New rose varieties are worth a sniff

Roses and Valentine's Day are almost synonymous. While roses in the garden aren't yet growing, it is not too early to start thinking about some new ones to help supplement those that are buried under the snow.

For the past 65 years, the All-America Rose Selections committee has tested and introduced new and exciting varieties to the rose-loving public. Experts select AARS winning roses by judging 15 key gardening characteristics including disease resistance, cold hardiness, color, form, flowering effect and season, fragrance, vigor and novelty appeal.

For the 2004 season, three varieties — Day Breaker, Honey Perfume and Memorial Day — took the AARS's highest honors.

"No new roses are ever guaranteed of meeting All-America Rose Selections' standards during the rigorous trials in test gardens across the country," said AARS president Phil Edmunds. "The fact that we have three deserving winners this year is testament not only to the roses' stellar performance but also the diligence of growers to deliver new, exciting varieties to the rose-growing public."

As the absolute best new roses for the next growing season, look for this trio to sparkle in your garden.

Day Breaker is a pleasant contrast to roses that have no fragrance. This rose won for its exquisite beauty and for its sharp, moderate tea fragrance. For many years, roses were selected for size and color, and I consider that a mistake. Fortunately, the public wants and is getting roses that smell like roses.

This rose is an upright, bushy floribunda with bright, multishade blooms. The yellow color blends to pink and apricot. The pointed, shapely buds produce spiraled blooms that grow to about 4 inches in diameter, with 30 to 35 petals per flower. The leaves are dark, glossy green on a medium height plant.

Day Breaker earns its floribunda classification because it produces brilliantly colorful, long-lasting clusters of flowers. These grow on hardy plants that produce a continuous, long-lasting show of blooms.

Day Breaker is being introduced by Edmunds' Roses of Wilsonville, Ore. Gareth Fryer hybridized this excellent choice.

Honey Perfume is another knockout floribunda. The exceptionally rich, bright apricot yellow blooms grow in large, open clusters. Another desirable feature is that it has a fast repeat, so new flowers quickly replace the fading blossoms. Flowers grow 4 inches in diameter with 25 to 30 petals each on 12 to 14-inch long stems.

Honey Perfume plants grow to about 3 1/2 feet high and are 2 1/2 feet wide. They form an upright, well-branched plant that features dark green, glossy foliage.