The first rose of Spring

Mrs Dudley Cross (W.Paul, UK 1907) is one of my first Teas to bloom this month - apart from G.Nabonnand who starts in late winter. One of my favourites, described by the Tea Ladies as "a flat lemon meringue pie of a rose." She rarely sets hips, so I'll accept that as a challenge this summer with a bit of hand pollinating and see what happens!
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I love the description "a flat lemon meringue pie of a rose ."
Lovely flower there too.

cheers. Rosalie

Hey Dave... do you think we could get a whole plant photo too... I was just reading about Mrs Dudley Cross tonight actually... it's flowers seem to look beautiful at all stages and ages. Might have to add thisone to my Tea wish-list.

Nice rose photo, Dave ! Larry gave me a Mrs Dudley Cross, this bed of roses are starting to get a bit of size now.
My first rose starting to bloom is R. Banksia Normalis.

howdy dave

if mrs dudley cross is a bit shy in setting buds, you can always use the pollen, i bought a white maman cochet to bred from could nt use any thing hardly any reproductive organs available

cheers warren

Hey Warren, keep an eye on 'Mamam Cochet'. The Tea book recounts a story of how it came to be the parent of 'William R Smith'. It tells of how towards the end of the season it produces flowers with a lower petal count. What often happens with roses with lots and lots of petals is that the reproductive organs (both male and female) are modified into petals and a lower petal count can mean that sometimes reproductive organs can be developed. So keep an eye on the petal count of the late season flowers and if you see some that are lower than usual check for 'bits'.

hi smon

its to late, i shovelled it out, not due to its fertility but canker, the infection started about 3mths of me recieving it from the grower

Pity... Maybe someone here can help you out with some plants. I know Bruce propagates a lot of Teas for his new nursery; Glenorie Roses. He may have something available or be able to custom bud it for you.

this spring i will be crossing a few teas and early HT with moderns, used safrano a bit last spring, should have a talk to bruce

Hi Warren Mrs. Dudley Cross buds are on order for October November budding. Usually takes 12 months before it blooms but would be well on the way next spring . I am about 99% sure it will be virus free and not growth checked by being pot bound.

Here's Mrs DC taken yesterday, Simon. She started blooming while still leafing out. Just under 1 metre atm. WHo knows how big she will grow here:)[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Dave is she leggy as it appears or was it just minamal prune, and the flower on the one long stem is stunning. Is is grafted or cutting grown.

Just minimal pruning at this stage, David. It's grafted. Now about 3 yo. From Mistydowns i think.

Its amazing how much difference a few hundred k's in latitude makes. We planted a Mrs DC last year and it is about 1.5 metres tall and about the same in width. It has also flowered all winter as well.

The worst thing is we put in the ground just to keep it alive until we had somewhere ready to plant it. It's grown so well that we have not bothered to move it. We modified the garden to fit the rose!

One thing though I think you may have the roses to cloose for teas.

We modified the garden to fit the rose!
Love it! OVERPLANTING-the story of my life LOL
Youre so right Balinbear, the kangaroo fence moves ever outwards...