Rose Well Being

Quite a unique rose from Harkness which looks absolutely delicious and has fantastic fragrance. The large flowers of this variety are filled with petals, with each layer getting slightly smaller toward the center. The color of this rose seems simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a complex, harmonious, and enchanting mix of colors and shades. The outer petals display shades of pink, while the center glows with yellow ambers, creating a timeless color combination that never loses its charm. The scent is strong, sweet, and unmistakably Well Being. While the primary note is citrus, those with keen senses have also noticed hints of licorice and cloves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

The flowering habit is repeated and profuse. Blooms in flushes from early summer until frosts.

Flower bud:

The flower buds are medium sized and rounded. The colour of the bud color as the sepals first unfold is deep orange yellow with deeper salmon and pink shades closer to the edges, transitioning to deep purple, almost black; while closer to the base they have more deep yellow colour with orange and peach shades. When ¼ open, the petals have a deep apricot yellow colour, with peach and pink shades closer to the edges of the petals and more yellowing closer to the base. The flower buds are borne mostly in small clusters of 3 to 9 flower buds per stem.

The sepals have medium green colour with bronze-purple anthocyanin, the surface texture is glandular on the upper surface and pubescent on the inner surface. There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

Bloom:

The flowers of this rose are medium to large sized, the diameter of the open flower is about 7 to 8 cm (3”). Upon opening flowers have a cupped, slightly globular form, which becomes more open as the flowers fully open. The flowers are full, the number of petals per flower is about 40 - 45 under normal growing conditions.

The color of the flowers is very enchanting and complex, displaying a mix of yellow, apricot, peach, orange, and pink. Additionally, the color tends to change depending on the season and weather conditions. In colder and damper weather, more intense apricot, orange, and even carmine shades appear. In hotter and drier climates, you will see more yellow and peach tones. As the flower ages the colour becomes lighter, fading more to the mixt of light yellow, soft apricot and peach.

Unfortunately those gorgeous flowers have a bit of a short life span and live on a plant for about 4 - 7 days in colder weather and about 2-3 days in warmer climates.

The petals drop off cleanly before drying.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘ Well Being’ is strong, powerful, sweet and fresh. There are primary notes of citrus, and with hints of licorice and cloves.

PLANT

Although no additional information is provided about the parentage of this rose, this rose is classified as a Shrub rose featuring the characteristics of both the Modern Shrubs and Floribunda roses. It has a strong and moderately vigorous growth habit. Forms upright, erect and slightly outwardly plant, reaching a height of about 110 - 130 cm and the width of about 90 – 110 cm.

The flowers of this variety have moderate tolerance to heat, therefore in more hotter climates make sure it has some shade in the middle of the day for best effect.

Foliage:

The foliage of this rose is quite dense, healthy and compliments the colour of the flowers. The colour of the young leaves is bronze purple green and when mature becomes more green, but keeps its bronze shades. The foliage is large, has semi-glossy, firm and leathery texture. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is small and single. The number of leaflets on a normal mid stem leaf is normally 5.

Wood:

The new wood has a near yellow green colour with strong purple red intonations, especially from the sunny sides, the bark is smooth. The mature wood has a 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 medium-sized, have pyramidal and hooked downward shape. The colour of the young prickles is yellow brown purple 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 ‘Well Being’ has good resistance to most common rose diseases. 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.

Nantes Grand Prix International du Parfum, Nantes Rose Trials, 2003.

Information about the parantage of this rose is not available or commecrically protected.

USDA 6