I collected many seeds from wild R. nitida growing near the St Lawrence in Maine a dozen years ago which, after several years drying in my luggage, I germinated. Of about 100 terminations, one stood out for vigor and robust health here in Texas (the rest quickly self-culled in our weather) and I was convinced I had erroneously gotten one of my Fendler’s rose seeds (R. woodsii arizonica from AZ) mixed in since it behaved so differently. (I consequently allowed my actual Fendler’s to all die since they were less vigorous, unfortunately.) I later determined the seedling in question did in fact share nitida’s morphology when it matured.
I have this thing growing on in relatively dry part-shade, and doing pretty well despite my neglect. I have been going on the assumption that it will never bloom for me, but am impressed with it and wonder if with proper pampering it could end up surprising me.
Anybody understand the physiological reason this rose has a limited northern range? Anybody know if it could be coaxed to flower in central TX?
>> Anybody understand the physiological reason this rose has a limited northern range?
This might have something to do with it - defining the species boundaries amongst the North American Cinnamomeae seems to involve an artful splitting of hairs.
Maybe like fruit trees, it needs more chill hours to bloom. However, you may be familiar with the sort of problem that goes on in Florida. Say you get a peach tree that requires 200 hrs chilling, and come fall it dutfully drops it’s leaves and waits. Every time the temp gets between 45F and 34F (I think that’s right), it’s timer starts ticking. Turns off when the temp drops below or goes above that range. Winter comes and goes, say only 85 chill hours that winter because it’s central Florida. Summer comes, tree still dormant. Winter again, tick tick tick, oh, 200 hours, time to bloom and put out leaves!
Of course, you’d notice if this was going on. But still, there may be somem need for more cold than you can supply. Can you take some cuttings and send them north? Surely there are others here that would get a kick out of trying them. (Don’t look at me, I have no room) Or do you have friends further north, say Oklahoma, who coulud keep them in pots overwinter? I doubt they’d freeze out there.
I am embarrassed to realize I have posed this question multiple times in the past. (Posed the question to Google AI which referred me to my earlier queries.)
Might try Kim’s suggestion of ice at the base (in a reply a year ago) but given it’s extreme northern range, I am not optimistic I could keep enough ice on the dang thing here.
Anybody have any sense as to how it might fare in a pot small enough to stash in my fridge? (Or is the freezer more appropriate?) I assume it would want a decently established rootball to bloom… ANYbody ever store species roses as barefoot plants and coaxed blooms out of them in the subsequent season?
Is F1 generation at risk of likewise requiring similar vernalization?
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