Austin roses scent?

[sheila hall]

I know that rose scent can sometimes be elusive, apparently depending on weather, time of day etc... however this season I have planted one Charles Darwin, and also Charlotte... and it does not seem to matter time, weather, or how I hold my mouth, I never get a scent from these two... they are both yellows, yet I know it can't be just the colour, because Sunsprite by Kordes is one of the most beautifully scented roses I've had... My Austin Eglantyne is scented even in the beginning of a bud opening, no matter what the weather or time, also another new one, Princess Alexandra of Kent seems also frangrant any time.... Any hints? Anybody? I am seriously beginning to think of moving away from the Austins, each of the above tags said "highly fragrant" and I'm starting to feel that they are not being as truthful as they might have been.... If I'm not going to have scent then I would prefer to move to the wonderfully strong and carefree Kordes...

 

[Sheal]

Welcome Sheila.

There is a possibility that the roses may need more time to develop. Being young shrubs I'd see how they perform during next year's flowering season. Most roses don't usually reach maturity until their third year. If they are diseased that will affect their performance too but you haven't mentioned that here. Another thought is that they may have been wrongly labelled, could you confirm that one way or the other please?

Regarding Austin roses - I personally won't buy them. I find them overrated and over priced and more often than not - not as healthy as we would expect. There are many nurseries/garden centres that specialise in roses and provide a good selection. I buy mine bare root, via the internet between October and January and they are much cheaper than buying them potted.

 

[sheila hall]

thank you Sheal, I will indeed hang on till at least next year, certainly they are young, however, my Eglantyne and Princess are also just newly planted and have scent... Charlotte and Charles definitely look like the flowers on the tags, but I hear you re the pricing and possibly the overrating... Charles has some slug damage, have sorted that out, so there are holes in some leaves, and I've sprayed for black spot particularly on Eglantyne but that's all. I will keep in mind about bare root, we don't have all that much selection in Canada for either own root or bare root via internet/mail, many U.S. firms don't ship to us.. however perhaps I will look more seriously into those possibilities, perhaps I just don't know of them yet. Thanks again.

 

[LouisFerdinand]

Did you purchase your Austin roses directly from a nursery? Or did you order them by mail from a company?

 

[sheila hall]

I got them both directly from a nursery, in fact two different nurseries here in town... both good places... I might still have the receipts but I don't want to give up on them yet, maybe by spring if there is still no scent I might contact each nursery...I'd rather buy that way, at least so far I've always bought that way... in person...I think they are labelled correctly because the flowers and colour are right, just no scent.

 

[Sheal]

Charlotte and Charles definitely look like the flowers on the tags,

As you're absolutely sure about the identification of the roses and bought them from a local nursery, I think it would be best to contact them and query the lack of scent.

If you are interested I can give you links to British rose suppliers that will deliver to various countries.

 

[sheila hall]

yes Sheal, thanks for any links you can send, I will also consider talking to the two nurseries I bought from, it can't help to at least get an opinion or a theory about rose scent they might have... and when I was thinking of this yesterday I realized I have not really looked to see if there are mail order firms here in Canada, I think it's time for me to become more proactive, there may be a good source here also...

 

[Sheal]

My apologies @sheila hall. Having looked at the four rose suppliers I wanted to recommend, none of them can deliver to Canada or America. Restrictions on importing have been applied by your own authorities.

I realized I have not really looked to see if there are mail order firms here in Canada,

I'm sure there must be, good luck hunting for them.

 

[sheila hall]

Thanks Sheal. I've been having a most interesting discussion with Samantha Moore from Austin, will keep on communicating as the roses develop, and yes I will hunker down to look for suppliers but also had a discussion with another nursery here, about rose availability so I will continue on this sweet journey. I think this forum, based on what I'm seeing so far, will be a help and a resource.

 

[Gail_68]

Hello @sheila hall i have a lovely rose tree called "A Whiter shade of pale" by David Austin and it's an hybrid and also doesn't get diseases and the roses are beautiful and it growed over 6ft this year and the beautiful sweet scent in the air is a lovely smell.

Worth purchasing https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/a-whiter-shade-of-pale

 

[sheila hall]

Hello @sheila hall i have a lovely rose tree called "A Whiter shade of pale" by David Austin and it's an hybrid and also doesn't get diseases and the roses are beautiful and it growed over 6ft this year and the beautiful sweet scent in the air is a lovely smell.

Worth purchasing https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/a-whiter-shade-of-pale

thanks Gail, I will keep that in mind... I did eventually, once or twice, get a little whiff of scent from Charles Darwin, just about 2 weeks ago on a very warm day.... now it's too chilly here for me to expect any scent... I must admit, this has made me more suspicious of what the tags say on the roses, from now on, if I don't get a clear and strong scent in the nursery, I won't buy... seems to me, they're often labeled inappropriately, maybe this coastal area of Canada is not hot enough to bring out the best as some other areas might do... I have a Kordes Sunsprite ordered for next spring and it will go next to Wedding Bells, so with Princess Alexandra of Kent in that same area, with those 3 I should have good scent at least there.

 

[Sheal]

I'm living in the Highlands of Scotland Sheila and my rose scent is no less than when I lived 300 miles further south. Roses on the whole are pretty tough and I don't think climate will affect the scent.

 

[Mrsclem]

I love the rugosa roses for their hardiness and the scent. My favorite it Blanc Double de Coubert.

 

[Sean Regan]

I always prided myself as having a good sence of smell. But I've found over the years any rose hasn't as strong a scent as they once had. But I know that's just one of the things "they start to take away from you" as you get older.

 

[sheila hall]

I love the rugosa roses for their hardiness and the scent. My favorite it Blanc Double de Coubert.

I love the rugosas also but with limited space I want some different choices... I think Blanc only blooms once a year? Not sure if I'm right, the man who owns Select roses not far from me, loves that rose... I am not crazy about whites but will keep that in mind... it's true they are so hardy... if I had a larger garden again I definitely would have rugosas scattered about like I used to...