I have Aptos from cuttings given to me by Kim about 5 years ago. I have not used it in breeding but it does set a lot of OP hips which do germinate quite well. It is somewhat cold hardy in Des Moines (zone 5b) with some dieback in extremely cold winters (2013-2014). But it is vigorous and comes back strong and produces many, many blooms (I counted over 100 on a single spray). It is also very disease resistant here in the Des Moines area - I don’t recall seeing BS on it and never saw PM (rust is not an issue here). I think it can be used quite successfully in a breeding program but you may want to consider crossing with shorter varieties to get the size down - unless you prefer 5-7 feet tall and round shrubs (might be more of a monster in warmer areas). Prickles might be an issue for some as well so consider using a parent which produces something with less thorns - David’s Oso Happy Smoothie comes to mind at the moment and you could probably go both ways with that cross (Aptos looks to be a diploid to me but I have no clue). It might impart good/fast rooting abilities too.
I also grow Fiji/Cherry Lady but last year was the first year with it and it was in a smallish pot for most of the summer. As I recall it was healthy with minimal spotting. It did put out some good growth despite being in a pot. The blooms were pretty nice and decent size - nothing earthshattering but still very nice. I don’t think it produced any hips but I wouldn’t have expected too many from it when grown the way I did and since it was so young - BTW Winter Sun was grown similarly and did produce huge hips. If I can get it in the ground this growing season, I will try to do a few things with it to test Fiji. I think it would be good to combine with a Buck and even some of the hardier shrubs from Canada - it may be able to clean them up a little.
I’m glad Aptos has done that well for you, Andre. Here, it grew in dense shade with ZERO disease, flowering continuously much of the year and smelled wonderfully. I no longer grow it due to room.
Kim, I thought it would be one that you would have had to cull due to size. It gets to a nice size here in Iowa so I’m sure it gets to a very nice size where you are. I am thinking about finally using it this year and am thinking about using some of my smaller polys and some of my suspected diploid minis on it. I’d like to take Tom Thumb and Cineraire pollen out for a spin so maybe I’ll see what Aptos does to them.
Philip, I live out east of you and have good luck with my Rouge Royale. It seems to do better here with some shade, mine is planted under a pecan tree. When we had our last rose tour one of the members was dumbfounded when he saw mine. We finally decided that the shade makes a difference as his does not get shade and underperforms.
Thanks, Joan. Mine might be in a tough spot. The old Teas and Chinas do well there, but most of the others are underperforming in that bed. (The north side of my lot has lots of caliche, whereas the south is good blacklands prairie soil.)
I might try to relocate it. I’m not one for pampering, admittedly, and do not spray, and use minimal fertilizer.
I’ve been intrigued by the conversation on rose soil preferences in another thread…