Carefree Beauty Rose

[GardenGeisha]

Last spring I bought a 'Carefree Beauty' rose from Jackson & Perkins. It is an old shrub rose. It was bareroot, and I never could get it to leaf out. The bareroot they sent me was very tiny.

Do you think there is any chance it could still be alive and come back from its roots, even though it never leafed out for me?

I had gotten it to replace a rose which I thought had died (the Lavender Simplicity I have been discussing in another post). That Lavender Simplicity surprised me last summer by coming back on its own roots, in the area near where I had planted the 'Carefree Beauty' which never leafed out. I never pull anything up, and it's a good thing, or I wouldn't have had the Lavender Simplicity to enjoy in the Carefree Beauty's place last summer.

I'm wondering, though, whether a rose that has never leafed out after its planting last spring could actually still leaf out? Doubtful, I'm sure?

I notice Jackson & Perkins is not carrying this particular type of rose this year and I'm wondering whether you have heard of others who have had trouble getting it going? I read somewhere that even though it is called 'Carefree Beauty,' it is hard to get started.

I have a credit for it and am considering getting 'Hynotized.' Or would "Melody de Parfumee' be superior?

 

[thistlebloom]

I would say that if it never leafed out it's dead, dead, dead,

Are any of these roses own root? or are they grafted?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Lavender simplicity roses are own root.

I think Carefree Beauty are own root, also.

 

[thistlebloom]

Well, own root is always best IMO. Especially in the north. I can't advise on which replacement to get, I'm not up on rose varieties so much now...but for sure get an own root!

 

[GardenGeisha]

Own Root is a good idea. I'd like 4th of July (don't know whether it is own root or not), but I've heard it reverts to solid red after a year or two of the red-and-white stripes. The ones I've seen in gardens look sickly, so don't think I'll get it.

I want a rose that is highly fragrant. Lavender Simplicity is highly fragrant, but I don't think I'll get anymore of those, as much as I love them.

 

[Nyboy]

Jackson & Perkins used to be a great place to buy roses. The company was sold, lots of negative rewiews now.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Yep, but I don't want to waste my credit. I suppose I could buy something other than a rose from them.

 

[journey11]

Cut it back a little and look for green...but it does sound dead to me. That is a bummer! Do they not guarantee their plant? Most of the nurseries I order from will give you a year for free replacement.

 

[GardenGeisha]

They told me they had no more of those in stock when I tried to get a replacement, and I guess they knew they wouldn't be getting any future ones, which makes me think it was a bum lot of them they sold. And to make it even worse, they would not refund the shipping fee, which is about $7.00, so I am out that. All they would give me a credit for was the price of the rose. And I had to fight to get that. The e-mails I sent them got hung up somewhere, and I had to make phone calls.

I did try cutting it back and saw no green. Then I was working in the area and the stem snapped, and still I saw no green. Only about 1/2 an inch of the stem is sticking out of the ground now. I really don't think there is any life, but I won't pull it out, just in case. Since the Lavender Simplicity resurrected, it is really too close to it, anyway.

That 'Hansa' rose is sounding really nice. I'll see whether they carry it. It does sound familiar. I think I came across it.

Oh, by the way, I called Jackson & Perkins the other day to see exactly how much my credit is for. They couldn't figure it out (a new person), and said their supervisor, Christy, would call me the following day. This was a week ago and she still has not called. I also sent her an e-mail, and she has not responded. They did say I have 2 years until the credit expires, but I wanted to get that confirmed.

Why do you think they won't return the call as promised, nor answer my e-mail? Seems like bad business to me?

 

[897tgigvib]

What Journey and Thistle said is right. You did the stem cut test. I think she has an official death certificate.

About them hemming and hawing for a return, give them another call. Any decent nursery company will replace with an equivalent value a plant that has passed on, and a good nursery even will do so even if it was not their fault.

Jackson and Perkins used to be THE PREMIER Rose company. I don't know what has happened to them. Maybe send a registered mail to them, or write them off. I don't know.

Hansa is a Rugosa Rose. It's a shrub, very thorny, upright, with stiff stems. Her leaves have those furrows and ridges. Her flower has an old fashioned look to them, medium sized flowers, often in small clusters. They are that hard to describe purplish red pink color, call it pink or deep pink. The flower form is a good Rugosa form, an old fashioned form, basically fully double.

They do have a nice aroma, but not very strong.

I'm pretty sure there are variations of Hansa out there. In fall and late summer the plant becomes more rugged looking, reddish in some of the leaves. Hansa makes rose hips, nice good sized ones. Orange. Over the course of a few years the shrub can get kind of large. Pretty much only prune out dead wood, or one of 2 branches that are rubbing hard.

I should think that J and P should have Hansa Roses. They are one of the more common roses, and should be one of the least expensive ones. Yes, they are own root, and yes, they do start from cuttings.

There are other Rugosa roses. Some have apparently been crossed with the likes of grandiflora or maybe hybrid tea roses. Some of them have very beautiful flowers, but I don't know if any others are as tough as Hansa.