Bringing Love to My Zone 5 Garden
Written: Apr 09 '09 (Updated Apr 10 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Beautiful red/white blooms, fragrant, disease resistant
Cons: Struggles each spring in zone 5
The Bottom Line: This rose is a nice addition that requires minimal care.
|
|
|
| cmaw63's Full Review: Rose Plant - Rose 'Love' PP#4,437 |
Walking through my garden I realized it was missing something. I had orange, yellow, pink, purple and white roses. Where was my red rose?
I Was Lucky
While on vacation I visited a plant nursery. The first rose that caught my eye was named Love. Its flowers were a beautiful, almost, true red. When I got closer I realized that the underside of the red petals were white. As a bi-color rose lover I was sold on this plant. The moderate fragrance was an added bonus. I knew better than to bring home a plant that I hadn't researched, especially one from a warmer garden zone than where I live. I did it anyway.
Fortunately, I found that Love is a grandiflora rose that is disease resistant. It was reported to do well in zone 5 or 6 to zone 9 or 10, depending on where you looked. Its growth habit was supposed to be a compact 3' by 3'. I already knew that the blooms were approximately 4 inches as my plant had three when I bought it. The scent is described as strong and spicy.
Three Years Later
The major difference I've found between what is advertised and what Love is doing in my garden is the growth. Instead of looking like a shrub, it has an upright growth. It has a thin base and wide top, giving it a V appearance. That may, or may not, be due to it struggling to come back each spring from an Illinois winter. It is a late grower compared to most of my other rose plants and seems to struggle in the spring. I will suggest if you plant Love in your garden and you are in zone 5 to use winter protection.
Love's disease resistance is good. While other plants around it are disease magnets, at its worse it had a mild case of blackspot. Two applications of Immunox Plus had my Love rose bush healthy again. Pests seem to avoid it too. When I had an aphid infestation last summer they didn't bother this plant.
The blooms are at their most striking when they are not fully open. The combination of red and white has always drawn comments from my garden visitors. Once they do open completely the white underside is, for the most part, hidden. With the 30 to 35 petals on each flower the occasional hint of white is there if you are close to the plant. One of the few fragrant roses I have this still doesn't have what it takes to reach my nose unless I'm leaning over the plant or holding a cutting. What scent it does have is appealing.
Love Rose
This plant is a beautiful addition to my yard. I would like for it to be a bit more cold hardy. Each spring I wait and hope for its return. Once it does take off it is easy to care for, has decent repeat flushes and a good scent.
If this Love plant doesn't survive I will buy it again. In fact, I already have plans to add another this year. It will be planted in a more sheltered area around my deck, making it one of the first roses I see every day.
More Roses in My Zone 5 Garden:
About Face
Carefree Delight
Chicago Peace
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
cmaw63
|
 in Pets, Home and Garden, Books |
|
Member: Julie
Location: Illinois, USA
Reviews written: 307
Trusted by: 73 members
About Me:
Looking forward to my first grandbaby. She's due November 24!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.