Chrysler Imperial Rose

One of the first examples of cross product marketing, the Chrysler Imperial rose has a lot of great qualities, even if the name doesn't really make sense anymore!

Some history….

Naming roses for actors or objects grew in popularity during the 20th century, but it wasn't until 1952 that marketers realized they could use flowers for promotions. I'm not sure who the ad wizard was who decided that roses and luxury cars were a complementary mix. Nonetheless, this rose was released that year and went on to win numerous awards. Funnily enough, the namesake car has been out of production for years but the plant is still very popular. Dr. Walter E. Lammerts was the breeder behind this one.

Beauty

Forgetting the car background, this rose stands alone as a classic example of a hybrid tea. It has a rich, dark red color. The long stems make it a good choice for a cut flower plant in your garden. It can also work in a cut flower container gardening setup as well. It also has a rich, but not overpowering scent. It gets from 3-6 and tends to grow straight up, so if you want a bushlike look plant them in groups. It will bloom in flushes repeatedly throughout the season.

Gardening

Gardeners love the Chrysler Imperial rose as its known for its vigorous growth, especially in full sun. Its also noted for its disease resistance, but a little bit of spraying for fungus wouldn't hurt it; mildew can be a little bit of a problem.

Its rated from zone 6 and up but one of the downsides with this plant is that it is not very cold hardy. Be prepared to winterize it, especially if you are in a colder zone.