were which. Thank you Roseman...something you taught me actually sank in !! Here are your photos :-

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Simon, do you want some of it, let us know, between Karen and myself we will get it for you

Yep - that's it... great representations of the stature of the rose too. It is a China and the reason I want to use it in breeding is because self pollinations (i.e. OP hips) produce yellow seedlings (see Yellow Mutabilis). The yellow from 'Mutabilis' is not derived from Rosa foetida, which is the source of a lot of our black spot troubles with modern roses... so the goal is to produce non-foetida yellows that are healthier than most the yellows we have available today. I already have it growing here, but as with a few roses I have bought from this source (local) it has developed symptoms of RMV (the risk of buying in the winter when there are no leaves) ... I have still used it in breeding because it is out in flower at the moment and it does not get passed on via pollen or seeds... but I don't want it around all the same... Dave (Wegde), this would be an excellent choice for up your way and would reach mammoth proportions. Most sources you read compare the flowers to little butterflies... I kind of like this description too. The colour is also chameleon-like in that it will change, from yellow to red as the flower ages... I really like this trait too. Even down here in Tas in my cooler climate the flowers are a rich yellow fading to red. It doesn't, however, reach mammoth proportions over night. It will steadily build up over the years into a dense twiggy mass. If you have a large wall you can even train it up as a climber... which looks pretty amazing. So... if you have the room, this is definately a must-have rose so I am keen to replace mine with a clean version as soon as posisble. I have found its seeds very hard to germinate but it produces loads of pollen that, with any luck, will prove fertile (it's also diploid which is something else I want to preserve).

That sounds interesting and something to follow up on for the future Simon. Keep me posted and, if and when a cutting becomes available, please let me know.

I will get you some Mutabulis when I go to Lynette's in about a week. Her one should be Virus free seeing its a older one, perhaps. Simon, I sure would be interested to see that photo of the effected leaves of your Mutabulis.
Wedge, I will see if I can strike one of these for you this Summer and send it to you in Winter. Plus I will send some cuttings for you to try if you like. I didn't have much luck with cuttings sent through the mail.

Rosemeadow....that would be greatly appreciated !! You have no idea how much i will look forward to any cuttings etc. that you may send. If i had my way you'd have to turn sideways when you walked through my front gate to get between the roses on your way to the front door. When i visited Roseman the other day i mentioned to him that i have a son who lives not far from here on a small farm (66 acres). I'm hoping to plant some of my breeding stock up there when i run out of room here. Thanks once again !!

Mutabilis cuttings are growing well... Abbi... did you still want one?

Simon out of the wood I sent how much took.

About 8 plants of 'Mutabilis' and about 15 plants of 'Constance Spry'