I have been reading about the Hybrid Hulthemias and I’m very interested in trying my hand. I notice that Vintage has Persian Sunset and would like some imput from a hybridizers viewpoint on the rose.
My efforts are geared toward roses that will do well in Central Texas. Do Hultemias have heat and drought tolerance?
Oops, I misspoke, it is available at Rogue Valley, not Vintage.
Hi Joan,
I used ‘Persian Sunset’. It has great color and a nice blotch. It produces a large amount of fertile pollen, but most of it’s seedlings are once bloomers and may not bloom for 2-3 years after planting the seeds. I did get some repeat bloomers from it, but very few and they had to be “cleaned up” a bit by crossing with other roses - tended to be thorny and somewhat disease prone. I would get ‘Persian Sunset’, but just be aware of the above drawbacks. I think that there is still value in going back to varieties that are closer genetically to the species, however, you can bring along a lot of undesirable baggage by using them.
Star Roses is introducing 2 of my repeating blooming Hulthemias in 2012. You may find quicker results using them since they are fully remontant.
Some of the Hulthemias do seem to have relative drought tolerance as compared to roses.
Jim Sproul
Hi Jim!!!
WOW!!! Congratulations!!! I am SOOO excited for you that CP is introducing your Hulthemias!!! I can’t wait to buy them!! I bet they are propagating them like gangbusters right now. It sounds like CP has moved strongly towards distributing own root liners propagated by Greenheart Farms and then nurseries grow them on as containerized plants until salable. Is that how they’ll mainly be produced? Please let us know how we can first buy them :0).
David
Jim,
Thanks so much for the input. I ordered two Persian Sunsets today. They should be valuable even given the drawbacks you listed. Congrats on the new introductions I will be looking to buy them both next year. Can you tell us what names they will be sold under? I want to put a bug in the ear of my local Nursery as they do order from Star Roses.
I am writing a short article on Hybrid Hulthemias for my local Rose Society Newsletter.
Hi David,
Thank you! I am really glad that CP wanted to move on them. They represent a new class of roses and although you cannot predict the way the public will respond, at least they’ll be recognized as different! I think that you are right about CP moving their emphasis, but I think that they will still field grow a fair amount of own-root plugs. I think that you are right too, that they have a strong relationship with Greenheart. Regarding where to buy them, I know that CP has a nursery locator on their website that indicates proximity to whatever zip-code that you enter.
Hi Joan,
I think that you will enjoy ‘Persian Sunset’. It really does have great color. I’m sorry, but the names of my CP Hulthemias will not be released until their catalog is published on-line on 4/15/11. Regarding your article, you are welcome to use any info that might be helpful from my website.
Jim Sproul
Jim, you should really talk more about the roses. What are they named? What’s the parentage? (Looking at your parentages has been a favorite pastime for me…)
Any pictures?
Everyone is (or should be) interested… at least I am…
Do they (Star Roses) have an Australian agent 
Congrats Jim. I am sure just with the novelty factor going for them they will sell well. I am also certain that when people grow them out they will discover to their surprise that you breed a plant that is more than just novelty and is a down right good rose.
Hi Simon.
From information I have recently sourced from several people in the business of persica roses overseas (not USA), and who are in the know about persica hybrids in particular, it may be a few years still before we see hybrid persica at retail level here, unless there are others in the pipeline I am not aware of.
Persian Flame (not Sunset) has proven to be highly infertile in both directions, but it is otherwise very healthy, vigorous, and okay with repeat bloom (2 flushes) here. It definitely does not mind the summer heat at all, yet it definitely does not care if it is wet all winter either. This is distinctly different than the Pernet derivitives. I am unsure if it is Playboy that is compensating for this or if Rosa persica is less prone to die-back issues.
I’m sorry that I cannot give more information at this time about the two CP introductions, but will soon. I didn’t mean to tease anyone, but just jumped the gun on mentioning them. Sorry.
Jadae, I have noticed that many of the Hulthemias have bad dieback problems. This may even be an adaptive trait to help them resist drought conditions. Nevertheless, the ones with bad dieback will not make good candidates for introduction! You may have noticed that ‘Tigris’ does that pretty badly.
Jim Sproul
Hi Jim,
I have yet to see Tigris in person. I have Nigel Hawthorn, which does not have die-back. How could it with all those millimeter needle-ettes as a blanket? LOL It also has small runners, which I believe Rosa persica does, too.
Still finalizing the name for the series and for the first 2 introductions. The Star Roses Catalog should be out around April 15. CP does have an Australian Agent. However it will probably be 3/4 years before they are available there because of quarantine restrictions. We should have them available both bare root and as plugs for spring 2012 here in the States. So far recommended only for the climates were black spot is not a big issue, and winter hardiness still to be confirmed below zone 6. We jumped the gun with these roses as they are so unique.Plenty more to come in the following years. Thanks Jim.
Stay tuned…
How about Canada?
Michael, you have the best of the three Harkness Hulthemias for garden/landscape use. Tigris is the only really fertile one and it’s beautiful, but can be “miffy”. Euphrates, which is in bud and hasn’t lost its foliage, no deciduous period this year, can mildew like all get out. Nigel has beautiful foliage and flowers heavily. I had it budded on multiflora from Ashdown years ago in the Palisades, and it flowered all summer there, like the Banksiaes do. Of them all, Nigel is the one I would love growing in the garden. If you have some established suckers one of these days, and wish to thin it out, I’d love to give one a home! Kim
Congratulations Jim ! I will be on the look out for them when they go on sale.
Hi Kim,
Remind me in two years and I can send one. It should be fully rounded by then, sending out runners.
I agree with you in it being the best of the originals. The color is intoxicating, and its size, architecture, hardiness, heat/drought tolerance, and health are awesome. Its main drawback is the lack of fertility and then slow rebloom (1, 1.5 or 2 flushes per growing season). However, I do believe that its possible for it to give fertile pollen, with the odds being like a single roulette choice.
Nigel is listed for sale in the current Heirloom catalog, just FYI.
Kathy
Thanks Kathy. I stopped doing business with Heirloom many years ago for several reasons. It will be interesting seeing if Nigel will repeat here in Encino as it did in Pacific Palisades. In Santa Clarita, it was spring flowering only. Kim