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'Celestial' rose Reviews & Comments
Discussion id : 123-539
most recent 9 JUL SHOW ALL
 
Initial post 23 OCT 20 by thebig-bear
This rose has no listed progeny, and indeed in only one reference is there any mention of hips at all - I have certainly never seen any hip set on my plant. However, as the flowers looked so inviting this year (2020), and as I was in a mad pollinating phase back in May and June, I decided to try different roses' pollen on Celestial to see what might happen.

Most of my few crosses failed fairly early on after pollination, but one (using pollen from R. Gallica Officinalis), much to my surprise, successfully set and ripened, and I took the hip from the plant in September (see pics in the photos of the hip just before I removed it) and extracted the seed. There were 5 seed in total, 3 of which were definitely fertile using the water test, whilst the other two were not definitely infertile, so as this was such an unusual cross I planted all the seed together in one pot.

We will have to wait and see what happens, but as this cross has worked and produced viable seed, I'm going to try many more crosses on it next year using pollen from various different types, to see whether there is any pattern as to what will and will not work with Celestial when using it as a seed parent.

Edit, update as of 25/8/21 - 3 of the seed from this cross germinated, and two have survived so far. They seem pretty healthy, if somewhat lacking in vigour. We will see what they can achieve.
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Reply #1 of 3 posted 9 JUL by ruebenmaxe
Hi there thebig-bear, any results yet? My Celeste has now spent 4 seasons in the company of a small collection of other Old Roses, including Gallica, Centifolia, and Damask. No hips whatsoever. So it looks like it really needs Mr Right as a pollinator. What else have you tried? Also very interested in negative results, so I won't retry those. Greetings, ruebenmaxe
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Reply #2 of 3 posted 9 JUL by thebig-bear
Hello reubenmaxe, thank you for your question.

The short answer is yes and no. The original two seedlings from the Celeste x R. Gallica Officinalis cross did not survive. They were very weak, and didn't grow much above about a couple of inches/ 5 cms.

I have since grown a seedling from Celeste x La Belle Sultane, and that is growing a little better, although it is still only about 6 inches high, and not very vigorous, but it is still alive after 2 or 3 years (progress!), and keeps regrowing with new leaves, and also a second stem this year, so fingers crossed it might (eventually!) come to something. From what little in the way of characteristics there are to be picked up from observing it, I would say that it resembles both parents pretty much 50/50, with the leaf shape and texture more akin to La Belle Sultane, but with the colour edging towards that of Celeste's foliage. Prickles (shape and amount) are much more like Celeste.

The main problem seems to have been that, even when the hip has set (and it now does seem to set hips at least semi-regularly, with even the odd OP hip forming), the seed doesn't have a good germination rate. But it seems that at least some will work, so it is probably worth persevering with, if you have the time and space to do lots of crosses. As to what works and doesn't work, I will have to get back to you on that, as I will need to access my notes. I will try and do that a little later on.

I am definitely going to keep trying with her, as I think she is well worth the effort if offspring are indeed possible to some degree. It just seems to be a case of finding what works, as you suggest. I am also trying her as a pollen parent, but with no seedlings thus far. Watch this space.

Hope this helps.
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Reply #3 of 3 posted 9 JUL by thebig-bear
p.s. Have you had a look at my journal via my profile page? There are some notes I made on the crosses I did on Celeste the following year, ie 2021.
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Discussion id : 14-187
most recent 23 SEP 06 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 23 SEP 06 by Unregistered Guest

I am trying to find an old white climbing rose that I remember from my childhood in Nicosia, Cyprus. It must have been planted in the early 1900's and its blossoms were very large and very fragrant and the petals were quite thick and reminded me of paper. It had beautiful egg-yolk yellow stamens. It was very hardy and had climbed and thrived on top of the tiled roof. A rose that reminds me of this white rose is a new rose called "Princess of Monaco" which is not a white rose. But the texture of the blooms and the their shape and the sort of fragrance are very similar to the one I am looking for. I will appreciate any suggestions.


Barbara Spyrou


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