Rachel Bowes Lyon and Smiling Jean

General Discussion
1

I thought I’d posted recently about Rachel Bowes Lyon. It’s been tremendously clean for me for years; has beautiful foliage and flowers like a weed. In the references section on HMF, Peter Schneider in his “Peter Schneider on Roses” wrote, “This shrub must be one of the most winter-hardy roses ever bred in England…” I wanted to bring this to attention.

Sean McCann created Smiling Jean. There is no listed parentage but this rose is RUDELY healthy here. It looks as if it’s made of plastic. It has a very “Armada” feel to me. I’m not sure how much I really LIKE the rose, but it flowers like mad, never has anything wrong with it, responds like a hand grenade to hard pruning and never complains. Kim

Link: 'Smiling Jean' Rose 'Smiling Jean' Rose

2

Does it pass on its’ healthy constitution? There are more than a few other things that could be improved upon, but if it does pass on its’ health and blooming ability (or either) it seems like it has more going for it than a lot out there.

3

I don’t know, haven’t gotten that far yet! Kim

4

Have you gotten that far yet, yet?

5

No Don. I actually gave Rachel to a friend who has two gardens and room. I didn’t have room for her. Smilin Jean is still here but resistant to anything I try doing with her. She smiles like a fiend, but always says “NO!”