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goncmg 
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Initial post
yesterday by
goncmg
You have your hands on Candy Apple! And used it as a parent!!! Looking for Candy Apple is how I met so many people in the rose world about 12 years ago!
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#1 of 1 posted
today by
Lee H.
Yes! A couple of years ago, you mentioned that RU had it, and called it your Holy Grail. That was good enough for me.
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Initial post
yesterday by
goncmg
When this variety “gets it right” it gets it sooooooo right. Alas, in my experiences in Northern California, Ohio and Florida it rarely does get it anywhere near “right” and more often than not is a thorny, partially defoliated tower of yuck. But I can’t not grow it because wow. It’s the “dream” rose I envision those times the planets align……
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Your photo shows good color and healthy foliage. Do you think CP is in any way an improvement on 'Tropicana'? Are there any 'Tropicana' descendants you can recommend, even only with reservations?
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#2 of 4 posted
yesterday by
goncmg
Hi there! That was a fast comment! And a good question. Here’s the strange background: I can’t grow Tropicana. That variety hates me. It hated me when I was 5 it most recently hated me at 56. It hates me no matter what format I try to grow it in: budded, own root, first rate plant, body bag rescue, in a pot or in the ground, Northern California, Central Ohio, Northeastern coastal Florida. So for me, as measured against its Mother who hates me, it is a little bit of an improvement. And in general the blooms are more star shaped exhibition. The foliage and stems and buds looks a lot like Tropicana. It’s super tall and thin like Hawaii. I think the color is a bit more saturated than either parent, it’s a bit more orange than Tropicana, the color captures in my photos are accurate! But in the big picture? No. I don’t think it’s an improvement over Tropicana. I don’t think it’s even much of an improvement over Hawaii. And that seemed to be the general assessment 55 years ago at introduction. I’m pretty certain it ranks amongst the “you’ve got to be kidding me” AARS award recipients. And I agree with that even though I personally love it. As for other children of Tropicana I need to think on that. It’s weird but nothing immediately jumps to my mind!
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#3 of 4 posted
yesterday by
Lee H.
Christopher, do you spray? I grow a lot of the “mid century greats” that you do (including Tropicana), but I know they probably would never come close to flourishing if I didn’t keep up a rigorous program.
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#4 of 4 posted
yesterday by
goncmg
Oh yes. I spray. Pretty frequently in spring then I’m tired by August when generally it won’t stop raining and there is no point. I also use very strong liquid seaweed solution to water them and it seems to help keep disease at bay. I have less blackspot here in Florida than I did in Ohio! I’m right on the coast and there’s always a breeze and that’s got to be why? Breeze and seaweed? I don’t spray the blooms or buds and I don’t use insecticides but I do mix up the Daconil nice and strong. You can see the residue on the leaves in the pic.
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Initial post
10 APR 24 by
ksinGA
The pictures just don't do this one justice. The blooms are so charming, and fragrance is so sweet. Plant along a pathway so you can enjoy the beautiful fragrance!
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#1 of 2 posted
7 days ago by
goncmg
Mine has been a train wreck until this spring! In December I actually held the 4 year old own root “worthless” plant over the trash can and was soooooo close to just dumping it! It had given me a few “nice” blooms but just wouldn’t do anything. Wouldn’t grow. Just wouldn’t respond to my care and effort. Thennnnnnnn thisssss spring happened! I’ve never seen blooms like this! I’ve never seen so many blooms! and it’s finally throwing fat basal breaks! I don’t know what has gone on down here, it looks like you are in Georgia and I’m on Amelia Island, but whatever transpired here has made it so happy!
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#2 of 2 posted
7 days ago by
ksinGA
So glad to hear this. She is a real beaut!
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Initial post
7 days ago by
goncmg
This is not a generic red attempt at a red Queen Elizabeth! I’m pretty certain most people have dismissed it as just that. The color is unique. It does open blah cherry red but as the blooms age their entirety deepens to a glowing, ember blood red that is so unique! The individual blooms aren’t “pretty.” They are double but almost semi double, there’s a laughable and endearing randomness to the petal arrangement. It’s a variety meant to be appreciated from afar, blooming en masse. It is far more distinctive than its peer Cherry Glow. It’s a shame this one never even registered with the public. It is technically one of the “big dud” AARS winners. It is worth a resurrection. There’s no color like it.
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#1 of 2 posted
7 days ago by
Lee H.
Christopher, did you ever make an attempt at breeding it? This sounds right up your alley.
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#2 of 2 posted
7 days ago by
goncmg
I haven’t used it yet but yes, I do love recreating the mid century ones!
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