Rose Papa Giovanni Paolo II

‘Pope John Paul II’ has received prestigious awards for its delightful fragrance, robust growth, impeccable flowers, and resistance to diseases. It is undeniably one of the most exquisite and remarkable white roses you can grow in your garden. Flowers are very large, pure white, have classical high-centered Hybrid Tea form and a delightful fresh citrus scent. These prominent flowers appear against the glossy, dark green, and disease-resistant foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
The following detailed description of ‘Pope John Paul II’ rose cultivar with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart 2001, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

FLOWERING
The variety has recurrent, continuous blooming habit. Flowers from early summer until frosts.

Flower bud:
Flower bud is large, about 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) long and 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is long, pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is a blend of green white (Group 157D). When the bud is half open, the upper and lower sides of the petals are White (Group 155C).

The sepals have length of about 2.2 – 2.5 cm (0.9 – 1 inches) and the width of about 0.9 – 1.1 mm (0.04 inches), their shape is subulate and the surface is hoary. The colour of the upper surface is light green (Group 138C) and of the lower surface is medium brown green (Group 146C). There are 3 lightly to normally appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is dark brown green (Group 146B), has funnel shape and smooth surface, it is large, about 2 cm (0.79 inches) wide and 1 cm long (0.39 inches).

Peduncle is short, stiff, erect and heavy. The length of the peduncle is about 5 to 6 cm (2 – 2.4 inches), have smooth surface and just a few glands. The colour of is dark brown green (Group 146B).

Bloom:
The flowers or the rose variety ‘Pope John Paul II’ are large, the average open diameter is about 14-15 cm (5.5 - 6 inches). They borne mostly singly on strong flowering stems. The average length of the flowering stem is about 40-46 cm (15.8 - 18.1 inches) with a diameter of 6-8 mm (0.24 - 0.31 inches).

When first open the flower has high centered flower form. The flower retains its form to the end, outer petals curl back, quill fashion. The number of petals under normal conditions is about 45-50.

The upper sides of the petals have white colour (Group 157D). The reverse sides of the petals are white (Group 157D). The bases of the petals have a medium yellow (Group 8B) spot, about 1 cm (0.39 inches) wide and 5 mm (0.20 inches) deep, on both surfaces of the petal. The major color on the upper sides is white (Group 157D).

The general tonality at the end of the first day as well as at the end of the third day remains unchanged, pure white.

Petals:
The petals of this variety are thick, have smooth surface and round shape. Their margins are entire, with rounded base and the apex, tips slightly recurved, moderately quilled. The petals arrangement is imbricated.

There are normally about 3 to 7 petaloids on a flower. Their size is changeable, from 3-7 mm (0.12 - 0.3 inches) wide and 10 mm (0.39 inches) long to 15 mm (0.59 inches) wide to 20 mm (0.79 inches) long. But they all have white colour (Group 157D).

The petals last on a plant long, about 5-7 days, and also they last long as a cut flower - about 8-9 days. Petals drop off cleanly before drying.

Fragrance:
The fragrance of ‘Pope John Paul II’ is strong, fruity with citrus notes.

Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens on a flower is about 85-95. Their length is about 7-8 mm (0.28 - 0.3 inches).

The anthers have length of about 3 mm (0.12 inches), they are regularly arranged around styles, mixed with petaloids and have light yellow orange colour (Group 18B).

The filaments are light green (Group 157A) and about 4-5 mm (0.16 - 0.20 inches) long.

Pollen has medium yellow brown (Group 163A).

The number of pistils is about 100-115 per flower, their length is about 7-8 mm (0.28 - 0.3 inches).

The styles are 6-7 mm (0.24 - 0.28 inches) long and dark purple red (Group 185A).

Stigmas are about 1 mm (0.04 inches) long and have light yellow orange colour (Group 159A).

Hips or seeds have not been observed yet.

PLANT
The rose variety ‘Pope John Paul II’ classified as a Hybrid Tea rose. Is quite vigorous, has upright, branching, slightly outwardly growth character. The mature plant grown in a garden when mature and well established has a height of about 170 – 180 cm (5.7” – 5.11”) and the width of about 120 - 130 cm (3.11” – 4.3”). The variety very well grows as own root rose.

Foliage:
There is a abundant number of foliage on a plant. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is about 5 or 7. The leaves are large, about 13 cm (5.1 inches) long and about 10 cm (3.94 inches) wide.

New foliage on the upper side is dark brown purple (Group 183A) and on the lower side is dark brown purple (Group 183C). The old foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 139A) and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147C).

Leaflets:
The average size of a leaflet is about 4.5 cm (1.77 inches) long and 3.5 cm (1.38 inches) wide. The shape is pointed oval, with rounded base and acuminate apex. The leaflet texture is lathery, glossy, edges are serrated, the type of serration is single.

Petiole has medium brown green colour (Group 146D). Petiole rachis is medium brown green (Group 146D) the underside is smooth with occasional prickles. Auricles are not observed on the leaves.

Stipules have a length of about 13-14 mm (0.51 - 0.55 inches); they are smooth with some glands. The number of stipules are usually 2, the colour on the upper and on the lower surfaces is medium brown green (Group 146D).

The vein colour is medium brown green (Group 147C), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:
The new wood has dark brown purple colour (Group 183B) and smooth bark. The old wood is medium brown green (Group 137C) and the bark is smooth with some rough patches.

Prickles:
There is a normal quantity of prickles present on this variety. On main canes from base there are about 8 to 10 prickles per 15 cm (5.9 inches) of the stem’s length. On the laterals from main canes usually no prickles observed. The prickles have hooked downward form, the length is about 7-10 mm (0.28 - 0.39 inches). The colour when are young is dark brown purple (Group 183B); when mature they have medium brown colour (Group 165A).

Small prickles:
Small prickles are not observed on main stalks and on the laterals.

Disease resistance:
The variety is very resistant to rust, botrytis and mildew under normal growing conditions and has moderate resistance to blackspot. Pest resistance was not tested.

The variety is quite winter hardy, recommended for growing in USDA zones 6 and warmer.

This rose was dedicated in memory of the deceased Pope John Paul II. The Vatican deliberately selected this perfect white rose, which was planted in the Vatican gardens in 2013, providing a view of Saint Peter's Basilica.

Rose Hills - Most Fragrant Variety, Rose Hills International Rose Trials, USA, 2006

Best Hybrid Tea, Best in Trial, Gold Medal Winner and Most Fragrant Rose at the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia in 2010

Most Fragrant Rose and People's Choice Most Fragrant Rose, Portland Rose Trials, Portland, USA, 2011.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ is variety of a hybrid tea rose which was originated by Keith W. Zary (USA) by crossing the variety ‘Hilaroma’ / ‘Secret’ with the variety ‘Jacsee’ / ‘Fragrant Lace’.

Therefore, the parentage can be summarized as following:

Seed parent – ‘Hilaroma’ / ‘Secret’ by Daniel Tracy, 1994.\

Pollen parent - ‘Jacsee’ / ‘Fragrant Lace’ by Keith W. Zary, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The primary objective of abovementioned breeding was to produce a new hybrid tea rose variety having the strong fragrance and wonderful flower form of the female parent combined with the strong fragrance and strong disease resistant foliage of the male parent.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and that distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties:

1. Clear white, well-formed flowers.

2. Very strong citrus fragrance.

3. Long vase life.

4. Strong, upright growth.

5. Dark green, healthy foliage.

6. Ability to root easily and also to grow vigorously on own roots.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by cuttings, as performed at Wasco and Somis, Calif., showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form and established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ differs from the female parent ‘Hilaroma’ / ‘Secret’ in the following combinations of characteristics: whereas the flowers of the parent seed variety have pink colour and smaller flowers of about 12-13 cm the flowers of ‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ have pure white colour and much larger flowers, averaging to about 15 cm in diameter.

‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ differs from the male parent ‘Jacsee’ / ‘Fragrant Lace’ in the following combinations of characteristics: whereas the flowers of the pollen parent have light pink colour and an open cupped shape with many petaloids the flowers of ‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ have pure white colour and high-centered, imbricated flower form.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The most similar commercially available rose cultivars to the variety ‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ are a rose variety ‘Jacolite’ / ‘Honor’ and ‘Maclanoflon’ / ‘Full Sail’.

‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ differs from the ‘Jacolite’ / ‘Honor’ in the following combinations of characteristics: whereas the flowers of the ‘Jacolite’ / ‘Honor’ have fewer petals, lighter fragrance, more of the yellow undertones and susceptible to the fungal diseases, the ‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ has pure white colour of the flowers, much stronger fragrance, and much better resistance to diseases.

‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ differs from the ‘Maclanoflon’ / ‘Full Sail’ in the following combinations of characteristics: whereas the flowers of ‘Maclanoflon’ / ‘Full Sail’ have cream undertones and weaker winter hardiness - recommender for USDA zones 7, the ‘Jacsegra’ / ‘Pope John Paul II’ has pure white colour of the flowers and better winter hardiness, recommended for USDA zone 6.

USDA zone 6 and warmer