Rose Love Song

Displays an abundance of large and stunning flowers of a very attractive and pure lavender colour. The beauty of its old-fashioned flowers is matched with the surprisingly prolonged display. For such a colour the flowers have amazingly long lastingness and resistance to unfavorable weather conditions. Forms very well-balanced and attractive rounded plant with very dense, dark green and matt foliage, which is also very healthy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Throughout the description below the color references are based upon The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural, and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER
The variety ‘Love Song’ has recurrent blooming habit, flowers very abundantly and nearly continuously during the growing season, until the frosts.

Flower bud:
The flower buds are medium sized, before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.5 to about 1.9 cm in diameter at the widest point, about 2.0 to about 2.3 cm in length, and has ovoid to somewhat pointed shape. The surface of the bud bears between 5 to 7 foliaceous appendages, very few stipitate glands and usually with slender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud about ½ or more of its length. Bud color is between medium green (Group 144A) and dark brown green (Group 146B). They are borne singly or several together, of 3 to 5 or more per stem. The flowers are borne in regular somewhat flat to rounded clusters on strong medium length stems; the flowering stems usually have a length of about 20 to 34 cm.

The sepals are about 2 - 2.3 cm long and about 0.7 - 0.9 cm wide at the widest point. The outer surface color of the sepal is between medium green (Group 144A) and dark brown green (Group 146B). The outer surface of the sepal is very smooth and bears between 1 to 4 foliacious appendages with very few stipitate glands. The inner surface color of the sepal is near dark brown green (Group 146D). The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined with many stipitate glands and some hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of somewhat short to medium length, about 0.6 - 0.7 cm long and average in caliper, about 0.9 - 1.2 cm in diameter. The receptacle is urn-shaped in form. Its surface is very smooth with few hairs and with moderately thick fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between medium green (Group 144A) and dark brown green (Group 146B).

The peduncle is about 4 - 5.2 cm long, and of average caliper, about 2.5 - 3.5 cm in diameter, and usually erect. It is moderately rough, with few stipitate glands and some very small prickles. Peduncle color is between medium green (Group 144A) and dark brown green (Group 146B).

As the petals open and after the calyx breaks, the bud size is about 2.2 - 2.5 cm in diameter at the widest point, and about 2.6 - 3 cm long; the shape becomes moderately ovoid to nearly globular. The color of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is between dark blue pink (Group 70C) and medium blue pink (Group 70D), sometimes blushed with as dark as medium purple (Group 71B) at the very edge of the petal. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a somewhat small zone of near light yellow (Group 1D). The color of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between medium violet (Group 78D) and medium blue pink (Group 70D). At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near light yellow green (Group 1C).

Bloom:
The flowers are medium to large. When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8.3 - 9.1 cm in diameter. The flowers are very double, with about 46 to 57 petals count and also there are about 5 - 9 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form is moderately cupped to somewhat high centered, and the petals are somewhat tightly spiraled to cupped with petal edges somewhat rolled outward. When fully open, the flowers have more cupped shaped, and the petals have loosely cupped to moderately undulated shape with petal edges moderately rolled outward.

When the flowers are just opened the under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals is between light violet (Group 75C) and light blue pink (Group 73D). At the point where the petal attaches, there is a somewhat small zone of near light yellow orange (Group 158C). And the upper surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals is between light violet (Group 75B) and medium blue pink (Group 73C). At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near light yellow (Group 2D). The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and inner petals.

When the flowers fully open the general tonality of the flower is between light violet (Group 75B) and medium blue pink (Group 73C). The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals is between light blue pink (Group 75D) and light blue pink (Group 73D). At the point where the petal attaches, there is a somewhat small zone of near light yellow orange (Group 158D). The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals is between light violet (Group 75C) and light blue pink (Group 73D). At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near white (Group 155C). The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and inner petals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between light violet (Group 75C) and light blue pink (Group 73D). On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly and are not particularly affected by cold, hot or dry weather.

The flowers last on a plant fairly long, about 4 to 5 days; as a cut flower last for about 4 to 5 days under normal growing conditions.

Petals:
The texture of petals is moderately strong and of medium thickness, with upper surfaces somewhat satiny and under surfaces slightly shiny to matte. The petals are about 3.8 - 4.6 cm long and about 2.8 - 3.6 cm wide at the widest point. Petal margins are usually entire to sometimes moderately crenate mostly on the outermost petals. The outer petals have somewhat broadly obovate shape with rounded to sometimes moderately crenate apices. The inner petals are moderately obovate to nearly oblanceolate in shape with rounded apices.

The petaloids are about 2.1 - 2.4 cm long and about 0.8 - 1.3 cm wide at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularly shaped somewhat obovate to oblanceolate with rounded apices.

Fragrance:
The flowers have a slight citrus-like fragrance.

Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens is average, about 95 per flower and they are arranged regularly around the pistils and few are mixed with petaloids.

The filaments are medium to long, about 0.3 - 0.8 cm long, mostly with anthers. The colour of the filaments is near light yellow orange (Group 19C) often moderately suffused with near dark red (Group 53B).

The anthers are somewhat small to medium for the class and all open approximately at the same time. Anther color when immature is near medium yellow orange (Group 20A) on the external part and near medium yellow orange (Group 20B) on the internal part. At maturity the colour changes to near medium yellow brown (Group 163A) on the external part and near dark brown (Group 166A) on the internal part.

Pollen is moderate to abundant and near light yellow orange (Group 19D) in color.

The pistils vary in number, with the average count of about 140.

The styles are somewhat uneven, moderately short in length, about 0.2 - 0.3 cm long, somewhat thin to average in caliper, and moderately bunched. The styles have near medium red colour (Group 45C)

The stigma has near light yellow orange colour (Group 158A). Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of somewhat short to average length, about 2.1 2.5 cm long, somewhat ovoid to globular in form, and near orange brown (Group 172D) in colour when ripe. The hip surface is very smooth with moderately thick fleshy walls. The sepals are moderately fugacious.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 15 to about 18 per hip, about 0.4 - 0.6 cm in diameter at the widest point and near medium yellow brown (Group 164C) in colour.

PLANT
It displays moderately vigorous growth character, and the canes are of medium to heavy caliper for the class, about 0.9 - 2.4 cm in diameter. The rose variety ‘Love Song’ has a bushy and rounded form of the plant. The mature and well-established plant forms medium-sized floribunda plant, with the height of about 130 - 150 cm and the width of the bush of about 70 - 90 cm.

Foliage:
The compound leaves are usually comprised of 3 to 5 and are borne abundantly. The 5-leaflet leaves are about 10.2 - 13.5 cm in length and about 8.5 - 12.8 cm in width at the widest point, somewhat heavy to leathery in texture, and mostly matte to somewhat semi-glossy in finish on the upper side and matte in finish on the under side. The leaves have a pinnate venation pattern.

The rachis is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and moderately rough. The upper side is moderately grooved with few hairs and some stipitate glands on the edges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is moderately rough with some stipitate glands and few small prickle. The rachis color is near medium brown green (Group 146C) on the under side and near dark brown green (Group 146B) on the upper side.

The stipules are about 1.3 - 1.5 cm long and of moderate width, about 0.2 - 0.4 cm, with medium length straight points that usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The under and upper surface color of the stipule is between dark brown green (Group 146B) and medium brown green (Group 146C).

The petiole is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and moderately rough. The upper side is moderately grooved with a few hairs and some stipitate glands on the edges of the grooves. The underside of the petiole is moderately rough with some stipitate glands and a few small prickle. The petiole is about 0.6 - 0.9 cm. in length and about 0.2 - 0.3 cm wide at the widest point. The petiole color is near medium brown green (Group 146C) on the under side and near dark brown green (Group 146B) on the upper side.

Leaflets:
The terminal leaflets are about 4.9 - 7.1 cm long and about 3.4 - 5.6 cm wide at the widest point, shaped broadly ovate with moderately acute apices and rounded to somewhat inequilateral bases. Their margins are usually serrated, the type of serration is single.

The upper surface color of the young leaf is between medium green (Group 144A) and medium brown green (Group 146C), usually heavily suffused with between dark brown purple (Group 183A) and dark brown (Group 187A). The under surface color of the young leaf is between medium green (Group 144A) and medium brown green (Group 146C), usually heavily suffused with between dark brown purple (Group 183B) and dark purple red (Group 187C). The under and upper colors of the leaf veins on the young leaf are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the young leaf.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between dark green (Group 137A) and dark brown green (Group 147A). The under surface color of the mature leaf is near medium brown green (Group 148B) sometimes moderately suffused with between medium brown purple (Group 184D and Group 185C). The under and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf.

Wood:
The color of the young wood is between medium brown green (Group 146D) and medium brown green (Group 138B) often lightly suffused with dark brown purple (Group 183B) and dark purple red (Group 187C).

The color of the main canes is between medium brown green (Group 147B) and dark brown green (Group 148A), the bark is smooth and the colour of the lateral branches is between dark brown green (Group 146B) and medium brown green (Group 146C), the bark is smooth.

Prickles:
The main canes and the laterals from the main canes bear many large prickles that are about 0.6 - 0.8 cm long. The large prickles are almost straight and angled slightly downward with a medium length moderately broad oval base; The colour of the young prickles is between medium yellow brown (Group 165C) and medium yellow brown (Group 163A); the mature prickles have near dark brown (Group 166A) or medium brown (Group 165A) colour.

Small prickles:
There are many small prickles of similar shape and coloration as the large prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes.

Disease resistance:
The rose variety ‘Love Song’ has moderate degree of resistance to powdery mildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparable conditions. The resistance to black spot and botrytis is good.

Pest resistance – not tested.

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

Rose Hills Gold Medal, Rose Hills International Rose Trials, 2015;

Australia - Certificate of Merit, Australian National Rose Trials, 2016;

Floribunda (One Bloom), Greater Atlanta Rose Society Show, 2022;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
This variety of Floribunda Rose was received by cross pollination of two parent plants:

Female parent (seed parent) – undisseminated seedling breed by Tom Carruth with the following genetic origin:

  {Female parent (seed parent) - ‘Wekblusi’ / ‘Stainless Steel’ by Tom Carruth, 1997;

  Male parent (pollen parent) - a seedling, a result of the following genetic origin:

    [Female parent (seed parent) - a seedling, a result of the following genetic origin:

      (Female parent (seed parent) - ‘Wekcryplag’ / ‘Blueberry Hill’ by Tom Carruth, 1997;

      Male parent (pollen parent) - ‘Stebigpu’ / ‘Stephen's Big Purple’ by Pat Stephens, 1985;)

    ];

    Male parent (pollen parent) - ‘Fryxotic’ / ‘Sunset Celebration’ by Gareth Fryer, 1994;

  }

Male parent (pollen parent) - the variety ‘Wekblunez’ / ‘Memorial Day’ a Hybrid Tea roses by Tom Carruth, 2004.

Therefore, the genetic lineage of this rose variety can be expressed with the following formula:

{‘Stainless Steel’ x [(‘Blueberry Hill’ x “Stephen's Big Purple”) x ‘Sunset Celebration’]} x ‘Memorial Day’

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The most prominent features which distinguish this variety from other available at that point of time and commercial rose cultivars was the following combinations of characteristics:

1. Very double flowers of clear lavender coloration;

2. Excellent color stability throughout the life of the flower;

3. Large clusters of flowers and profuse flowering;

4. The plant has a bushy rounded growing habit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding as performed in Kern County and Pomona, Calif., showed that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
The rose variety ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed seedling by the following ‘Wekstameda’combination of characteristics:

Whereas ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ bears very double flowers (about 46 to 57 petals) of clear lavender coloration, the seed parent bears double flowers of light purple coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 25 to 32 petals). Also, ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ has a bushy, rounded, medium height growing habit (about 130 - 150 cm), whereas the seed parent has a bushy, upright, and significantly shorter growing habit (about 90 - 100 cm).

The ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘Wekblunez’ / ‘Memorial Day’ by the following combination of characteristics:

whereas ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ bears medium sized flowers, about 8.3 - 9.1 cm in diameter, of clear lavender coloration, the ‘Wekblunez’ / ‘Memorial Day’ bears significantly larger flowers, about 10.0 - 12.2 cm in diameter, of orchid pink coloration. The flowers of ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ have a slight citrus-like fragrance, whereas the flowers of the ‘Wekblunez’ / ‘Memorial Day’ have a strong old rose fragrance.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commercially available cultivar, ‘Angel Face’ bred by Herbert Swim by the following combination of characteristics:

•whereas ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ bears very double flowers, with about 46 to 57 petals of clear lavender colour, while the ‘Angel Face’ bears double flowers of clear medium lavender colour blushed ruby with significantly lesser petalage, about 25 to 30 petals.

•The rose variety ‘Wekstameda’ / ‘Love Song’ has a bushy, rounded medium height growing habit, with the height of 130 - 150 cm, whereas the ‘Angel Face’ has a rounded, compact and significantly shorter growing habit, about 90 - 120 cm.

USDA zone 6 and warmer