We still have no earlier substantiation of the 1994 quoted parentage of R. gigantea x Archiduc Joseph. If Simon Voorwinde is still out there, I have one six month old cutting of Courier (provenance Kodja Place) still making up its mind whether to live or die. I might be able to tell him in about three years if it sets hips, or doesn’t. Later edit - cutting died.
I've seen a reference to the pollen parent being "A. Joseph" before, but I simply can't find it, or even say that it's not the 1994 reference that I've seen. However, Alister Clark did certainly grow 'Archiduc Joseph' as early as 1906 because it was used by him in a large floral display at the Melbourne Autumn Rose Show as written in the Australasian newspaper of 5 May, 1906, page 10.
The fact that you SHARE what you have found, makes you a most valuable HelpMeFind member. (It is May and I need to email or Private Message ? you on a plant in transit.
Patricia, many thanks, that's very kind of you. I've said before that HMF is simply the best rose database/website in the world, so I'm only too happy to contribute what I can. I've sent you a PM.
Here's one for the experts. I noticed the following in the references for this rose:
"(Rose Gardens of Australia, p 39) ...It resents hard pruning, and I have found by trial and error that it is not compatible with R. multiflora understocks."
Is this incompatibility with R. multiflora root stock a known thing with Clark's R. gigantea hybrids? Or is this reference just an odd but unconfirmed opinion?
Nieuwesteeg used multiflora rootstock, so the chance of multiflora/gigantea incompatibilty per se seems unlikely. Equally though it's also unlikely that Susan Irvine's comment was made lightly or without consideration, so perhaps Courier is a little tricky with some/most multiflora clones. Would be interesting to hear JN's opinion. (I've had a number of Clark hybrid giganteas growing on different multiflora clones)
courier is really worthy of a rose grown more. Its stunning flowers open from buds pointed and very elegant, delicate pink color is a darker exterior of the petals. The flower has a good consistency, the opening of the flowers is very slow and this feature gives the plant a very long flowering. The scent is delicious.
I agree with you wholeheartedly! The foliage of this rose is marvellous too - not only very attractive in its own right, but tough and disease resistant. Are you finding a number of the blooms come with another small bud forming inside the bloom?
