The recent marriage of former Beatle, Paul McCartney, has created a disturbance in "the force," at least with regards to roses. This was inevitable, of course. We all knew it was going to happen. Chaos has ensued as people all over the planet scramble to find "the" 'McCartney Rose,' because they don't know which McCartney Rose "the" 'McCartney Rose' is.

There's a great deal of confusion in the world due to the same name given to different roses and different names given to the same rose. Kordes raised a Hybrid Tea called 'Blue River' in 1973 and then another also called 'Blue River' (KORsicht) in 1984.

Other times rose names in one language are difficult to pronounce in another language and are changed accordingly.

Take the name "aloha". Back in the 60s, Gene Boerner raised a darn good climber called 'Aloha' which is still popular. Recently, Sam McGredy and W. Kordes Sohne each christened new yellow Hybrid Teas with the name. Fortunately, Boerner's rose is pink and is easily distinguished from the other two. But the potential for confusion between the other two sends shudders down my spine.

Some times the name a breeder bestows upon his own creation is considered "unmarketable". Case in point is 'Anisley Dickson,' which was named by the breeder for his wife. In the States, it's better known as the rather undignified 'Dicky' and in Germany as 'München Kindl'. Another one of Dickson's rose, 'Dickson's Jubilee,' is widely known as something entirely different -- 'Lovely Lady'.

The rose many of us know as 'Amberlight' was originally named 'Fyvie Castle' after aproperty of the National Trust near the breeder's nursery.

Rosen-Tantau's dark red 'Taboo' in the States and 'Barkarole' in places like New Zealand. Their 'Mainzer Fastnacht' is better known as 'Blue Moon' in English-speaking countries.

McGredy's 'Candella' is sold as 'Eternally Yours' in England where it was named for the Rotherham Hospice Trust. The rose known as 'Flaming Peace' in the States was originally named 'Kronenbourg' by its breeder and is sold under that name outside of the US.

Sam McGredy named a sport of another one of his roses, 'New Zealand', 'Land of the Long White Cloud' by which it is sold in New Zealand, land of the long white cloud. Elsewhere, it's known by the not-nearly-so-romantic name, 'Full Sail'.

Cocker's 'Myriam' is called 'Celebration' in New Zealand. 'Celebration' is also the name of a Floribunda from Dickson back in the 60s.

The rose most of the world knows it as 'Charles de Gaulle' which French breeder, Meilland, named in memory of that country's statesman is known as 'Katherine Mansfield' in New Zealand to honor one of that country's heroes, the writer Katherine Mansfield.

If the number of names a rose is given is any indication of its merit, then the red rose known in the States as 'Veteran's Honor' ranks well. In Australia it was chosen to honor the bicentenary of the City of Newcastle and is known as 'City of Newcastle'. In New Zealand, it's called 'Lady in Red'. Sean McCann named one of his Miniatures 'Lady in Red,' too.