It seems like, every time I write about my favorite rose I write about an old one. You probably think I only grow old rose bushes. This year I deliberately bought some of the newer Eddie Edward’s varieties just so I could know what’s current in the rose world. Maybe I’ll be real impressed by one of them and next year I’ll be able to tell you about the latest thing. But this time, I want to tell you about a rose I love. There are certain roses I feel such a strong affection for; this one is ‘Heirloom’.
The 2008 American Handbook for Selecting Roses describes ‘Heirloom’ as a Hybrid Tea, mauve in color, semi-double, introduced in 1971. It receives a rating of 7.1.
U
ntil
I looked it up in the “Handbook” I did not know it was a
semi-double, because the flowers are quite full of petals. I just
counted the petals on a rose I picked today; it has 27 large petals
and too-many-to-count petaloids in the center. The bud has a very
classic shape with a nice spiraled center, though probably not high
enough to win a competition.
If the description had read “Grandiflora” I would not have been surprised. The bush is rather thin and upright. While the first blooms of spring come one to a nice long stem, in summer there are always three or more blooms to a stem. I disbud mine to keep the flowers larger.
To call this rose “mauve” is to tell just part of the story. You see the bud is really a rich, dark purple, like “Intrigue.” When the outer petals open the inner petals are a light, silvery mauve. In full daylight, the inner petals will open enough to reveal a show of yellow stamens. The contrast makes this a very colorful flower.
The “Handbook” does not mention the greatest asset of this rose, but I will let you in on the secret. “Heirloom” has a powerful, old rose scent. Not just a light whiff of something; oh no; powerful, like ‘Mr. Lincoln’, ‘Fragrant Cloud’ and ‘Tiffany’ The “old rose” quality is not the myrrh scent of some old roses, but the cold cream scent of long ago. I am surprised ‘Heirloom’ has not won the Fragrance Class in our local shows.
This rose has been in Jackson & Perkins catalog, off and on, since its introduction. I grew it years ago and ordered it again a few years back. But, I have seen nice plants of ‘Heirloom’ for sale for the past few years from Home Depot for about $7.00. This variety grows very well for me and blooms abundantly. I give ‘Heirloom’ a high rating, but then I fell in love with it. Grow it and perhaps you will too.