I saw on HMF that Felicite Parmentier is a tetraploid unlike most albas. Has anybody tinkered with Felicite in breeding then by any chance? It seems a perfect candidate, good health, pretty flowers and a famously intoxicating scent that could be worked with. Or is it despite being tetraploid, just a bit of a dead end?
Seems intriguing!
Thanks, hope everyone had a lovely Christmas,
Hi Max,
I don’t believe I have ever seen ‘Felicite Parmentier’ set seed, but it might produce pollen. (I’ve never looked) However, I would state that although it doesn’t Mildew and rarely (if ever) Blackspots, it will Rust like no tomorrow if conditions are conducive. I have had it Rust badly in some of my plantings, so I would approach that one with caution, as regards breeding. Same can be said of 'R. alba semi-plena. But hey, who knows? You don’t get anywhere in this game if you’re not willing to try unexplored territory.
I’d rather breed an acre of failed experiments than a handful of “cookie cutter” roses.
So, what you’re suggesting then, Paul, is to breed Felicite with Playboy and Queen Elizabeth to create rust proof seedlings? hehehe Kim
To my knowledge it is healthy here on the East Coast, if I find out otherwise I won’t bother, but, it seemed intriguing due to the fragrance!
I’m gearing up for next summer to actually do some oddball direct crosses on a wider scale than what I tried this year, though I’d ask.
Its definitely not a true alba. Its cluster formation is like that of the bourbon/portland types, yet the foliage seems to have gallica influence. Perhaps it is something odd like 4+2 due to the alba/canina lineage mixed with ogr tetraploids, or some weird combo of similar nature. Its definitly an odd beast.