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'Distant Drums' rose Reviews & Comments
Discussion id : 129-130
most recent 21 SEP 21 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 21 SEP 21 by sandsock (PNW 8a)
I got Distant Drums as a small band own root rose from Northland Rosarium...I had the same trouble as another poster. I would lose and gain leaves, but never grew past the original size. I contacted Northland and was told that Distant Drums own root baby likes to really dry out betweeen waterings. I have let it do that and wow...lots of new growth! Now I have to protect it from the daily winter rains here...I'm am sure it will grow out of that since a grower in Portland, OR is having success with the bush.
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Discussion id : 8-751
most recent 1 DEC 17 SHOW ALL
 
Initial post 26 MAY 05 by Jean Marion
I usually only have PM on a couple of roses... this year Distant Drums is covered from head to toe in blackspot. Very unusual for this locale. Had to shovel prune, although there is not another rose that looks quite like it out there...
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Reply #1 of 9 posted 26 MAY 05 by Terre
Hello Decobug,
Can you tell me if your Distant Drums was grafted or an own-root plant? I test roses and have found the own-root Buck roses are far hardier than the grafted form. In fact, I don't know why the industry insists on putting hardy Buck roses on a graft. A breeder explained this rose was susceptible to disease as an own-root as a reason for the graft. Your experience makes it sound like that did not improve it's chances.
Thank you, Terre Ashmore
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Reply #2 of 9 posted 26 SEP 11 by Organic Roses-Honeybee Garden
Terre, I have an own-root Distant Drums and it is exceptionally tiny and fragile. It keeps shedding and regrowing leaves at the exact same interval, hence its inabilty to get any larger. I call it a Bonsai rose....It is already in its 2nd year in my garden and it never grows beyond 11" tall and 6" wide, lol! But I would never SP it because of its fast rebloom and the flowers are consistently lovely....It is growing in a 4' long pot. The exact same sized pot that all my huge climbers grow separately in, but the climbers flourish and grow to the Max! Not so with Bonsai Distant Drums...

On the other hand, the grafted versions I've seen at a nearby all-organics city garden are grafted Distant Drums which are short and stubby 2'8" bushes. 2'8" is far better than my 11", lol!
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Reply #3 of 9 posted 26 SEP 11 by Kim Rupert
My old Arena budded plant grows in half day sun in Newhall, Ca in my youngest sister's back yard. It gets watered by the sprinklers and rain, is never sprayed nor even fertilized and it remains about three and a half feet tall by nearly as wide. This is an intensely fragrant, beautifully odd colored rose but definitely not a strong, robust grower in many areas of the country. Much like BUCblue, Blue Skies and Silver Shadows, Dr. Buck selected it for the flower color, NOT the health and vigor of the plant. He'd written he felt like Henry Ford...you could have a rose in any color as long as it was pink. These were such dramatic departures from his body of work, he introduced them. There are MUCH better Buck roses to be had, but the vast majority are PINK.
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Reply #4 of 9 posted 30 NOV 17 by mamabotanica
Kim do you think in Pasadena ca that an own root distant drums would do ok? I have a spot saved for it at the dimensions listed (about 4x4) and am hoping it gets that size.just ordered it as own root because my local Armstrong (aren't all of their roses grafted?) won't have it for months.
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Reply #5 of 9 posted 30 NOV 17 by Kim Rupert
As long as it isn't cooked by being too close to any hardscape and too long, too continuous very hot sun; is grown in decent soil and provided regular feeding and watered appropriately, it should grow acceptably. Of course, being set back by regular Chilli Thrip attacks is going to stunt its performance, so keeping as "on top" of them as you can will help. And, I would definitely dis bud it, prevent it from flowering much, until it achieves something close to what you want. The more wood and foliage the plant has, the greater the momentum to grow. You should also do what you can to encourage new basal growth so when you prune (which should probably be sparingly, until it's larger), more new growth is generated to maintain its size. Good luck!
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Reply #6 of 9 posted 30 NOV 17 by mamabotanica
Thanks much! I really appreciate all the info- esp to stay on top of thrips. Recently bought a sprayer and some deadbug juice just for that!
Joam
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Reply #7 of 9 posted 30 NOV 17 by Kim Rupert
You're welcome! Good luck! Thank heavens I don't have them here. When they arrive, I'm done. That's too much work and too much exposure to chemicals I simply won't expose myself, pets and loved ones to. See if the own root plant works and whether it does or not, pick up a budded one when they are available. I think seeing the two close to each other will teach you much about the benefits of budding, particularly with weaker varieties.
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Reply #8 of 9 posted 1 DEC 17 by Robert Neil Rippetoe
Kim, Tom Carruth told me they were coming and yes, they are finally here.

It took me a few months to figure out what was happening. They seem to like some varieties much better than others. You KNOW I won't spray!!

I figure it will be a good opportunity to concentrate on breeding THRIP resistant varieties??

Looking online it seems there are a fair number of natural predators.

I had problems for years with Mites until a natural balance was established. Hopefully they same will hold true with our new friends the Chilli Thrip.

Life does go on. R-
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Reply #9 of 9 posted 1 DEC 17 by Kim Rupert
Ouch, I'm sorry, Robert! Yes, that would permit you to see what resists them. I guess that's one sliver of a silver lining.
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Discussion id : 94-651
most recent 30 AUG 16 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 30 AUG 16 by drossb1986
I see from the reviews that there's been some differences of opinion on it. I haven't picked up on any scent. The plant is a strong grower and has a nice, rounded habit. The flushes are strong and despite the "washed out" color, it shows up well in the garden. I have only had the slightest touch of blackspot on DD even though it's planted next to Melody Parfumee' which has had multiple, severe blackspot outbreaks. DD does set very large hips quickly. Overall, it's a good rose and I prefer it over Koko Loko, it's brown/lavender floribunda cousin.

November 2016 Update: I take back what I said about the scent. It's almost like...as the bush as established itself, the scent has gotten stronger. That said, I'm not a fan of its scent. I can't describe it, but I don't find it to be very pleasant. But in all reality, this is a stellar plant. It's a love-it or hate-it color, but a great rose. I'd say this is a must have in the garden.
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Discussion id : 89-403
most recent 22 NOV 15 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 22 NOV 15 by Michael Garhart
I was doing my winter pruning on this rose today, and I decided I should review it for others.

Well, I have had this rose for over a decade. It just blooms w/ low upkeep. Always fragrant. Color is usually pastel tan and orchid, fading to a pastel tanned blush pink. About 4 cycles per growing season. It is not extremely immune to disease, and the prickles are large, but it is not an issue. It always looks good.

The one thing is that I would not really call it a shrub, or even a floribunda. It grows upward to 5-6'. The clusters are wide, and the blooms are 3-5" each here. I would call it a grandiflora. The first 2 years are slow, and the growth intervals are short, but it grows out of this.

Everyone loves this rose, and it is not garish. It is unusual.

It must be pruned after blooming, as it sets hips quickly.
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