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'Francesca' rose Reviews & Comments
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I want to put in a word for 'Francesca', which when grown in favorable conditions can be as beautiful a rose as there is. I live in a temperate Mediterranean climate, with mild rainy winters and dry summers, and my 'Francesca' is in part shade and in a fairly cool moist position. Here it grows splendidly, a large graceful arching shrub that, like many Pemberton musks, could make a pocket climber. What distinguishes 'Francesca' from other Hybrid Musks is its pronounced Tea character. The large, semi-double pale apricot flowers, the Tea fragrance, the long buds on slender curved peduncules, all look very Tea-like to me, as do the plant's general air of elegant grace and profusion. I don't know how wide a range of conditions 'Francesca' can grow in and look its best, but when it is at its best it is lovely.
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Thank you Melissa for your beautiful description of 'Francesca'. I recall seeing a plant of it at the Sacramento Cemetery in front of or near a tall obelisk family plot and which was labelled 'Francesca'. It seemed to me to be the same as a rose with some tea blood found in three states in Australia and known here under three names: "Vestey's Yellow Tea", (found in Victoria); “Dr. Russell's Yellow" (found in South Australia); and "Mulvay Rose" (found in Western Australia). There is an amalgamated HelpMeFind file for these roses.
I have re-read the many references for ‘Francesca’ but am a little confused. Graham Stuart Thomas, 1994 reference says “prickles”, whilst Charles Quest-Ritson says “very few prickles”.
Could I ask you for a side-on photo of any prickles on a main cane. Our foundling rose has quite distinctive “eagle beak” big thorns – see my photo “Mulvay Rose” 059 012 of Jan 31, 2010.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Patricia
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Yes, thank you ever so much for sharing your experience in such detail.
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