If I were to be in charge of buying a few roses for someone who does not have a green thumb and/or has never grown roses, EARTH SONG would be at the top of the list. Just like everyone has posted here, the plant just grows with enthusiasm and blooms like mad. The color is pretty common but up against Electron or Miss All American Beauty or Peter Frankenfeld or Cynthia or Tribute or so many others, for the novice this is just tops. Took winter 88-89 and 92-93 in Columbus (temps reached nearly -20 with not much snow cover) with only 1/2 way die-back. To boot, the plant was standing alone in an underplanted border and subject to hideous winds. Finally moved it to the "real rose garden" when it became clear that (1) it earned its spot and (2) originally marketed as a shrub it is really a GR........close to 40 years old and just chugging along, still rated I think 8.0, nobody ever talks about it and you don't see it offered that many places.....totally under-appreciated/under-marketed............
I just wish it had more personality. All Buck roses lack personality to me. Earth Song is so GOOD. Just so solidly GOOD. But a stand out in absolutely no other way than just being so GOOD. Pink Peace is similarly generic to me but has fragrance in its corner.
Don't care for the stippled or the single and never heard of Honeysweet until now and looked it up. I could get on board with Honeysweet. Probably just because of its father.
I admit I cringe when I see SH as a class. I once grew Music Maker and it was kind of good. It was like a fat FL or a short HT. I could not get my mind off of SH. I hate that classification. They are roses. They ALL are SHRUBS. …...Vienna Charm. As a DAD for Honeysweet. I love it.
I have Pearlie Mae and I think that one has plenty of personality. The darker reverse, buttery yellow turning into pink, always blooming, I love her. Also Polonaise is beautiful, the blooms are so full and sturdy and last a long time in a vase.
I'm trying a (own-root) Earthsong rose here in our no spray Central Pa garden this year. So far this rose has done very well in it's first season. No BS or PM... I'll report back at the end of next year...
