Question about mystery "Dijon tea"

4 years ago

I have a question about a "Dijon tea" which was identified on here as that. The original plant is growing in mostly shade, and only blooms once a year. However, its buds open a soft pink, then turn into largish pink blooms, then turn into the most gorgeous, very double sort of buff/apricot blooms (pics below).

I wanted those blooms, so I rooted a cutting, and we planted it in full sun. It has grown, and is now blooming (this plant was moved b/c it was being eaten by two other tea roses, and is about 10~ years old). It is blooming now. The problem is that this plant is making way smaller pink blooms, which then eventually die off, and never get bigger or develop that lovely color. The leaves look smaller to me than the old one, too.

Could this "Dijon tea" only be producing the lovely blooms b/c it is growing in so much shade? I just called my SIL - I gave her a rooted cutting of it 15 years ago, and knew that her bush is growing in full sun. She said her bush has gotten large, but the blooms are always just pink, and smallish.

So, does anyone have any idea what I should do to get my new plant to make the glorious blooms, which still blooming more often than just in the Spring? Shade Structure, or anything?

Here is a pic of the one growing inside of a hedge - both blooms are the same plant! The pink one on the left emerged from a pink bud, and will eventually change into one which looks like the one on the right - metamorphosis indeed! Any ideas anyone can suggest would be very much appreciated - hoping someone out there may even grow some type of Dijon tea.

Jackie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
My Adam and GdD both have blooms that are both colors Melissa on the same plant. You may have a trade off there where sun gives you reblooming pink but shade the lovely peach color. At least you have one of each. Maybe it will take another few years for the pink plant to graduate to the complex colors.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
4 years ago
Sheila - I thought it might take time too, which is why I asked my SIL about the one she has had for 15 years - still only small pink blooms.

Very glad to hear that your Adam and GdD have both colors - your climate is cooler than ours - how much sun are your Adam & GdD growing in? I went out today and put a structure over my mystery Dijon tea, and put shade cloth that I use for newly planted tomatoes over it. Will see in a month or so if that helps - if not, we will move it into a corner of my new garden which has high shade from trees and see what happens.

Jackie
Related Professionals
Alexandria Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tucson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lubbock Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Vancouver Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Elkton Landscape Contractors · Jacksonville Landscape Contractors · Knoxville Landscape Contractors · Greenfield Landscape Contractors · Pittsfield Landscape Contractors · Lebanon Landscape Contractors · Williamsport Landscape Contractors · Louisville Home Builders · Beckley Home Builders · Lincoln Home Builders · Amarillo Home Builders
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
Jackie, my climate might be hotter than yours. Last Summer was extreme with 41 days 100 F or over. Mine are both in full sun and I still get those color variations.

I don't know why 15 years would not be long enough to see the full color range. I agree with you. Could the soil be different?

Maybe yours moving to shade will help. I hope so.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks, Sheila. For some reason my brain had you living near Seattle - obviously not. I have relatives in Ashland, and I know how hot it gets there. You are right - our climate (now) is not that hot at all. We have only made 100 one day all of this summer, and most days have been in the 80s, with a few in the 90s.

My mystery Dijon tea (the current bush I am dealing with, not the ancient one which is still living inside of a hedge) was originally planted in our side garden, among several tea roses. They are thriving, blooming with large blooms and very happy. At first it stayed small with very small, only pink blooms. Eventually it disappeared entirely - the nearby teas were overwhelming it. I had to actually crawl under them to find it, and yes, completely shaded by them, it had some larger blooms of the soft buff color peeking out from their cover. So, I guess here shade might be the answer - I don't want to move it again until its roots recover from being moved about 2 months ago, but we have decided that that shady corner of our new garden might be a good place for it. The shade cloth is just a short term attempt to keep a little less sun on it until we move it, and see how it reacts. I can't complain - one of the reasons I love old roses is how variable their colors and blooms are - have to be careful what I wish for!

Jackie