Color Magic is one of my most favorite roses. Very vigorous in my garden, it's lasted well over 10 years so far, with a lot of neglect in the middle of those years. Others in my area (rosebud?) have claimed it won't even last through an Atlanta winter. Ray Riddell commented in his excellent book that it had a die-back problem so sever that he planted Color Magics as annuals. Mine took a big hit when we had ice that lasted for a week in Atlanta a few years ago, but other than that setback, it's in great shape today.

Mine seems fine to "operate" as a fairly normal hybrid tea - very tall and generally slim, but not unusually so. Its leaves are a bit sensitive to strong sprays, so be careful if you use oils and other smothering sprays or you will get leaf burn. I regularly spray with Bayer, BannerMaxx, and sometimes Manzate (Pentathlon) and there are no ill effects from those.

The flowers and ever-changing coloring are glorious:
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Oh what a gorgeous photo! Thanks so much for sharing! The colors look like they will mesh nicely with what is in the bed.

I am planning on some/quite a bit of winter die back, being in Michigan, so I will make sure this one is extra protected come winter.

I appreciate your comments on sprays. I experimented a little with spraying last year and will hopefully find a good program. Blackspot seems to hit hard here, unfortunately. But the bed I'm planning to put this one in had hardly any blackspot, compared the my front beds.

I am very excited about this rose :)

Andrea

This post was edited by nummykitchen on Tue, Apr 9, 13 at 11:02

That is a beauty, Rosetom!

Color Magic is one of those HTs that I've tried three times in my zone 5 yard and it won't survive the winters for me. Sheer Magic and Black Magic are in their 5th year, but Color Magic just isn't as hardy for me. Of course your yard may be different, but I'd recommend choosing one of the warmer spots in your yard - a south facing spot near the house and protected from winds. You're right that this one needs winter protection in zone 5, and I hope your results are better than mine.

Cynthia

That is a beauty, I am learningï¼ÂColor Magic is very magical.

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Thanks for the info Cynthia! I almost want to pot it up but I think it would look so lovely in the bed by the back porch. I guess I will have to be prepared for it not to make it through the winter and feel extra lucky if it does.

I think I've decided to put my new Pope John Paul II next to it and am really looking forward to that color combo.

My plant was a cutting years ago. it's doing fine. I would put your bud union 5-6" down into the soil to protect it from the weather. I've been doing this for the last 5 years and my plants are doing fine. and I live 300 miles south of you!

Thanks, Dan! I did not know that the bud union was supposed to be that deep! I was doing 1-2 below for my plantings so far this year and will plan to do the rest deeper.

Huge blooms that are very long lasting on the bush and in the vase. Slight scent. Not as clean as some, but soooo worthy. I'll try to remember to post a pic of the bush tomorrow. So gorgeous! i'm in coastal so. Ca.

The canes are so big around! Hope that's a healthy sign and not an abnormality. Was it HMF that described it as almost thornless? If so, mine is not true to form.

Big canes and, yep, thorns. Can't wait for the big blooms to come come.

Oh wow, that is one happy rose bush! Your bloom is so pretty and has me even more excited about this one. Those are some huge buds!

I hope you share again when they open up! I bet it will be a showstopper!

Thanks for posting your pictures.

Andrea