Fragrant floribundas: need your two cents!

13 years ago

While my husband was shoveling the record breaking snow (we were bombarded by 11 inches here in KC!), I was planning my 2013 additions!

You all have never given me bad advice/feedback so I am back for more :-D Saw a similar post from 2008. This was helpful but thought I'd see if you all have any updated suggestions.

I'm looking for a warm colored ÃÂ¼ber fragrant floribunda. Yes, I realize that hybrid teas have more fragrance but I really like the shape of floribundas.

Does anyone have any experience growing the following roses (found these via Roses Unlimited)?

Little Darling
Chinatown
Sheila's perfume
Everest Double Fragrance
Courvoisier
Livin' Easy
Honey perfume

Thank you in advance for your two cents!! Eager to get your feedback on these varities.

Featured Answer

rosetom

13 years ago

Don't know much about the other ones, but Livin' Easy has never had a fragrance AFAIK and I've had two for about 10 years. Still, it's a great floribunda and while the bush can get fairly large, it stays within what I'd call a floribunda size - you can dependable plant it in front of HT's or taller roses and not worry too much about it taking over.

Not in your list, but Angel Face is quite fragrant and a truly lavender rose. It's a Gamble award winner for fragrance. Scentimental also has a heck of a scent but like some modern floribundas, it has to be hacked on a regular basis in my yard to keep it from getting 7-8 feet tall by the end of the season. ;-)

Iceberg grows out instead of up - you must give it room, but a cut spray has powerful fragrance. It's also one of the classics that has superior disease resistance and hardiness, IMHO.

Stay away from Sunsprite - a horrible rose in heat, I've never smelled anything but a manure-like fragrance from its blooms that blow in a few hours.

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Comments (9)

msjam2
13 years ago
Honey Perfume is a wonderful little rose, one of my favorites. Her leaves are thick and the whole bush is just pretty! The scent is wonderful, sweet and citrusy.

I got rid of Living Easy, holy mother of thorns!
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onederw
13 years ago
DPClevelander, you might also give some consideration to Julia Child. Julia is yellow, not poke-your-eye-out yellow, but a buttery plays-well-with-others yellow.
Great fragrance (to my nose) and a veritable blooming machine. Mildew resistant here in southern California, she is also supposed to be blackspot resistant, but that is an attribute I cannot vouch for, since that is rarely a problem here.

Kay
jaspermplants
13 years ago
Not in your zone but Livin Easy is a great rose here. It grows large (mine was 6 ft before I pruned it back to about 4 ft a couple months ago). It blooms all the time and is extremely healthy. No disease but we don't get much here.
harmonyp
13 years ago
I must jump to the defense of my Sunsprite - I just LOVE her. She's in morning only sun, keeps blooms forever and has a wonderful fragrance for me. Was terrible year one for blowing, but after that she's been a champ.

Ebb Tide - very fragrant, gorgeous dark purple blooms. Perfumed Tiger - small, lightly fragrant blooms, VERY healthy and hardy. Purple Tiger, doesn't get a good rap on this forum, but does very well for me.

I have 3 on your list, but none are mature enough to comment on.
DisplacedClevelander
Original Author
13 years ago
I knew you all wouldn't let me down-- thanks for everyone's two cents! Super duper helpful. Would've gotten Livin' Easy but would've had to have been shipped separately and I'm just too impatient.

Placed my order for the following: Fragrant Apricot, Roman Holiday, and Sheila's Perfume

They should be shipped mid-April, 19 more days to go! Have a hunch that when I have 7 days to go, I'm going to start counting down in hours. Yes, a little cuckoo but after 6" inches of snow dumped on KC, it took my rose hysteria to new heights.

Will be sure to upload some pics when my little babies get here :-)
lola-lemon
13 years ago
Sheila's perfume was fragrant- but compared to other roses I keep - just moderately so. Her flower was of good substance and beautiful-- always gets compliments.

Intrigue is a floribunda that is VERY fragrant. Blooms in big sprays.
organic_kitten
13 years ago
I always found Sheila's Perfume to be really nice. Different climate and soil I suppose.
kay
alameda/zone 8/East Texas
13 years ago
I am growing Little Darling from a band and it is doing just great - need to repot. Dont know about fragrance yet. You will adore the color of Fragrant Apricot! I grew it long ago, cant recall about fragrance, but ordered it last fall from Roses Unlimited - it is growing great in a pot and I am about to plant it in the ground. I have Honey Perfume on order - grew that one at another home, its a lovely color that looks wonderful with purple. Just planted a young Livin Easy. It is a luscious shade of orange sherbert, but thorny. Color is wonderful! Angel Face is indeed very fragrant, but needs to be sprayed for blackspot. One of my favorite colors of roses - will probably try another one. I have Julio Iglesais on order - I recall it being very fragrant.