Mostly Tried & True Roses - Part III           

                  Miniatures by Jim & Doris Wagner, Dorothy Storms & Dave Stever

                 Mini-Floras by Dorothy Storms & Dave Stever           

This is the third and final part of a three part series of articles on mostly Tried and True Roses – this part being on miniature and mini-flora roses. Miniature roses have been around since the 1930s but saw a major increase in popularity in the last quarter of the 20^th century and into the present century.  The blooms are like miniature versions of mostly hybrid teas and floribundas.  The Mini-flora class was introduced by the American Rose Society ( ARS) in 1999 to separately classify those roses whose plant and bloom size are between miniature and floribunda roses.

Not generally known for having much fragrance, where fragrance has been noted, we have so indicated.  If the variety is an American Rose Society Award of Excellence (AOE) winner and/or an All-American Rose Selections (AARS) Award winner, this information is shown.  Like the larger roses, buying  those with a ARS Handbook for Selecting Roses rating of 7.5 or higher is suggested but not always necessary.

Miniature Roses.  Normally grown on their own roots, these type roses are often considered hardier than their larger full sized counterpart grafted roses but this can be debated.

Bees Knees (1998, 8.0, 30-36”, yellow blend, double). Beautiful medium yellow bloom with pink edging.  Lots of exhibition blooms and long stems.  This rose took over first place from Fairhope last year for exhibition varieties.

Chelsea Belle (1991, 8.0, 24-30”, medium red).  Beautiful high centered exhibition blooms with white reverse on strong, tall plant.

Child’s Play (1991, 8.0, 20-25”, pink blend, semi-double).  Slight fragrance.  Good garden and exhibition rose.  Very disease resistant.  AOE & AARS Award winners.

Fairhope (1989, 8.2, 15 - 25”, light yellow). Exceptional quality, high centered blooms.  Light fragrance.  Long, straight stems.  Dark green foliage.  Flowers resemble fine porcelain.  Can be subject to blackspot, but worth it.

Figurine (1991, 8.0, 20-30”, white).  Slight fragrance.  Good garden and exhibition rose. Early season blooms kind of heavy for their canes but is better later in the season.  AOE Award winner.

Incognito (1995, 8.0, 30”, mauve, double).  Dusty light mauve with yellow reverse.  Each bloom is high centered.  Vigorous grower and always covered with blooms.

Irresistible (1990, 9.0, 15-25”, white).   Deserves its high rating.  Superb in the garden and for exhibiting.  Long lasting blooms.

Jean Kenneally (1984, 9.1, 15-25”, apricot blend). Very good exhibition mini.  Slight fragrance.  A consistent winner.  AOE Award winner.

Kristin (1992, 8.1, 20-25”, red blend).  Outstanding garden and exhibition rose.  For us it seems to do its best when we have a warm spring and not too hot a summer.  AOE Award winner.

Jeanne Lajoie (1976, 9.0, 6-8 feet high, medium pink).  A fast growing “climbing miniature” rose with masses of one inch blooms on a nearly disease free bush.  Very showy when grown on a trellis, fence or wall. Tall, spreading canes.  AOE Award winner.

Magic Carrousel (1973, 8.5, 18 - 24”, red blend, double).  Rounded petals edged in red and snow white centers.  Vigorous.  Slight fragrance.

Minnie Pearl (1983, 9.0, 20-25”, pink).  Named for famous country singer and comedian by this name.  Long lasting blooms on very vigorous bush.  Can be 30-35” high by fall.  Excellent in garden and for exhibiting.  Slight fragrance.

Mini Tango (2002, Insufficient reports to be rated in ARS in 2010 Handbook for Selecting Roses, 20-25”, pink blend). Fast growing  and very heavy bearer of both single and multiple blooms per stem.  Seems to be one of the more hearty miniatures for us.

Party Girl (1979, 8.2, 25-30”, yellow blend).  Outstanding garden and exhibition rose.  Has lots of sprays (clusters) of long lasting blooms.  More fragrant than most minis. AOE Award winner.

Pierrine (1990, 9.1, 25-30”, orange pink).  Good  garden and exhibition  rose.  Long lasting blooms.  Canes can reach 30-36”  in the fall.

Red Beauty (1982, 7.9, 25-30”, dark red).  Dark, glossy foliage.  Slight fragrance.  Frequent repeat blooms.  Good garden rose.

Rise ’n’ Shine  (1977, 8.4, 20-25”, medium yellow).  Hearty for a yellow rose.  Frequent repeat blooms.  Good garden rose and can be a show winner if cut on the way out the door to the show.  AOE Award winner. 

Snow Bride  (1982, 8.7, 25-30”, white.  AOE winner.  Excellent garden and exhibition rose with frequent, long lasting blooms.  Mostly disease free.

Soroptopmist International (1995, 24-30”, Pink blend, very double).  Form is excellent.  Deep green foliage.  Lots of blooms.  Spreading growth.

X-Rated (1993, 7.9, 18 - 24”, pink blend).  Beautiful white blooms with a blush of color on the outer petals.  Rich, sweet fragrance.

Mini-Flora Roses.  New class adopted by ARS (American Rose Society) in 1999 for those roses that

                               have miniature rose characteristics but plant size and blooms are usually larger than

                              miniature roses.

Amy Grant (1998, 7.5,  15-20”, light pink). We have only seen this at Mills Rose Garden.  Outstanding form, clean bush and little to no fragrance.

Autumn Splendor (1999, 8.1, yellow blend).  Tall and bushy.  Beautiful orange color.  Good garden and exhibition qualities.  Has some mildew problems. AOE Award winner.

Conundrum (2002, 7.7, yellow blend, double).   Good exhibition blooms.  Mostly single blooms. A real eye catcher.

Dr. John Dickman (2002, 7.8, 36”,  large mauve, double bloom).  Tall.  Winter hardy.  Exhibition form. 

Edisto (2007, No rating yet, 30-40”, red blend, full). Many Blooms.  Very vigorous once established.  Winter hardy.  Exhibition blooms and sprays.  Beautiful red petals with a soft yellow reverse. 

Foolish Pleasure (2003, 7.8, pink blend).  Exhibition form.  Very full. 

Leading Lady (2006, 7.8 interim rating, 30 – 36”, white, double).  Creamy white edges with soft delicate pink.  Dark green foliage.  AOE Award Winner.

Olympic Gold (1983, 7.7, light yellow).   Deep yellow but that fades to a creamy white when fully open.  Foliage and bush large in proportion to the size of the flower.

Show Stopper (2007, Not rated yet, 24-30”, pink blend). Perfect centered exhibition blooms on long stems.  Blooms are not “high” centered.  Vigorous and winter hardy.  Outstanding medium pink color darkens on the edge in the bright sun.

Tiffany Lynn (1985, 8.1, pink blend).  Medium pink with white centers.  Large, high centered blooms.  Slight fragrance.  Bushy growth.

Robin Red Breast (1983, 8.7, red blend).  Reclassified as a mini-flora rose.  Previously considered a miniature rose.   Small blooms in clusters.   Medium green, glossy foliage.  Bushy growth.

Violet Mist (1993, 7.8, 36”. Mauve, full).  Double. Pale lavender blooms borne singly on long stems.  Also, can have nice sprays.

Award of Excellence (AOE) Winners.  Roses that have been rated over a two year period by ARS members at American Rose Society miniature test garden sites throughout the United States.