Rose Friesia

Very popular, multiple award winning scented floribunda rose. Early and prolonged shining golden yellow flowering made her one of the most popular floribunda roses. Good health and abundant flowering makes it a good choice for small gardens and for landscaping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

‘Friesia’ is one of the most popular floribunda roses because of its early, abundant and repeated flowering. Blooms in flushes, with very short breaks, from early summer until frosts.

Flower bud:

The flower bud has an elongated ovoid shape. The colour of the bud color as the sepals first unfold is deep golden yellow with orange intonations on the very edges of the outer side of the petals. When ¼ open, the petals have a deep golden yellow colour, and the edges of the petals slightly curl back. The flower buds are borne singly or in small clusters of 3 to 5 flower buds per stem.

Bloom:

The flowers are medium to large, the diameter of the open flower is about 7 to 9 cm (3” - 3.5"). Upon opening flowers have a high-centered form, which becomes more flat, ruffled and expanded as the flower fully opens. The flowers are very double, the number of petals per flower is about 30 - 35 under normal growing conditions.

The colour of the flower when just open is deep and shiny golden yellow. As the flower ages the colour becomes lighter, fading to light yellow closer to the end of the flowering.

The petals drop off cleanly before drying.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Friesia’ is strong, very complex and spicy. This rose captivates with a mysterious, oriental-mystic fragrance that contrasts with the bright yellow of its petals. The almost narcotic blend of iris and patchouli creates a bewitching aroma. This scent combines with the sensual, floral notes of jasmine and ylang-ylang. Interspersed are green hints reminiscent of freshly cut boxwood. Fruity undertones like lychee and apple add a unique touch. Ultimately, the scent unfolds into a soft, velvety base of vanilla and apricot.

PLANT

The variety is classified as a Floribunda rose with strong and vigorous growth habit. Forms upright, erect and slightly outwardly plant, reaching a height of about 70 – 120 cm and the width of about 40 – 70 cm at the end of the growing season.

Foliage:

The foliage of this rose contrasts really well with its flowers. The foliage is abundant, dark green, dense and glossy. The number of leaflets on a normal mid stem leaf is 5.

The young foliage has deep green color and glossy appearance, while the mature leaves are dark green andglossy appearance. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is large and single.

Wood:

The new wood has a near yellow green colour, sometimes suffused with medium purple brown green, the bark is smooth. The mature wood has a medium brown green colour, the bark is smooth with some rough patches.

Prickles:

There is a normal quantity of prickles on the main canes as well as on the laterals from the main canes of this variety. The prickles are large, have pyramidal shape. The colour of the young prickles is brown purple green and the mature prickles have grayish brown colour.

Small prickles:

Small prickles are absent on the main canes as well as on the laterals from the main canes of this variety.

Disease resistance:

The variety is very resistant to most common rose pathogens. The resistance to black spot and mildew is very good. Pest resistance has not been tested.

The variety is recommended for growing in climate zones similar to USDA 6 and warmer and require winter protection in more colder climates.

Unfortunately we do not have information about the origin of the name of this rose.

ADR-Sorte, ADR General German Rose Novelty Trials, 1973;

Baden-Baden Gold Medal, Baden-Baden Rose Trials, 1974;

New Zealand Gold Star of the South Pacific, New Zealand Rose Trials, 1975;

ARS James Alexander Gamble Rose Fragrance Award, ARS Fall National Show, 1979;

Gold Medal, Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) Show or Trials, 1989;

RNRS James Mason Medal, Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) Show or Trials, 1989;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Ohio State Fair Show, 1999;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Sacramento Rose Society Show, 1999;

Floribunda Spray, New England Rose Society Show, 1999;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Bay Country Rose Society Show, 2000;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Lake Superior Rose Society Show, 2000;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Reno Rose Society Show, 2000;

Floribunda Spray, Topeka Rose Society Show, 2000;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Great Lakes District Show, 2001;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘Korresia’ / ‘Friesia’ originated from a controlled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parent roses:

 Seed parent – a Floribunda rose ‘Friedrich Wörlein’ bred by W. Kordes' Söhne, 1963;

 Pollen parent – a Floribunda rose ‘Boerio’ / ‘Spanish Sun’, from Eugene Boerner, 1966.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed parent ‘Friedrich Wörlein’ characterised by deep yellow less double flowers and much larger plant, while the ‘Korresia’ / ‘Friesia’ variety has very double, golden yellow flowers and more compact plant.

Also the pollen parent ‘Boerio’ / ‘Spanish Sun’ has lower and compact growth, paler and high-centered flowers, while ‘Korresia’ / ‘Friesia’ has slightly larger plant, more open and ruffled, darker golden yellow flowers and fewer petals.

USDA 6