there is also Williams Double Yellow-another Hybrid Spinosissima-very similar...Hah..I just learned how to tell the difference-William has a green pip..interesting..

patricia

Green pip sounds interesting :D
There is also a Harison's Salmon to but I dont think that one is yellow.

A green pip means a green eye-a little point of green carpels in the center of the flower. According to The American Rose Society Encyclopedia of roses the only way to reliably tell them apart-of interest to me as the birds like to remove my labels. The buds are a little different but no one mentions that-the reason I read your post-looking for pointers...

patricia

So what does the encyclopedia say about the buds?

the Encyclopedia doesn't mention the buds. On one the buds show yellow and the other shows dark edges like many Spinosissimas have-around the sepales. I dont remember which-I need to check my labels-I might have them reversed. Got to remember to check that green eye thing when I go down the hill this morning. I was too witless to do it yesterday. Will let you know what I find. I could try to take some pics but I am not much of a photographer.

patricia

OK, The buds on what must be Harisons Yellow are red of all things. I had just registered it as darker. I say must be HY because I had a label on the ground and this Harisony Yellow looking potted bush with no label. The other one has the green eye that the book mentions and it is labeled Williams double yellow. Else wise they look the same.

patricia

completely red or a tinge of red? one of my harisons has a tinge and the other doesnt

A tinge of red-The Williams doesn't have that at all. There were a bazillion Spinosissima hybrids in the old days-there was quite the fad for Scots Briars and I gather they hybridize easily and naturally. There is nothing to say that you dont have a natural hybrid-why not? I have been adding some Spinosissimas and they are a new favorite of mine. I love the tidy foliage and contrast of the stem color and so on. I was just looking in my GS Thomas and he says of all things that Harison's doesn't tend to sucker and Williams does big time. I thought suckering and Harisons was synonymous. Beales has a nice section on the Pimpinellifolias(I wish they would just chose a name and stick with it) He says that in 1814 one firm offered 100 varieties. Fascinating..

patricia

Amazing and to think we thought it was all one simple old fashioned rose!
I can not imagine a Harison's that doesn't sucker. In fact someone said on here that they do not propate well any other way!

I am going to start saving seed. What we need is another Stanwell Perpetual only in yellow.

p

I have a pretty pink rose, unknown name, very close to one of my harison bushes and both set hips so wondering if seeds would have interesting colors.
The pink is similar to Queen Elizabeth but isn't. Too short of stems, seldom has clusters of blooms and has too nice a fragrence.
A pretty pink harisons would be cool. :D