Alister & Jaune
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Alister & Jaune
- From: M* B*
- Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 20:13:27 -0700 (PDT)
Dear Listers, 27, Oct. 1999
Both these roses, Desprez a fleurs jaune early 19th C. and Alister
Stella Grey, early 20th C. are ramblers and even related through
Chromatella.
I grow them both separated by about 10 feet. Desprez blooms much
earlier for me (a full month) and blooms for 6-8 weeks. In spite
of G.S. Thomas's assertion it has never repeated for me which is
just fine. The flowers are larger and more formally quartered
than Alister. They are an ivory with hints of pale yellow and
opaline pink. Fabulous fragrance. At ten years old, this year it
produced 800+ flowers in long descending wands and filled a picture
window. I wouldn't live without it!
Alister in our climate (Berkeley, CA 16/17 high in hills) is a
repeat bloomer. A huge spring bloom in early summer with clusters
of more than 50 flowers. The open a deep apricot and have faded to
ivory in a day or two. The first bloom is massive. We guessed
perhaps 2,000 flowers in three weeks. Then it blooms in little spurts.
It is rarely without flowers the entire season. Then come a warm
October and its exploding again--perhaps 300-500 flowers in a 4-5 week
period. It's magnificent grown with Cl. X jackmanii. I wouldn't
live without it.
If forced to choose I guess it would be Alister which is hideously
thorny, to tall to smell except on a warm night (rare) and fades
too quickly. But the profusion and the health. No mildew, no
leaf cutter bees, no blasted buds or distorted blooms and it falls
away clean. I guess it's the better rose.
Of course I wouldn't live without 'Anemonoides', 'Francois Juranville',
'Baltimore Belle', 'Altissimo', 'Veilchenblau', 'Lamarque', and
several others.
Michael D. Barclay, An Old Old-Rosarian with only walls and trees
left for roses.
Michael D. Barclay, Really Special Plants & Gardens, Kensington, CA
Cal Hort Council
opga@wenet.net Growing 2,000 species fifteen miles from the Golden Gate!
