Double Delight Rose
Some Interesting Facts About The Double Delight Rose; A Bouquet For Valentines Day
Although old-fashioned heirloom roses are very popular these days, a hybrid tea called the double delight rose -- botanical name rosa andeli -- has also received considerable attention. It is on the top 10 list of most fragrant roses, the fragrance so strong it is noticeable even before any buds appear.
The double delight rose has an old-fashioned appearance and unique coloring – red, pink, yellow and white, each flower different. Some are deep red and swirly white pink and yellow, others mostly white with a touch of pink and yellow. They change color as they become fully opened, in their final stages turning mostly red.
Roses, somewhat counter intuitively, are in the same family as stone fruits, called the rosaceae family. That may explain why you see similar problems in roses and fruit trees: fungus, bacteria and insects. Roses are highly edible, just as their stone fruit family members. They come from a rich heritage of plants that were a vital part of the diet for our forefathers, and have long been one of the most revered plants in the horticultural realm.
Many new additions to the rose family are extremely disease resistant, which is a relief for the environment, being spared the excessive quantities of pesticides and fungicides typically associated with growing perfect roses. Particularly, the popular heirloom roses are hardy when it comes to diseases. But the drawbacks with heirlooms are their wild growth habit and very brief bloom time.
The double delight and other hybrid teas are the answer to these difficulties in the rosaceae family; disease resistant, with a long blooming season and beautify formed, massive flowers. They bloom beginning in May or June and all summer long, with the September resurgence going straight through November. They are very resistant of disease and fungus, black spot in particular.
Growing requirements are similar to all roses: full sun, soil that is well drained but moist, and a well-balanced fertilizer applied at regular intervals through the summer months. It cannot be grown in very wet climates.
This hybrid tea grows to 5 feet tall by 2 feet wide, recommended for zones 5 to 9. The double delight is suitable for pots as small as two gallons, up to twenty. A proven approach for growing double delight in pots is to use a seventeen-inch pot, with a quality blend of sphagnum peat, various tree barks, and sand. Other helpful additives are cottonseed and alfalfa.
Fertilizer can be added to every watering, daily or as needed. To test the moisture content, stick your finger in 3 inches, and if dry, the rose needs watering. If the plant is young, or in a pot much larger than its root ball, water less often.
Along with the many pluses, rosa andeli also makes a great cut flower. Nothing could be better than bringing its unique, sweet and spicy fragrance into your home, or giving a bouquet to a special friend. What a perfect way to mark a memorable occasion, just in time for Valentines Day. If your just starting to grow the double delight rose, by this time next year you will be able to give a bouquet to your favorite Valentine.