Rose High Society

‘High Society’ is a modern hybrid tea rose introduced by Interplant BV (Netherlands) in 2004. This cultivar produces medium to large double blooms that are distinctly bicoloured - orange-yellow with an intense pinkish center grading to an orange-red margin. In the beginning of the 2000s the variety was widely used as a rose for florists and was popular due to its long flowering stems. ‘High Society’ was marketed in Interplant’s “Golden Oldies” collection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

The rose variety ‘High Society’ has a continuous flowering habit. In the greenhouse it is able to flower year round, and in a garden it blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts.

The flower buds of this rose variety are broad ovate and large. The flowers of ‘High Society’ have classical hybrid tea rose double and high-centered form. According to variety trials, it bears large blooms of bicolour pink and orange tones. Detailed DUS testing reports the petal colours as pink (RHS 45A) on inner petal faces with secondary orange (RHS group 55A) markings, and a reddish-orange outer petal (RHS 55B), typically the basal petal spot is not observed on the outer sides of the petals. Thus, its appearance is a creamy-yellow or pinkish base edged with scarlet-orange (often described generally as yellow with a broad red margin). The flowers are double, having roughly about 53 petals per bloom. From above, the flower profile is broadly rounded; the side view is a flattened convex profile.

The petals of this rose are medium-sized and broad, have thick texture and medium density. The shape of the petals is obovate obovate, without any incisions present or very weak if present, the reflexing of the margin is medium to strong and the undulation is weak.

The petals of this rose variety normally hang on and dry, therefore the deadheading of the faded flowers is required. Under normal climate conditions the petals last long, on the plant they last for about 7 - 9 days, as a cut flower their lastingness is about 10 - 12 days.

The receptacle of this rose variety is medium sized, after the flowering the fruits (rose hips) normally not set, but if they do they are funnel-shaped and have green colour.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of rose variety ‘High Society’ is typical for florists roses - almost none or very weak.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘High Society’ is classified as Hybrid Tea (HT) rose, often also regarded as Florists rose as it was pred primarily for cut flowers production in greenhouse conditions. The growth habit of the plants of this variety are moderately vigorous and upright, quite narrow. The mature and well-established plant has a height of about 70 - 110 cm (2' 3" - 3' 6"), and a width of about 40 - 60 cm (1' 3" - 2').

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 varies from 3 to 5, including the terminal leaflet. Foliage is medium-sized, medium-green and slightly glossy, which is rather common for Florists’ hybrids; petiole and rachis may have a few prickles. The foliage is medium sized to large, on the young foliage typically present purple red anthocyanin colouration of medium to strong density. The shape of the leaflets is medium elliptic with an obtuse base and acute apex. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and medium sized.

Prickles:

The number of prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes is variable, from very few to normal quantities. The prickles have red‐brown colour and they are medium sized, have slightly curved downward shape.

Small prickles:

There are no small prickles observed on the main canes as well as on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.

Disease resistance:

Like most Florists Hybrid Teas, ‘High Society’ is susceptible to fungal diseases, especially to black spot, powdery mildew, rust and common rose pests. Cultural practices are first-line prevention: space plants for airflow and position under full sun so leaves dry quickly after rain. Timely sanitation is critical for this rose - remove fallen leaves and prunings each autumn to eliminate inoculum. Avoid overhead watering late in the day to reduce leaf wetness. Choosing grafted plants on vigorous rootstocks can confer drought and disease resilience, but not dramatically.

Hybrid Tea rose ‘High Society’ is reasonably winter-hardy as most Florists roses it can be successfully grown without winter protection in climates similar to USDA Zone 6 to 7. In cold climates, apply a thick winter mulch and prune after a severe cold. In Mediterranean and warm-summer areas, afternoon shade in very hot climates may help prevent petal burn, but full sun is generally fine for this rose - it tolerates heat pretty well, it behaves like many modern teas - good performance in summer if watered, but foliage may succumb to blackspot under prolonged humidity.

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

Golden Oldies

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Interhiety’ / ‘High Society’ originated by A.J.H. van Doesum for Interplant BV in the Netherlands, but its exact parents remain undisclosed. UPOV data state only that it resulted from a cross between “two unnamed bicolor rose varieties” performed at Interplant’s research station, where the seed parent was a yellow/pink bicolor rose on long stems, and the pollen parent is a yellow/orange bicolor rose.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Interhiety’ / ‘High Society’ is a modern Hybrid Tea rose first commercialized by Interplant BV in the Netherlands in 2004. According to the Australian Plant Variety Journal, the variety resulted from an intercross of two unnamed bicolor parents in May 2000 under breeder A.J.H. van Doesum. Its first sale was in Kenya in March 2004. It is often grown as a long-stem florists’ rose (for commercial cut flowers).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

In horticulture, ‘High Society’ is significant as an attractive bicoloured rose for bouquets. It has not won formal awards, but is included in Interplant’s "Golden Oldies" series, suggesting it is a reintroduced classic. Notably, the name "High Society" also denotes an unrelated large-flowered climber ‘JACadyna’ / ‘High Society’ - this climber bears bright pink blooms, so confusion must be avoided.

USDA 6