Bob Bauer wrote:
Radika said:


I am sort of guessing that there are two verions of Sunsprite being
offered in the U. S., one fragrant and the other not, based on all
realiable rose people at different places in the U. S. reoporting two
sets of experiences.


My 'Sunsprite' is of the non fragrant persuasion. I have sniffed
this rose hundreds of times in all stages of blooming and only once in
a while do I get a sniff of perfume. Mostly nothing. Never strong.
I was beginning to suspect that I had a defective sniffer, but I have
had many other people sniff it to no avail as well.

Interesting. Very interesting. Did you get your Sunsprite from Edmunds,
by any chance? You might check out the Sunsprite from Ashdown if you
think it worth your while. Or else come out this way for the Spring
Celebrations in Guadelupe River Park again, and smell the Sunsprite at
the Heritage?

I am beginning to wonder if there are certain clone lines that have
sported to a version that is not fragrant.

This is what I am wondering too.

My 'Double Delight' on the other hand, is extremely fragrant at all
stages of bloom.

This DD fragrance/non-fragrance divide seemed to have a geographic
distribution the last time I looked. It was clearly: west of the
Rockies, it is fragrant and east of the Rockies, it is not. I am not
sure what another unscientific survey would show if it was taken today...

It is one of only 5 or so roses that I grow that I
can predictably have people smell and know that they will not be
disappointed.

What are the other four in your garden?

Out here (in just our garden), such roses that all who smell them
identify as fragrant would be:

Francis Dubreuil
Barbara Worl
Sheer Bliss
Tradescant
Gertrude Jekyll
Othello
Cecile Brunner
Don Juan
Lady Hillingdon
Tamora
Sunsprite
Florence Delattre
Comte de Chambord
Rose de Rescht
Lilac Rose

.... and some others that I am sure I am forgetting right now because all
I see is the wintry landscape ...

Just got Fragrant Cloud this year, and I know this will be one of those
by and by. This is one that you think fragrant too, right?

--
Radika
California
USDA 9 / Sunset 15