Duet Rose

The duet rose is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful pink varieties out there.

(Photo courtesy of Northscaping.com)

It’s been around for a few years but isn’t an antique.  It did win the AARS award way back in 1961 but it has still remained popular breed.  The name comes from the colors on the flower petals.  There is a darker, almost magenta hue on the outside and a lighter inside color.  You have to look pretty close; I think it’s pretty subtle to me.  I can think of many roses with a more pronounced different in colors.  But there it is.  It was originally bred from the Roundelay and Fandango breeds, which seem to be pretty obscure.

This has one of the richest pink colors out there in the rose world.  The blooms are doubled up and very nice, up to 4 inches wide.  What’s nice about these blooms is that the color doesn’t fade out into that pale whitish pink that looks a little drab.  It stays strong.  It has a big reputation as being a great flower for cut blooms.  In my opinion, while the pink blossoms are nice, the thorns are a little bit tricky to handle.  I’d rather have a smooth stem if I’m working with a bouquet, but that’s just me.  Also, while it has a nice scent, it’s not as fragrant as some other cut flower favorites.  The thorns make it a good choice as a shrub or bush on the border.  You’ll keep out nosy neighbors and pets with this for sure!

It’s a very stable grower with good consistent blooming.  It’s very tough against diseases and pests.  It also can thrive in a hotter environment.  As mentioned above, be careful as it can be very thorny, so it’s not a great pick for beginners.  It take a bit of maintenance as well, with frequent pruning helping to keep the canes in line.