For several years now I have tried different crosses with Morden6910. As a seed bearer the results have been rather negative, the fruits contain only one or two seeds and often zero. On the other hand, the pollen is really fertile but the dominance of single flowers and cherry red tones is very strong. In 2023, my seedling number 22N (162T x M6910), a cross of Geschwind’s Nordlandrose1 OP x M6910, showed itself to be very vigorous and had reached more than 2 feet at the end of the season. It spent the winter unprotected and undamaged, and since the beginning of this spring it has developed sprawling stems. The first flowers opened onto dark green foliage and reddish stems and I wasn’t expecting this bright shade of red, a nice surprise! I’m crossing my fingers for a climber, perhaps given his vigor, he’s already 4 feet tall…? Among my 2023 seedlings having M6910 as father, I still have 5 plants (162T x M6910), and also 11 plants (134M x M6910), 10 plants (Geschwind’s Nordlandrose1 x M6910) and 15 plants (Roseraie de l’Haÿ x M6910 ). I’m really looking forward to seeing the results of these.
Congratulations and good luck as it would be welcomed addition to have a hardy bright red, eye-catching true climber, or rambler for the north.
The candidates l generated from gallica x JCabot are not likely to make it. Hit 2 feet in first year, stopped and now crawling aka not put any height on and are bare caned except for “tuff” of dark green leaves at top. Give them another year including first winter outside.
I have come to believe 6910 as a crossing parent always had the makings of rambler/ climber based on my samples having a sprawling, twiggy branching growth.
In a good couple years, including vole free winter, the structure hits easily 8feet and needs trellising. The wall of bright red is impressive. Then the voles find them before l find the voles and under snow girdling finishes the bush for 3-4 years.
Never succeeded in crossing but will have to try as pollen parent. Have what l believe is a orobably “not” crossed 6910 in the shade from tests four years ago. Naturally a very slow grower.
Maybe l will use laxa and worry about repeat later.
Good work and all the best on success.
Thanks Riku,
I would be tempted, if I had John Cabot, to use the pollen of M6910 on a few flowers to see if the rather upright habit of John Cabot would be dominant.
If your (gallique x John Cabot) could regain some vigor and eventually flower, it might be interesting to cross it with M6910. And indeed the use of R. laxa is a good idea since it is already present in John Cabot. I would use its pollen on the results obtained from the crosses ((gallique x John Cabot) x M6910)) x R. laxa or ((gallique x John Cabot) x R. laxa) x M6910)). Work for a few years, and you will probably also have to compete with the voles, what a pest! Sorry…!
I hope (gallique x John Cabot) survives, good luck with your projectsl! André
Txs for suggestions on gallica x JC, if it survives first winter and blooms l will try.
My (nutkana or schoeners) x (PP + Hazeldean) also hanging in as “twiglets” and this cross l have more faith would be very hardy.
Been going at crossing for week few hours a day (heat high).
… only thing constant to plan is
=> Madame de la Roche - Lambert x (a,b,c, …. x,y,z) x nth pollinations
… or n+1 = blooms used up.
Been favouring Grannies and R laxa as main partners for the multiple blooms done, with small numbers of rugosa, and Schoeners/nutkana.
Mother starting to look like merveille did a few year back - a xmas tree of tags.
Also Caroyal crossed with a number of pollen parents - want the color but milder “bush form” challenge.
Going to cross every Lumo flower … see what happens as this rose has bloomed for first time and venture say hardy … apparently if l read right may have laxa in it from being a seedling of applejack.
John Cabot a good idea, still have plenty of both and blooming. It could be the cause of the gallica cross going high in first year.
One field risk - l never remember my JC’s (6) having an abundance of hips - in other words they may have been there but don’t recall them - fertile big hippers l remember - remember crossing it and hips started but all aborted.
Also reverse cross done.
I made several attempts with Applejack as a female parent without success but I had better luck with her pollen which is abundant. The crossover with John Cabot is a good idea. And I hope you have some nice presents under your “Christmas trees”…good luck!
Darn glad l saved the Lumo pollen from prep for crossing as female. Txs for the heads up. Probably why no recent chatter on this older rose.
Btw fyi, making a long story short as l can, l may have found a volunteer in my garden as something l can not recall planting over 24 years in that bed ( north colder side) - never seen it until l cleared out a section of spino bed for seedlings. I saved it as saw it as a long, non-spino, cane during dig out.
Bloomed this week in heat. Bush about 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet high - max. Yes there was a lot of spino tangle hiding it.
Blooms standard light pink. Very light rose fragrance, canes not smooth but not overly prickled, red and hooked when new. Green young cane. Bloom petal count 10-12 and has a white streak l associate with moderns.
First thought an explorer as J Cabot in bed and Baffin in another - not correct color or too low petal count. There probably 10-15 varieties in bed but none look like bloom.
It was hardy last winter, and must of been for a couple, with a 3 foot cane survival plus base core plant canes 1-2 feet high.
Only sort of looks like Grannie’s rose (real Grannies new this year and in front garden this year).
So my study name is “Riku’s Granny Knock Off Rose”. There were also a couple more of low prickle tall canes in bed - gone before l clued in. That makes me think runner from some mother l cant find - nothing in back looks like this - some suspicions but they require genetic triggers for differences noted.
I am going to dig around existing to see if l can find runner. Anyways thats the short story of this weeks find. 
“Grannies’ Knock-off Rose” vs John Cabot vs William Baffin which one is which? I would not know if not for the tags.
Answers for my garden,
I would recognize in John Cabots by high lustre (shinier) leaves and more solid red / pink bloom. William Baffin more undertones of white/ streaking “smaller”, bloom size and paler pink than JC.
I venture “Grannies knockoff rose” is William Baffin. Runner or seed, had to travel ~ 15 feet. From another bed, under section of lawn and 2 shallow edging ditch. Must of gone own root if runner ( grafted ).
Knockoff at top, Jc left and William Baffin last
I recognize the description from John Cabot and William Baffin. As for “Grannies knockoff rose”, as I have never seen this rose bush, you are certainly right, so the position of the rose bushes in the photo represents your 3 rose bushes well.
Yes it does in a mirror imagine relative to photo and actual back garden location - ignoring front thats 30 feet away that has 1 Baffin and 6 JCs.
A single JC about 8 feet away to NW, and 2 weak Baffin(s) 15 feet to NE to Grannie’s Knockoff location.