Rose Chicago Peace

'Chicago Peace' is a modern Hybrid Tea rose, a sport of the famous 'Peace' rose discovered in Chicago in the early 1960s and features large coppery-pink blooms with yellow bases and a mild, fruity fragrance. The upright bushy plant is adorned with dark glossy foliage and is heat-tolerant. It is valued in cut-flower production and gardens. It combines ornamental appeal with robust performance in temperate and warm climates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

The rose variety ‘Chicago Peace’ has a recurrent flowering habit, but tends to rebloom freely. The spent blooms should be deadheaded to promote continued flowering. The side flower buds may be removed leaving one bloom per stem if an exhibition form is desired.

'Chicago Peace' bears very large double blooms, often are about 12 - 15 cm (5 - 6 inches) in diameter. The flower form is absolutely identical to parent - it starts with a high-centred classic Hybrid Tea form, later forming more informal cupped forms. Petal counts range around 45 to 60, giving a very double bloom. Buds are long and conical, opening gradually into the cupped bloom. As the bloom ages it may flatten slightly but retains good shape.

The color of this rose is distinctive: petals are initially golden-yellow or creamy at the base and flush to coppery-pink or coral on the edges. The petals become more rich coral-pink as they unfurl and shimmer with a canary-yellow at the base. As the flower ages the colour becomes lighter further on.

The petals of this rose variety have a normal self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly from the plant. Under normal climate conditions the petals last on the plant for about 5 - 7 days, and their lastingness as a cut flower is about 5 - 7 days as well.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of rose variety 'Chicago Peace' is mild to moderate, often described as light, fruity and pleasant.

PLANT

Rose variety 'Chicago Peace' belongs to the Hybrid Tea class, sometimes classified as Large-flowered shrub rose. The plant growth habit is typically upright and bushy, slightly outwardly, in general the growth habit and shrub form is very much like the parent. The mature and well established plants can grow to about 100 - 150 cm (4' - 5') in height to about 50 - 100 cm (1' 6" - 3' 2") in width. If left unpruned, canes can reach about 120 - 180 cm (4' - 6') in height. The plants of this rose variety are typically vigorous and hardy. Overall the plant is upright with a somewhat narrow profile; lateral branching is moderate unless pruned.

Cultural recommendations include full sun, rich well-drained soil, regular feeding, winter protection in cold zones, and standard Hybrid Tea pruning in early spring.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is usually 5, including the terminal leaflet. The colour of the foliage is dark green, the texture is glossy and leathery. The young leaves typically have purple red shade, especially intense on the edges. The size of the leaflets is large, they have an elliptic shape, the edges are serrated, the type of serration is double and medium.

Prickles:

Stems bear a few short to medium sized prickles along the canes, not unusually dense for a Hybrid Tea, the shape of the prickles is pyramidal.

Disease resistance:

Like many Hybrid Teas, rose variety 'Chicago Peace' is moderately susceptible to common rose diseases, though the glossy foliage confers some resilience. Many growers report that 'Chicago Peace' can develop black spot in humid conditions, so preventative spraying with fungicides is recommended. It is also known to tolerate heat and drought better than some Hybrid Teas, flourishing in summer heat.

Conversely, winter hardiness is moderate: it is generally winter-hardy to about USDA zone 6 (UK rating H6) but may suffer cane dieback in severe cold. Dead canes should be pruned out each spring to mitigate any cold damage.

The name 'Chicago Peace' reflects its origin. As the cultivar was discovered in Chicago, Illinois, the breeder chose to reference the location plus its parentage. A historical note explains that 'Chicago Peace'.

King of Show, Madison Rose Society Show, 1999;

Portland Gold Medal, Portland Rose Trials, 1962.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

'JOHnago' / 'Chicago Peace' is a Hybrid Tea rose which is a sport of the classic 'Peace' rose. It was discovered by Stanley C. Johnston in Chicago, Illinois, and introduced to commerce in 1962. As an American cultivar from Conard-Pyle/Star Roses, it quickly gained popularity in the 1960s for cut-flower use and gardens.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Its unique copper-pink blend coloring and lineage (sport of Peace) quickly made it noteworthy. It became a mainstay in temperate rose trials and rose societies often recommended for cut blooms and decorative borders. Its introduction expanded the 'Peace' family of cultivars and remains significant for gardeners seeking a hardy, showy Hybrid Tea.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

'JOHnago' / 'Chicago Peace' can be easily distinguished from similar bicolour Hybrid Teas. Unlike'Peace', which has a yellow ground with pink blushing, 'JOHnago' / 'Chicago Peace's blooms have deeper coral-pink tones and a more pronounced yellow base.

USDA 6